Sleepmaxxing & Orthosomnia: Are We Trying Too Hard to Sleep Better?

From smart watches that calculate our nightly sleep score to apps that monitor how much deep sleep we get, technology has given us more information about our sleep than ever before.

At the same time, social media has become filled with advice promising to help us achieve the perfect night's rest. The latest trend has even been given a name: sleepmaxxing.

But could trying too hard to sleep well actually make sleeping more difficult?

What Is Sleepmaxxing?

Sleepmaxxing is a term used to describe the growing trend of trying to optimise every aspect of sleep. It can include perfectly timed bedtime routines, sleep trackers, supplements, special drinks, temperature control, white or brown noise and numerous other so-called sleep hacks.

Some of the ideas associated with sleepmaxxing are simply familiar sleep hygiene advice under a new name. Keeping your bedroom comfortable, establishing a regular routine and reducing disturbances during the night can all help create better conditions for sleep.

However, problems can arise when improving sleep turns into trying to achieve perfect sleep every night.

What Is Orthosomnia?

Orthosomnia is an emerging term used by sleep researchers to describe an unhealthy preoccupation with achieving optimal sleep, particularly when driven by data from wearable sleep trackers.

For example, you might wake up feeling reasonably refreshed, only to discover that your watch has given you a disappointing sleep score. Suddenly, a night that seemed perfectly acceptable can feel like a bad night's sleep.

For some people, this can create a cycle of worrying about sleep, spending longer in bed or becoming increasingly focused on improving statistics such as deep sleep, REM sleep or the number of times they apparently woke during the night.

The irony is that worrying about getting enough sleep can itself make relaxing and falling asleep more difficult.

Your Sleep Score Isn't the Whole Story

Sleep trackers can be useful for identifying patterns, but consumer devices should not be treated as a perfect measurement of what happens while we sleep.

Rather than chasing a particular score every morning, it can be more useful to consider the bigger picture. Do you generally feel rested? Is your bedroom comfortable? Are you regularly waking because you're too warm, uncomfortable or struggling to find a supportive sleeping position?

Occasionally waking during the night doesn't automatically mean you've slept badly either. Sleep naturally moves through different stages throughout the night, and brief awakenings aren't necessarily something that needs to be "fixed".

Sometimes the Basics Matter More Than the Hacks

Before buying the latest sleep gadget or following another complicated bedtime routine, it's worth looking at your actual sleeping environment.

A quiet, dark and comfortably cool bedroom can make a difference, as can maintaining reasonably consistent sleeping habits.

Your bed matters too. A mattress doesn't need to promise a perfect sleep score, but it should provide appropriate comfort and support and allow you to settle into a comfortable sleeping position.

If your current mattress has become uncomfortable, sagged noticeably or regularly leaves you waking with aches and stiffness, it may be worth considering whether it's time to replace your mattress.

Choosing a Mattress Without Overcomplicating It

The mattress industry itself can sometimes seem complicated, with different spring systems, foams, fillings and firmness ratings to choose from.

But finding the right mattress doesn't have to involve analysing dozens of specifications.

The most important question is often much simpler: does it feel comfortable and supportive to you?

That's one reason trying mattresses in person can still be valuable. At Coast Road Furniture, customers can compare different options from our beds and mattresses, including traditional pocket-sprung models, natural-fill mattresses and modern hybrid mattresses.

Rather than lying on a mattress for a few seconds, take some time and try it in the position you normally sleep in. What feels comfortable to one person may feel completely different to another.

We also stock mattresses from established British manufacturers including Harrison Spinks, alongside complete bed and mattress packages for customers looking to replace their whole bed.

Better Sleep Doesn't Have to Be Perfect Sleep

Perhaps one of the most useful lessons from the discussion around sleepmaxxing and orthosomnia is that sleep doesn't need to become another performance metric.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your sleep or learning more about your sleeping habits. But achieving a perfect score on a watch shouldn't become more important than how you actually feel.

Sometimes the less exciting changes are the ones worth considering first: a comfortable bedroom, sensible sleep routine and a supportive mattress and bed.

If you're looking to improve your sleeping environment, visit Coast Road Furniture in Connah's Quay to try our range of beds and mattresses in person and get straightforward advice from our experienced team.

If you regularly struggle to sleep, experience excessive daytime tiredness, loud snoring or have persistent concerns about your sleep, speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare professional. Sleep trackers and mattress advice aren't substitutes for medical assessment.