Sleepmaxxing Trend Prompts Health Experts Warn of Sleep Anxiety

The sleep‑optimisation trend dubbed “sleepmaxxing” has surged on TikTok, where creators share detailed bedtime routines, cool‑room setups and various gadgets. The practice advocates regular bedtimes, limiting evening screen exposure, keeping bedrooms dark and cool, and avoiding caffeine and other stimulants late in the day.

Sleep physicians Dr Kat Lederle (London) and Dr Lizzie Hill (Bristol) note that many of these habits echo established sleep‑hygiene advice, but cautioned that excessive focus can lead to anxiety, a condition researchers call orthosomnia, where users become obsessed with tracker data rather than how rested they feel. Both urged a relaxed relationship with sleep and warned that expensive devices, supplements and other gimmicks are unnecessary for most people.

The trend is gaining traction beyond the UK, with South African media reporting on its rapid rise and the booming market for sleep‑related products such as smart mattresses and wearable trackers.