'Sleepmaxxing' Is A Viral Sleeping Trend That Has Its Pros & Cons

You May Have Heard of Sleepmaxxing Before. What Exactly Is It, Tho?

Sleeping to the max. At the risk of sounding very 80s and valley girl’ish, that’s probably the easiest way to break down what sleepmaxxing is because what it’s all about is finding the kind of sleep hacks that will make it easier for you to fall asleep, stay asleep and experience an awesome quality of sleep in the process.

Sounds pretty amazing, right? On the surface, I would agree. I mean, like I said in the intro, I’m all about finding, sharing and even applying a good sleep hack, chile. Problem is, when it comes to sleepmaxxing, some people are becoming obsessed to the point where they are either applying too many hacks at one time (which is where the Aristotle quote fits in quite nicely) or they are engaging in something that just might be your something new for the day: orthosomnia. And what exactly does that entail?

Orthosomnia is what happens when someone becomes so consumed with their sleep habits and patterns that they end up bringing some sort of tracker into the mix in order to keep up with recorded data when it comes to how they sleep. And although it’s not considered to technically be a type of sleep disorder (at least, not yet), it is something that medical professionals are keeping a tab on because many people are having their sleep — and ultimately the state of their health — disrupted because of it.

And if someone can become close-to-obsessed about a sleep tracker app, it’s pretty feasible that the same thing could happen with sleep hacks, in general — especially since some medical professionals believe that certain sleep hacks are more like a crap shoot than anything else. Ones like what? Well, I recently read a TIME article on the topic (here) and it said that while sleeping in a cool(er) and dark room, wearing a sleep mask, and reducing your screen time before turning in all get the thumbs up, consuming certain foods or drinks, showering before bedtime and incorporating certain (white) noise machines still need a bit more looking into.

I guess, chile. As someone who takes her own quality of rest pretty damn seriously, I think that even the “iffy” hacks should be tested out — just probably not all at once. I also think that you shouldn’t simply apply what everyone else is doing just because they are doing it; instead, think about what your personal sleep needs and goals are, incorporate tips that complement those, go through a process of elimination (as far as what is truly effective for you) — and voila! No “sleepmaxxing” per se, just a sleep routine that you can feel really good about.

7 Effective Ways to Get Some Quality Sleep

While I was reading another article on sleepmaxxing, I must admit that I rolled my eyes when I saw tips like taping your mouth shut (that doesn’t even sound safe, to be honest), damn near overdosing (not really but…) on kiwi and wearing blue light glasses. However, those things did remind me that there are some sleep-related tips that I can personally vouch for — ones that you can easily incorporate, are not overwhelming and actually make a good amount of sense.

1. Choose a pillow that complements your sleep position(s). I’ve got an ex who once told me that, as a father, he’s come to the conclusion that there is no need to spank a child — all you’ve got to do is take their pillow away (“They will be miserable, tossing and turning all night long.”). I’ve thought about the nights when my pillows weren’t feeling the most comfortable and he ain’t neva lied! That’s why my first recommendation would be to get a pillow that best suits you, especially when it comes to your favored sleep position(s). You can read more about how to figure out which one to select here and here.

2. Do not eat or exercise less than two hours before bedtime. Something that I had to stop doing? Eating right before bedtime. My body needs to rest and, making my digestive system go into overdrive while I am trying to sleep — that ain’t the move. That said, although it kind of depends on what you eat (more on that here), it’s a good rule of practice to stop consuming foods about two hours before turning in. The same pretty much goes for exercising as well (more on that here) — although things like yoga can sometimes prove to be helpful.

3. Sip on some Korean banana milk.Bananas contain magnesium and that’s a nutrient that helps to relax your nervous system. Milk has tryptophan and melatonin in it — both of which are bona fide sleep agents. If you combine these two things together, there’s a good chance that they might have you in a deep state of sleep all night long. That said, a way to blend the two together is to make some of your own Korean banana milk. You can try out this recipe here (P.S. If you want to try a milk alternative, almond milk has tryptophan in it and hemp milk is packed with melatonin). Thank me later.

4. Get into some scented silk sheets.What you sleep on/in definitely plays its part in all of this. My recommendation, especially during the warmer months, is to go with some silk sheets. They’re comfortable. They’re hypoallergenic. They’re a breathable fabric. They don’t wrinkle easily. They help your hair and skin to retain moisture, and they also are a “natural insulator” which means that they can help to keep your body cool in the spring and summer and warm in the fall and winter. And if you sprinkle an essential on them that promotes rest — like lavender, cedarwood, chamomile, bergamot, or marjoram — you will relish each and every moment that you are rolling around, blissfully so, in that bedding of yours.

5. Use your blue-blocking options. It’s been said a billion times in dozens of different ways that the blue light that comes off of your screens isn’t good for your sleep patterns. So, if you’re someone who has the habit of checking your phone right before and/or after a bathroom run in the middle of the night, consider using your blue-blocking phone options. Apple users typically have a Night Shift setting on their phones while Android users have a Night Light one. You can read how to find them and utilize them here.

6. Journal three things before turning in. While on the surface, it might seem like journaling before bedtime is simply signing up to do more work, plenty of intel says that it can be quite beneficial; that’s because you can get some things off of your chest and/or organize your thoughts and/or think about how you would like the following day to go — and all of these things can help to de-stress you. My two cents would be to consider journaling about three things, at least a few times a week: something that you learned for the day, something that you are grateful for as far as the day is concerned, and something that you’re proud of as you come to the end of the day. It’s pretty hard to not have a restful mind if you “shut it down” for the night on these notes.

7. Rub some CBD oil on your feet. And finally, CBD oil. Although this “hack” definitely has the Aristotle quote written all over it, so long as you don’t apply huge doses, CBD can be of great assistance as far as your sleep quality is concerned. One way is by massaging the soles of your feet with CBD oil. The massage alone will help to relax you and the oil can bring relief to bodily pain and help to improve your quality of sleep.

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Sleepmaxxing. Eh. The thing about trends is they tend to come and go. Now that you know what it’s all about, though, if one of the hacks that you see interests you, try it. More than anything, to me, sleepmaxxing is just a reminder to not be passive about getting the kind of rest that you deserve.

And if that requires implementing a few tips to get it…so be it, sis.

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