From the sleep tech authorities, the news about a remarkable discovery on sleep technology came out. To the surprise of many, the result of using sleep trackers among Americans as a way to improve their sleep might be exactly the opposite. Instead of reviving, some people claim that they feel they are under more pressure and therefore, are more anxious and stressed over the sleep process. The dissatisfaction associated with sleep this anxiety even has a name: orthosomnia.
Definition of Sleep Trackers?
The increasing number of sleep trackers, which come in different shapes and forms, such as by means of smartwatches and health apps continue to promise us the betterment of our sleep. They at the same time track different parameters such as sleep duration, deep sleep phases, and the overall quality of sleep. People all over the world which is expressed by the fact that millions of people use these devices are confident that they will get a good night’s sleep with the aid of the gadgets. However, neither the recent studies nor the professional opinions confirm this.
The Concept of Orthosomnia
Orthosomnia is a term that has been recently coined by psychologists defined as over-dependence on the data of the sleep tracker that could lead to anxiety. The result is that they will use their score in order to strive for better sleep which does not always end up well. The pursuit of sleeping perfectly becomes our biggest enemy and we by that get more and more anxious about completely perfect sleep.
The “Sleepmaxxing” Craze
Recently, on March 18, the Guardian published an article on which sleep experts tackled the new trend dubbed “sleepmaxxing.”
Preferred Techniques of Sleepmaxxing
Sleepmaxxing encompasses several techniques thought to be effective sleep optimization. Some popular tools comprise mouth taping, nasal dilators, and use of special light. While a few of them could bring some benefit to sleep, researchers are warning that they are also likely to cause people to show higher anxiety towards sleep. Thus, the level of anxiety about getting to sleep might be higher when using these methods. It is of note that these trends usually result in rather antithetic sleep improvement.
Accuracy Issues with Sleep Trackers
Sleep trackers may be less than accurate or even give wrong data in their functioning, in spite of improvements often made. Sometimes this lack of faith can even cause anxiety to people when the results are not at all as they expect. It has been contended among the professionals that the anxiety about sleep-tracking metrics could keep you from focusing on the most indisputably beneficial measures while those measures might be as simple as clocking-in at the same time every night or not watching at screens at all for 1 hour before bed or sleeping in a room filled with snores and phonechargers.
Impact on Sleep Quality
Psychology Today has further elucidated this issue in one of its March 2024 publications. As stressed in the article, metaphysical ‘sleep problem’ plays a cruel trick draining people of their inner potential. One such person, for example, has become so panicky about the data that he often cannot fall asleep. Unsettled sleep patterns, frequent nighttime awakenings, and the feeling of being not really refreshed in the morning are the typical results of fear-induced insomnia. Consequently, this situation of stress and discomfort can severely disrupt a person’s health and daily performances for a long period of time.
A Personal Story
Vogue first caught my attention with this topic in their story from November 2024, particularly through a tissue of my thinking. The story delivers the author’s reflections on the ‘sleepmaxxing’ phenomenon that is currently trending with the writer, who has also had a share of the experiencing the so-call sleepmaxx. Intending to quit revealing mixed-up responses to the daytime light, she read books after the feature turned off the light and thereby, learned how to sleep a little easier. Then she joined a sleepmaxxing trend and started doing its features. However, tracking the sleep was not fun and led to worrying. At the end of the story, she admitted that she had to learn to let go of the idea of ‘perfect sleep’ and focus on calming and stress-relieving activities.
Expert Recommendations
One key point that is important to understand right at the beginning is that sleep health experts are very much in favor of using sleep monitoring as a general guide, not a strict rule. In the event of sleep tracking inaction among users, the experts advise them to take it easy; focus on the essentials, and get back into the deep understanding of sleep.
Those who are mindful and conscious regarding new technologies like sleep trackers are becoming conscious of the new mental disorder known as orthosomnia. It is clear that users need to relax and just take it easy because it is common to have a certain number of bad nights. In recent years, following every sleep metric meticulously has become the primary source of stress for many rather than a good method for stress reduction.
The most recent information from sleep specialists brings us to keep in mind that people are the ones who resort to sleep tech in search of solutions to their sleep problems. Moderation, a balanced diet, and typical sleep hygiene practices are excellent alternatives to overstyling sleep, which minimizes everyday human interventions. Removing these devices is a very effective way to simplify your life and reduce the amount of stress related to sleep monitoring.