What is ‘Sleepmaxxing’ and why are Gen Zs on TikTok obsessed with perfecting their sleep

In a cultural pivot from the party-hard ethos of millennials at their age, Gen Zs are redefining what it means to maximise their youth — quite literally in their sleep. With a slew of videos promising better health on TikTok, Gen Zs are now taking things up a notch with a new obsession – enter “sleepmaxxing”.

In an era where we’re slapping “maxxing” onto every word, the new generation is now going on the platform to share their own tips on how they perfect their sleep routine. They reduce their evening light exposure to lessen circadian misalignment, splash on high-tech sleep trackers, and chug their own blend of sleepy girl mocktails that are made with a mix of cherry juice or sparkling water and magnesium – all in the hopes of falling into the lad of nod at breakneck.

Now, we all know how important it is to have a good eight hours of sleep and what it can do for us mentally, physically and emotionally. According to Dr Lim Li Ling, medical director of the Singapore Neurology & Sleep Centre at Gleneagles Medical Centre, she shares that the lack of sleep has been linked to health problems such as depression, high blood pressure and heart disease.

As a matter of fact, the right amount of sleep can improve our mood, focus, energy level and even immune system. Dr Diwakar Balachandran, director of the Sleep Center at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, says: “A lot of studies show that our T-cells (which help our body fight infections) go down if we are sleep-deprived. And inflammatory cytokines go up… This could potentially increase the risk of developing a cold or flu.”

What is sleepmaxxing? 

But why are they trading late-night escapades for early bedtimes? With constant screen time and digital engagement, Zoomers are finding it harder to get a restful sleep, which has led to the charge for sleepmaxxing.

The trend which has been widely populated on social platforms like TikTok, sees users listing what they need to do to achieve the best sleep.

In a video posted by TikTok user Gareth Salem, for instance, he states some of the things to do before going to bed like avoiding liquids two hours before going to bed, sleeping in a cold, dark room, and more.

Should you try sleepmaxxing? 

While getting the right amount and quality of sleep is important, it’s imperative that you don’t put too much pressure on yourself and treat it like an exercise. This is because, when doing so, sleepmaxxing could have the opposite effect on you and lead to problems like orthosomnia, which is a medical term that describes the unhealthy obsession with getting perfect sleep.

Relying too much on wearables might not work for everyone. Many sleep trackers aren’t always accurate, and being told you had a “bad” night’s sleep — when you actually didn’t — can mess with how you feel about your rest. This can end up impacting your mood, focus, and performance the next day. That being said, some trackers can be helpful, offering gentle reminders to wind down earlier or providing useful insights about your sleep patterns. But ultimately, we have to say that it’s all about balance — take the data with a pinch of salt and focus on how well-rested you actually feel.

Of course, your bedtime routine doesn’t need a huge overhaul to improve your sleep. In fact, it can be as simple as going to bed and waking up at the same time at least five days a week, setting aside time to unwind before bed by turning off devices and relaxing, and avoiding caffeine after lunchtime to prevent sleep disruptions. Limiting alcohol and managing stress through relaxation techniques can also help quiet your mind, making it easier to fall asleep and enjoy a more restful night. While these are just small adjustments to your routine, you’d be surprised by how big of an impact it can have on your sleep quality.