So which bedtime tips should you take and which should be laid to rest? Below, a sleep expert and mental health expert breaks down all the hype surrounding sleepmaxxing:

What is sleepmaxxing—and who is making all the noise?

Sleepmaxxing is trending among women, many of whom are eager to share how they mastered the art of sleep. TikTok creator Mayte Myers, for example, he popularized the concept of “morning shop,” in which he dramatically removes his satin sleep cap, overnight face mask, mouth strip, and jaw mask to show his dedication to beauty sleep. But men are also an important part of this digital conversation. A college-age creator who goes by the handle @shinyyy2.0explained how to “sleep like a D1 athlete” with blue light glasses, nasal strips, mouth tape and 100% organic cotton sheets. His goal? “Optimal recovery and performance.”

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This current sleep craze reflects a greater emphasis on the importance of sleep to one’s health and is due in part to all the widely available sleep tracking technology. The fad joins the ranks of other beauty and health habits taken to the max, including “healmaxxing,” “sunmaxxing“, and “beautymaxxing.”

Like many TikTok sensations, however, much of the advice comes not from actual medical professionals, but from influencers (or more like “sleepfluencers”), some of whom film their bedtime routines from their dorms.

Is maximizing your sleep a good thing?

There are elements of sleepmaxxing that are valuable, such as tried and true lifestyle advice. For example, maintaining a regular sleep and eating schedule has been shown to have benefits for your metabolism, immune system and overall health, says Fariha Abbasi-FeinbergMD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and medical director of sleep medicine at Millennium Physician Group in Fort Myers, Florida.

A consistent relaxation routine can help you stick to a regular wake-up time and get quality sleep, which has mental health benefits. “Sleepmaxxing strategies, such as minimizing phone use and having a relaxing meditation practice before bed, can help support a balanced mood, a realistic worldview, and strong emotional regulation skills,” says Lauren FarinaLCSW, licensed psychotherapist and performance coach based in Chicago.

Additionally, there are all kinds of breathing tips, but the bottom line is that deep, mindful breathing can eliminate stress so you can escape. A popular technique you may want to try is “box breath”, a calming technique used by the elite US Navy SEALs. “Just three minutes of breathing in the evening before bed can help the body reach a state of relaxation necessary for quality sleep,” says Farina.

Dr. Abbasi-Feinberg approves of patients analyzing data from their smartwatches or fitness trackers to work on improving sleep duration and quality. However, while trackers mostly monitor movement, oxygen levels and breathing patterns, they don’t tell the whole story about sleep and can’t be trusted for 100 percent accuracy, says Dr. Abbasi-Feinberg .

Like any wellness trend, sleepmaxxing can go too far in the wrong direction. It could very well lead to “orthosomnia” an unhealthy obsession with getting perfect sleep; being hyper-fixated on the eight-hour clock can lead to anxious or compulsive behavior, such as constantly chasing sleep and punishing yourself when you don’t. This may be especially true for people who are likely too invested in sleep monitoring. “This can act as a stressor on the nervous system and therefore backfire on our efforts to support healthy sleep,” adds Farina.

Which trends are worth a pause before you dive in?

TikTok might inspire you to prioritize your sleep hygiene better, but take some popular advice with a grain of salt. For example:

• Magnesium supplements or mocktails: Exist mixed research on the effectiveness of magnesium. Be sure to check with your doctor first to find the correct dosage and type of magnesium For you.
• Mouth tape: Touching your mouth it has no significant proven benefits for snoring or breathing better if you tend to be congested (let alone doing anything to improve your jawline), Dr. Abbasi-Feinberg says. Dentists and medical experts take note that it is not for everyone and the benefits vary.
• Go shopping: Sorry to disappoint you, but there may be no such thing as the “perfect” pillow for superior rest. Many patients ask Dr. Abbasi-Feinberg for the ideal pillow, mattress, or sheets, but there’s no data to suggest that a single magical pillowcase can help you age in reverse or sleep like a baby. Instead, Dr. Abbasi-Feinberg advises that you organize a sleep routine with whatever comfort items are most comfortable for you.

As long as you follow the sleep tips recommended by the experts, you can sleep to your heart’s content. Bottom line: Sleepmaxxing strategies should be more like guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Everyone’s body and sleep habits are different. So turn on your sleep monitor and see what happens, but rather than obsessively logging hours of sleep, the key is to assess how rested you feel on average, advises Dr. Abbasi-Feinberg. This is the true test of a sleepmaxx.