Sleepmaxxing is the latest wellness trend taking over social media – but are Australians focusing so much on getting the “perfect” sleep that they are overlooking something important: how they sleep?
From mouth taping and eye masks to magnesium, sleep tracking, cooling bedrooms and elaborate nighttime routines, “sleepmaxxing” has become a huge social media trend.
The idea is simple: optimise your sleep as much as possible.
But there is another part of sleep that often gets overlooked – your sleeping position, pillow and spinal alignment.
At The Melbourne Chiropractor, we regularly see people experiencing neck stiffness, headaches, upper back tension and lower back discomfort who may not realise that their sleep setup could be contributing to the problem.
What Is Sleepmaxxing?
Sleepmaxxing is a social media trend focused on improving sleep quality through different habits, products and routines.
Some of the recommendations are sensible, such as:
- Keeping a consistent sleep schedule
- Reducing screen time before bed
- Keeping your bedroom dark and comfortable
- Exercising regularly
- Creating a relaxing bedtime routine
- Avoiding excessive caffeine late in the day
However, social media has also popularised more extreme sleep practices.
The trend has become so widespread that the term “sleepmaxxing” has attracted more than 100 million posts on TikTok.
And while improving your sleep is undoubtedly important, more optimisation isn’t necessarily better.
The Part Of Sleep Nobody Talks About: Your Spine
You can have the perfect bedtime routine, the best mattress and the most expensive pillow available – but if your sleeping position consistently places your neck or spine in an awkward position, you may wake up feeling worse than when you went to bed.
Have you ever woken up with:
- A stiff neck
- Shoulder tightness
- Upper back pain
- Lower back stiffness
- A headache
- Jaw or facial tension
- Pins and needles in your arm
- Difficulty turning your head?
Your sleeping position may be one of several factors contributing to these symptoms.
Can Your Pillow Cause Neck Pain?
Your pillow plays a surprisingly important role in keeping your head and neck supported while you sleep.
If your pillow is too high, your neck can remain bent to one side for hours.
If it is too low, your head may drop backwards or sideways.
Neither situation is ideal for everyone.
The right pillow height can depend on your sleeping position, body shape, shoulder width and personal comfort.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers generally need enough pillow height to help keep the head and neck relatively neutral rather than dropping towards the mattress.
A pillow that is too low can leave the neck angled downwards for prolonged periods.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers may prefer a lower pillow that supports the natural curve of the neck without pushing the head too far forward.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleeping can be particularly challenging for the neck because the head usually needs to rotate to one side for breathing.
If you already experience neck stiffness or headaches, changing your sleeping position may be worth discussing with a qualified healthcare professional.
What About Sleeping On Your Side?
Side sleeping is extremely common, but the position of your head, neck, shoulders and hips can all influence how comfortable you feel.
If your pillow pushes your head too far upwards, or allows it to drop down towards the mattress, your neck can remain in an uncomfortable position for several hours.
Your hips and knees can also influence spinal positioning.
Some people find that placing a pillow between their knees makes side sleeping more comfortable by providing additional support.
And What About Back Pain?
Sleep and back pain can have a complicated relationship.
Sometimes pain can make it difficult to sleep.
Other times, poor sleep can make pain feel more difficult to manage.
And for some people, their mattress, sleeping position or lack of movement during the day may contribute to morning stiffness.
Interestingly, walking is also receiving renewed attention as a simple way to support overall health and movement. Recent health coverage has highlighted walking as a low-impact activity that can support mobility and may help people with lower back discomfort.
That doesn’t mean walking is a cure for back pain – but it does reinforce an important principle:
Your spine generally benefits from regular, comfortable movement.
Don’t Fall For Every Viral Health Hack
This is perhaps the biggest lesson from sleepmaxxing.
Social media can be fantastic for discovering new ideas, but viral doesn’t automatically mean proven.
Some sleep habits promoted online are harmless and sensible.
Others may not be appropriate for everyone.
For example, some influencers promote mouth taping as part of their nighttime routine. However, experts have raised concerns about blindly adopting viral sleep techniques without considering individual circumstances.
The same principle applies to your spine.
A TikTok video telling everyone to sleep in one particular position, buy a particular pillow or perform a particular stretch isn’t necessarily going to be right for you.
Your Body Isn’t A TikTok Trend
One of the biggest problems with viral wellness trends is that they often try to provide a one-size-fits-all solution.
But bodies are different.
Your age, activity levels, occupation, previous injuries, sleeping position, stress levels and daily habits can all influence how your body feels.
Instead of constantly chasing the next viral health hack, it can be more useful to understand what your body is actually telling you.
If you repeatedly wake up with neck pain, headaches or back stiffness, it may be worth getting the problem assessed rather than simply buying another pillow or trying another TikTok trend.
When Should You Get Your Neck Or Back Checked?
Consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional if you regularly experience:
- Persistent neck pain
- Recurrent headaches
- Morning back stiffness
- Shoulder or upper back tension
- Pain that keeps returning
- Reduced neck movement
- Pain affecting your sleep
- Tingling or numbness
- Symptoms that are getting worse
A professional assessment can help determine what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether further management or referral is appropriate.
The Melbourne Chiropractor – Helping You Move Better
At The Melbourne Chiropractor, our chiropractors work with people experiencing a range of musculoskeletal complaints, including neck pain, back pain, headaches, posture-related discomfort and sports-related issues.
Our approach focuses on understanding the individual rather than applying the same solution to everyone.
We can assess your movement, discuss your symptoms and provide advice around appropriate care, exercises and lifestyle strategies where suitable.
With clinics across Fawkner, Mill Park, Westmeadows and Broadmeadows, our team is available seven days a week, including late appointments and weekends.
Final Word: You Don’t Need To “Max Out” Everything
Sleep is important.
Movement is important.
Recovery is important.
But your health doesn’t have to become another competition.
Instead of trying to optimise every tiny part of your life, focus on the basics:
Move regularly. Sleep consistently. Stay active. Look after your body. And don’t ignore persistent pain.
And if you are waking up every morning feeling like your neck and back need a chiropractor more than your coffee needs a caffeine hit, it may be time to get your symptoms assessed.
Book an appointment with The Melbourne Chiropractor today.
Book With The Melbourne Chiropractor
📍 Fawkner | Mill Park | Westmeadows | Broadmeadows
🗓️ Open 7 Days
🌙 Late Appointments & Weekend Appointments Available
👉 Book your appointment with The Melbourne Chiropractor today.