If there's one thing we try to do as a society, it's better our lives in whatever way we can. In the past few years, we've traded in our doomscrolling and Sunday binge-watching marathons for counting steps and using hacks like the cognitive shuffle to get the best sleep we possibly can. And while becoming a world obsessed with our well-being isn't necessarily a bad thing, there are some downsides to the pursuit of perfect health .
Take better sleep , for example. A new TikTok trend known as "sleepmaxxing" is challenging people to optimize their sleep as best they can by focusing on not only the amount of sleep they get, but also the quality of said sleep. And while the quest for good sleep is a smart one, experts warn against some of the tips and tricks being shared online.
Related: Your Diabetes Risk Can Jump 59% if Your Sleep Pattern Looks Like This
What Is Sleepmaxxing?
Simply put, sleepmaxxing is an umbrella term people on TikTok are using that refers to the practice of improving sleep. It involves the employment of various techniques and tricks that promise a perfect night's sleep . It can also include a nightly routine that involves things like turning off overhead lights a few hours before bed, avoiding the use of screens an hour before sleep, and nixing caffeine at least eight hours prior to hitting the hay. The trending hack may also utilize various tools and products like sleep masks and melatonin to enhance your sleep.
Benefits of Sleepmaxxing
No one's going to tell you getting more sleep is bad, especially in a society that prides itself on phrases like "I'll sleep when I'm dead." Study after study has proven that getting enough sleep is key to staving off viruses like the common cold, improving mental health , enhancing concentration, and more.
"Personally, I think it's really good when we do have sleep trends like this. It means people are thinking about their sleep, they're prioritizing their sleep, when often we're not allowing enough time for sleep in our days and we're procrastinating our bedtime," sleep scientist Dr. Vanessa Hill said in an interview with CBS News . "So I think overall it's good."
Related: Prep Your Mind and Body for Sleep With These Nightly Workout Rituals
What Are the Drawbacks of Sleepmaxxing?
In the pursuit of health, we can all get a little lost along the way. Whether it's obsessing over your fitness tracker or implementing a 10-step nightly routine, it can be easy to get carried away.
Experts have pointed to the drawbacks of focusing on maximizing sleep benefits to the point of obsession. In which case, you may just be undoing the positive effects you're seeking with your sleepmaxxing routine. Sometimes we're better off stepping back and giving ourselves a break, even when we're not our most sleep-optimized selves.
"Sometimes when people can be too perfectionistic about their sleep, it can backfire," Hill said. "Perfect is often the enemy of good and in that case, if people are stressing about it, if this is causing them more anxiety in terms of... trying to do too many things at once, then it may be sensible to take all of the tips with a grain of salt and just back up and do what's best for you."
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