Erin O'Hara: Wellness expert discusses 'Sleepmaxxing' trend

A social media trend called 'Sleepmaxxing' involving elaborate routines and hacks to maximize sleep quality and quantity, has been growing in popularity. 

Social media wellness content is giving advice about sleep - how to get more of it; how to improve it; how to measure whether you’re getting quality sleep and commonly marketing sleep aids (sometimes expensive).  

But are there downsides to following a trend when it comes to your own health? Wellness expert Erin O'Hara breaks down the facts. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
I'd be wellness time eron I harr good morning, Good morning. Okay,
sleep maxing what is it?

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Yeah? Sleepmaxing is a social media wellness trend that's been
going through probably this Year's been really trending a little
bit like the fiber maxing of something that there's always
the latest, greatest fad thing that's out there, and sleepmaxing
is one of them which has got a really interesting
like two sides of it. There's the basic sleep hygiene

(00:39):
i'd call it, which is going to be helpful for anyone,
and then there's the oh, should we really be doing
those extra tips and really really round marketing like selling stuff?

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay, yeah, it is that you're talking about the things
like taping your mouth and stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Absolutely, that is one I would query whether it's a
bit of a fad, bit of a mixed research also
if you do have sleep apnea, but concerning if you
are taping your mouth, if you could cause more problems
than good, and I think that's one thing to be
cautious around. Specially the mouth tak thing is one I
would be a little bit more cautious. Yes, it might
help you stop snoring, and maybe a partner'll be really

(01:15):
happy about that, But is it going to be that
great for you? Questionable? And I think that's where some
of these new trends are a little bit more in
the need more research phase. Some of the other ones
that I kind of query would be there was a
small study down on eating Kiwi fruits before going a bit,
but you know that showed that it can improve your sleep.

(01:37):
Whether you try that or not. If you're not a
good sleeper, maybe a good one to give it a
little will. Also, the weighted blankets is a real big
trending one for at the moment, and there's actually no
convincing evidence on this and whether it can be helpful
for sleep. But if it helps you sleep, maybe.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
Do you I don't know if you know this. Somebody
listening might be able to tell me. Do they make
you hot?

Speaker 3 (01:58):
Though?

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Because I would imagine you started to get very muggy
at night the temperatures are still quite high, and they
somehow designed that you've got the weight but not the heat.

Speaker 3 (02:06):
I find most like I've had a few menopausal women
use it in the clinic and they find them amazing.
So there's some people find them incredible. And if you
find it incredible and it helps you get a good
night's sleep, then go for it. It's not got any
resk factors, so it's one that you know may or
may not be helpful. But I think when it comes

(02:26):
to sleep, really sticking to the basic sleep hygiene and
you can't really go past you know, having a dark room,
you know, cool room, cutting back on your caffeine in
the afternoon, you know, be in mindful how much hydration
you have going into bed so you're not over hydrating
and having to get up for five times in the
night to go to the toilet. Also increasing your level

(02:48):
of physical activities you're really tired at night, and having
a shower or bath, you know, one hour before going
to bed. So the basics of things that you do
for preparing for bed, and I think you can't really
go past that. That's always going to improve for sleep
quality and you don't really need to spend a lot
of money to do those basic techniques. I think we're
with little kids. Little kids always have a sleep routine,

(03:09):
whether it's a special book or a special sleep blanket,
that kind of sets them in the routine for sleep.
So as an adult, think, if you're not a good sleeper,
start with the basics and see if that helps you
get some good night's sleep.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
Brilliant, Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
Erin for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin,
listen live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.