Six Sleep Trends For 2024

Sleep Supplements | Mouth Tapping | Sleep Sounds | Sleep Optimization Apps | Cold Showers and Saunas For Sleep | Sleep Divorce

Introduction

Sleep is increasingly becoming more trendy yet elusive in today’s fast-paced society. 

We’ve all looked to the Internet for answers and tips on how to sleep better. 

While plenty of sleep content exists, you should expect to find as many fads as facts on the internet and social media.

To help you understand what’s new in sleep, we have compiled a list of six (6) sleep trends for 2024, all supported by genuine facts.

 

1) Sleep Supplements

Sleep supplements are in vogue at the moment. Melatonin, magnesium, and amino acids such as L-theanine are popular supplements, and more people are popping these pills. 

Examining the data, we discovered that, per Google Trends, search interest in sleep supplements grew by 31% in the previous year and is predicted to rise by 14% in 2024.^[1]

While more study is required to determine how supplements like magnesium and zinc affect sleep quality, many randomized controlled trials indicated that supplements like amino acids and melatonin markedly increased subjective sleep quality.^[2]

For instance, a recent study showed that fast-release melatonin pills improved sleep duration and quality in patients with circadian misalignment.^[3]

While some content on the internet may make melatonin up as the “magic sleep pill”, experts have warned that melatonin may not be effective for everyone, particularly those with persistent sleep problems.

Essentially, many sleep specialists feel supplements like melatonin work best when accompanied by proper sleep hygiene. Most people can achieve the claimed effects of sleep pills by promoting their brain’s natural melatonin production through sleep-hygienic routines and habits.

 

2) Mouth Tapping

If you follow sleep-related content on social media, you have probably seen or heard of “mouth taping.” This involves putting tape over your lips to stop mouth breathing and snoring and help with obstructive sleep apnea. Data on mouth tapping reveals that internet queries for mouth tape increased by 120 percent in 2023 and are anticipated to rise by 55 percent in 2024.^[4]

While most evidence supporting mouth tapping is anecdotal, some studies have shown that it may benefit individuals with mild obstructive apnea.^[5] 

Furthermore, these studies explain that breathing via one’s nose is the healthiest way since it encourages proper breathing mechanics. However, physicians advise that those with sleep apnea or breathing difficulties caused by nasal obstruction avoid mouth tapping because it might be dangerous.

The best course of action for suspected sleep apnea patients is to speak to their doctor about get tested and medically approved management options.

 

3) Sleep Sounds

Sleep sounds, such as white and pink noises, have been around for a long time, but more people are increasingly adopting them to relax at night. 

Google Trends data indicates a 121 percent spike in searches for green noise last year, with a projected 52 percent increase in 2024.^[6] 

Also, inquiries about white noise increased by 25 percent.^[7] Typically, these sounds help to mask distracting noises that might interfere with sleep and promote relaxation.

4) Sleep Optimization Apps

Mobile sleep apps are not new, but the most recent ones make greater use of artificial intelligence to deliver personalized insights and recommendations. 

These apps track sleep stages, detect snoring, and even play calming sounds that coincide with the sleep cycle. 

They also include guided meditation and breathing techniques to assist customers in falling asleep faster and getting more restful sleep. 

Over the last year, there was a 3% increase in the total number of searches for sleep trackers.^[8] 

While Fitbits and Apple Watches have dominated the market for some time, new entrants are poised to overtake them. 

Searches for sleep tracker rings increased by 8% in 2018, and experts predict that number will rise by 11% in 2024.^[9] 

It is crucial to emphasize that sleep trackers are less accurate than sleep studies available in hospitals, such as polysomnography, and the data becomes less dependable for people with chronic sleep problems.

 

5) Cold Showers and Saunas For Sleep

Studies have shown that taking an ice bath or a cold shower before bed can help you sleep better and longer.^[10] In the same way, saunas have been shown to help people rest and calm down.^[11]

Based on the info from Google Trends, more people searched for “ice baths” in 2023 than the year before. 

Also, searches for “cold shower before bed” have grown by 80 percent over the last year.^[12] The number of “sauna before bed” queries increased by 81 percent in the past year.^[13]

 

6) Sleep Divorce

Sleep divorce is a practice where couples choose to sleep in separate rooms instead of sharing a bed. The idea of a “sleep divorce” has recently become more common. Many news sites have raved about it because celebrities like Cameron Diaz and the Beckhams have talked about sleeping in a different room from their partners. Also, an American poll found that more than one-third of the participating individuals regularly sleep in a different room from their partner.^[14] 

If you or your spouse believe that sleep divorce is too extreme, consider the Scandinavian sleep technique, which permits couples to sleep in the same bed but with different blankets or duvets.

 

Final Words

In today’s society, getting enough high-quality sleep is critical. If you want to get additional sleep, you can try some of these trending sleep aids. However, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if your sleep issues persist.

 

References:

1. Google Trends. (n.d.). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=sleep%20supplements
2. Vicky Chan, Kenneth Lo,      Efficacy of dietary supplements on improving sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Postgraduate Medical Journal, Volume 98, Issue 1158, April 2022, Pages 285–293, https://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139319
3. Slomski, A. (2018).      Melatonin improves sleep in patients with circadian disruption. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 320(8), 749. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.10903
4. Google Trends. (n.d.-b). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=mouth%20tape
5. Lee, Y. C., Lu, C. T., Cheng, W. N., & Li, H. Y. (2022). The Impact of Mouth-Taping in Mouth-Breathers with Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Preliminary Study.      Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(9), 1755. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10091755
6. Google Trends. (n.d.-c). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=green%20noise
7. Google Trends. (n.d.-d). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=white%20noise
8. Google Trends. (n.d.-e). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=sleep%20tracker
9. Google Trends. (n.d.-f). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=sleep%20tracker%20ring
10. Chauvineau, M., Pasquier, F., Guyot, V., Aloulou, A., & Nedelec, M. (2021). Effect of the depth of Cold Water Immersion on sleep architecture and recovery among well-trained male endurance runners. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.659990
11. Hussain, J. N., Greaves, R. F., & Cohen, M. M. (2019). A hot topic for health: Results of the Global Sauna Survey. Complementary therapies in medicine, 44, 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.012
12. Google Trends. (n.d.-g). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=cold%20shower%20before%20bed
13. Google Trends. (n.d.-h). Google Trends. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=sauna%20before%20bed
14. Celmer, L. (2023, July 10). Over a third of Americans opt for a “sleep divorce.” American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers; American Academy of Sleep Medicine. https://aasm.org/over-a-third-americans-opt-sleep-divorce/