VIDEO: New viral TikTok trend that will help you sleep better
Have you heard of sleepmaxxing?
Sleep is a vital part of our well-being, but it doesn't always come easy.
Research has found that getting enough sleep is essential and that consistent bad sleep can have serious effects.
According to the American National Library of Medicine, "The cumulative long-term effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders have been associated with a wide range of deleterious health consequences including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke."
Regarding self-care, social media constantly reminds us to focus more on ourselves and our health.
TikTok's latest trendy obsession is sleep and ensuring you get the best possible sleep every night.
This led to the creation of the term, 'sleepmaxxing'.
Sleepmaxxing is the overarching term that includes other sleep trends such as the 'sleepy girl mocktail' and the 'morning shed':
@hanbanan.fit this and the buldak ramen are my entire fyp right now #sleepygirlmocktail #mocktail #tartcherryjuice #sleep #easyrecipes ♬ Stuck In The Middle - Tai Verdes
@eyestheticsofficial #morningshed i woke up like this 😜 #flawless the uglier you go to sleep the ✨prettier✨ you wake up? #creatorsearchinsights #eyelidtape #morning #shed #morningroutine #skincare #routine #eyecare #dryeyes #warmcompress #sleepingmask #mask #pimplepatch #heatlesscurls #clearskin #lunch #wakeup #wake #wokeuplikethis ♬ original sound - EYEsthetics | Optometrists
Experts have been cautious about these trends and have discussed whether they help people sleep better or can prevent them from getting a good night's rest.
Sleepmaxxing essentially focuses on improving the quality and quantity of one's sleep by utilising various techniques, gadgets, and routines to ensure deeper and more restful sleep.
Here are some of the micro-trends and movements that feature as part of the sleepmaxxing theme:
Lucid dreaming techniques
Trying methods to control dreams and enhance their vividness.
Weighted Blankets
Using heavy blankets to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
Sleep hygiene routines
Establishing specific rituals before bed, such as dimming lights, limiting screen time, and avoiding caffeine to enhance sleep quality.
Polyphasic Sleep
Experimenting with alternative sleep patterns, such as taking multiple naps throughout the day instead of one long sleep at night.
Sleep gadgets
Utilising smart devices like sleep trackers, noise machines, or light therapy lamps to optimise the sleep environment.
@ecobro My uni student sleepmaxx guide. Obviously a well balanced high protein diet is also evidently good for a deep rem sleep. #ecobro #sleep #gym ♬ original sound - TheEcoBro
While most of this sounds pretty harmless, are any drawbacks to sleepmaxxing?
There are very few ways of verifying the information shared on TikTok and most of these trends are started by non-health experts.
Dr Seeta explains that sleepmaxxing has many benefits, but it can become problematic if misunderstood or taken to extremes.
She also says that over-focusing on sleep can lead to stress or anxiety. Becoming overly fixated can ironically disrupt sleep instead of improving it.
This goes hand in hand with unrealistic expectations. Nobody has the same sleep needs and following these trends could cause frustration for those who don't experience the same results.
Some sleep-maximising gadgets, such as sleep trackers or blue light-emitting devices, can sometimes do more harm than good if not used properly. They may interfere with natural sleep patterns or lead to obsession over sleep data.
At the end of the day, you just have to do what works best for you.
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