Online and off, so-called sleepmaxxers are going to extreme lengths in pursuit of better sleep. — ©2024 The New York Times Company
DEREK Antosiek considers himself something of a sleep connoisseur.
He’s tried everything – from taping his mouth shut, using nostril dilators, and plugging his ears, to testing high-end gadgets like a fan that pumps cool air under his sheets. He’s even separated mattresses with his wife to avoid any disturbance from her movements.
Antosiek, 31, has explored light therapy lamps, air quality monitors, blue light glasses, and more in his quest for the perfect night’s sleep.
Like many people nowadays, he’s part of a growing trend where sleep has become an obsession.
After years of neglecting rest, a significant number of Americans have started to prioritise sleep, driven by research and cultural shifts.
The US government’s annual time-use survey shows that overall sleep time has increased significantly in the past two decades, and even more so in recent years.
“The tide is changing,” said Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the university’s sleep centre. “People – especially Gen Z – have reclaimed their right to a full night of sleep, and they’ve done so without embarrassment.”
While the need for proper rest hasn’t changed – seven hours a night is still the goal – what has evolved is people’s obsession with optimising their sleep.
Online communities, sometimes referred to as “sleepmaxxers”, boast about their extreme approaches to enhancing sleep quality, from wearing mouth tapes and jaw straps to using high-tech gadgets.
The internet is full of videos promoting gadgets to tackle sleep issues people didn’t even realise they had.
From adjustable pillows that reduce facial pressure to magnesium sprays and even concoctions like the “sleepy girl mocktail” (a mix of cherry juice, prebiotic soda, and magnesium powder), there’s a hack for every concern.
For those who want to splurge, gadgets like Antosiek’s bed fan and high-end sleep wearables can reach more than US$1,600 (RM6,646). Some enthusiasts go all in with sleep systems that adjust the temperature, detect snoring, and vibrate to wake users up gently – all for the modest price of US$4,000 (RM16,616).
Even the scientific community has become intertwined with the booming sleep industry. After the success of Walker’s book Why We Sleep in 2017, sleep-tracking company Oura hired him as a medical adviser.
But not everyone is convinced this intense focus on sleep is healthy.
Researchers from Rush Medical College and Northwestern University coined the term “orthosomnia” to describe people who become preoccupied with achieving the perfect night’s sleep, often based on their use of sleep trackers. This obsession with perfection mirrors “orthorexia”, the fixation with healthy eating.
Sleepmaxxers like Antosiek may not all suffer from orthosomnia, but some sleep experts are concerned that the focus on optimising sleep can become harmful.
“Sleep is a passive process,” said Dr Milena Pavlova, director of the Sleep Testing Centre at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Boston. “It is to be protected, not forced – or ‘maximised.’”
Antosiek, from Michigan, became serious about sleep after realising his unhealthy habits from his 20s – staying up late and overindulging on weekends – had stuck with him.
He found solace in an online community called Sleep Hackers, where users shared tips and frustrations over their sleep.
His habits changed as he began seeking the right amount of light exposure and using various sleep gadgets.
One was the Oura Ring, a sleep tracker that assigns a daily sleep score between zero and 100.
Antosiek admitted to becoming fixated on getting an optimal score of 85 or higher. When he had trouble sleeping, he would anticipate a bad score, creating a cycle of anxiety around his sleep.
For some, the fascination with sleep optimisation remains harmless.
Mayte Myers, 27, who uses mouth tape and a jaw strap at night, enjoys the ritual.
“It honestly feels like a weighted blanket for my face,” she said.
Similarly, Maureen Osei, 24, from North Carolina, uses a combination of mouth tape, nose tape, and a bonnet.
“It’s so uncomfortable, there’s nothing else to do but fall asleep,” she joked. “I’m not going to scroll with my chin strap on.”
However, for others, this focus has caused more harm than good.
Sarah El Kattan, 26, from Frankfurt, never used to worry about sleep until she read Walker’s book and started listening to health podcasts.
Suddenly, she became anxious about her sleep and began experiencing physical symptoms like heart palpitations. The more she thought about sleep, the harder it became to get any.
“It was a vicious cycle,” she said.
Walker has heard similar stories from others.
His advice to those fixated on sleep? Stop focusing on it.
“Don’t read my book, don’t listen to my podcast, don’t do any of that,” he said, advising people to seek professional help if necessary.
Despite these cases, sleep experts generally welcome the new cultural emphasis on sleep.
Leah Irish, associate professor of psychology at North Dakota State University, says that while each gadget or hack may not work for everyone, the ritual of preparing for sleep itself can be helpful.
“Everything works for someone,” she said.
But not all tools are backed by science. While small studies suggest mouth taping may benefit those with mild sleep apnoea, its effects on people without breathing problems are less clear.
The most rigorous studies have also shown little evidence that magnesium improves sleep quality.
Moreover, mouth tape can obstruct airflow if the nose becomes blocked, and jaw straps can cause pain, making it essential for people with serious sleep issues to consult a doctor.
At the end of the day, no gadget or hack can replace fundamental sleep hygiene practices: going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, reducing alcohol consumption, and winding down before sleep.
Antosiek eventually realised that his fixation on sleep gadgets had gone too far. While earplugs, mouth tape, and nasal dilators helped him, the Oura Ring and bed fan didn’t.
“I became very obsessed, maybe to an unhealthy degree,” he said.
These days, Antosiek has let go of the obsession. He stopped using the Oura Ring and no longer worries about tracking his sleep.
Now, if he wakes up feeling rested and alert, that’s good enough for him. — ©2024 The New York Times Company
