Gone are the days of falling asleep reading a good book or counting sheep, as Generation Z puts more effort into ensuring a good night’s rest.
The popularity of sleep optimization, now called Sleep Maxxing, has increased in recent months and young people are doing everything they can, such as taping their mouths, drinking mocktails and spraying magnesium on their feet, to improve their sleep.
The trend toward improved sleep is likely a result of people’s desire to sleep more, as only a quarter of Brits sleep the amount of hours they think they need.
According to a Woolroom survey earlier this year, tTwo-thirds of Brits get by on just six hours of sleep a night, far less than the seven to nine hours recommended by the NHS.
The obsession with improving sleep has exploded on TikTok, where insomniacs have sought out a smorgasbord of sleep remedies, usually aimed at improving the circadian rhythm.
Gone are the days of falling asleep reading a good book or counting sheep, as Generation Z puts more effort into ensuring a good night’s sleep.
The popularity of sleep optimization, now called Sleepmaxxing, has increased in recent months and young people are doing everything they can, such as taping their mouths, drinking mocktails and spraying magnesium on their feet, to improve their sleep.
The methods extend far beyond the old-school techniques of counting sheep or putting a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow: Sleep seekers now make mocktails, tape their mouths shut, and take magnesium before to go to bed
One popular method intended to achieve higher quality sleep is mouth taping, a practice in which sleepers literally tape their mouths shut to try to reduce snoring and bad breath.
On TikTok, the mouth recording has more than 250 million tags, with hundreds of videos showing people using sleep tricks to sleep better at night.
The method works to force sleepers to breathe through their nose, which is often the cause of snoring and sleep apnea. However, the results of mouth dressing are currently only anecdotal and there is little research to support the claims.
Another of those popular sleep remedies is Sleepy Girl Mocktail, a mixture of tart cherry juice and magnesium, which TikTokers promise will give you “the best sleep of your lives.”
However, some experts have warned that the mocktail may do more harm than good, as magnesium can have a laxative effect.
Magnesium, in high doses, can relax the muscles of the intestine and stomach, increasing the feeling of urgency, warned nutritionist Toby King.
Others have warned about the counterintuitive effect of sugar in the drink’s cherry element, which can raise blood pressure and make falling asleep even more difficult.
According to a Woolroom survey conducted earlier this year, two-thirds of Britons get by on just six hours of sleep a night, far less than the seven to nine hours recommended by the NHS.
More extreme techniques involve using an Oura ring, which sells for £395 plus a subscription fee, to track and monitor sleep patterns. Other expensive sleep aids include a “sunrise alarm clock,” which aims to wake you up according to your circadian rhythms.
Most remedies for maximum sleep are divisive among a broader audience, as with each new ritual, experts have criticized methods that have not been verified by science.
According to Mattress Online’s James ‘The Sleep Geek’ Wilson, the sleep-out trend could actually be making things worse, as it makes people obsess over nighttime routines.
He told FEMAIL: “In my day job, the Sleep Maxxing trend is actually causing most people who try it to sleep worse.”
This is because it can cause orthosomnia, which James explained leads to “becoming overly obsessed with our sleep, seeking perfect sleep, and ultimately creating anxiety and stress about the sleep we’re getting.”
“Of course, this is not helpful, since when we are stressed and anxious we sleep worse,” he warned.
On TikTok, the mouth recording has more than 250 million tags, with hundreds of videos showing people using a trick to sleep better at night.
Commenting on some specific trends within the community, he said Sleeping Girl’s mocktail was unlikely to help significantly but could, at best, act as a placebo.
While bandaging the mouth could have even more serious consequences, such as suffocation. ‘There is no evidence that this practice improves sleep and masks the main symptoms of a serious sleep disorder called “sleep apnea,” he said.
‘These symptoms are snoring and choking, and they cause those who live with them to stop breathing during the night. “The potential risks far outweigh the anecdotal benefits, which often come from people trying to sell used tape,” he continued.
‘Nose breathing is good for our well-being, the best way to do it more at night is to consciously practice it during the day.’
The term orthosomnia was first coined in 2017 by researchers from Rush Medical College and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who noted that there was an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for self-diagnosed sleep problems.
In an article in The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, researchers compared fixation to the eating disorder orthorexia, worrying that there was a growing “perfectionistic pursuit of ideal sleep.”
While the recommendations say the same thing, attitudes toward having a good night’s sleep have changed markedly in the last decade, as Generation Z demands a full night in bed.
Professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of a sleep center at the school. Matthew Walker said The New York Times: “People, especially Generation Z, have claimed their right to a full night’s sleep and have done so without shame.”
And for those who don’t manage to get the desired eight hours of sleep, this can affect their mental wellbeing, as a survey by bedding company Woolroom found that 40 per cent of people reported elevated levels of stress after a bad night’s sleep. night of sleep
Professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of a sleep center at the school. Matthew Walker told the New York Times: “People, especially Generation Z, have claimed their right to a full night’s sleep and have done so without shame.”
The same survey also found that 36 percent said they felt anxious when they did not sleep adequately.
However, Mattress Online’s James said he believed the TikTok trend has its roots in slightly more sinister soils.
He said: “It has become increasingly prominent in recent months as podcasters and influencers provide a platform for practices and theories that have little or no evidence, and promote brands that sell the products behind these trends, which to “they often have.” undisclosed business agreements with.’
Instead of obsessively experimenting with online cure-all remedies, James suggested starting by first understanding what type of sleeper you might have.
Solving the root of the problem can lead to finding the most effective antidote.
She said, “The best way to sleep better is to understand who you are when you sleep, figure out what’s stopping you from sleeping, and find the best tips and/or products to solve that specific problem.”
