Episode #26
S2E26| When Tracking Your Sleep Keeps You Awake
Can tracking your sleep actually make it harder to sleep? In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout , therapist Toni Teixeira, LCSW, and entrepreneur Jackie Toale explore orthosomnia , a term used to describe becoming overly focused on sleep data from smartwatches, fitness trackers, and sleep apps. Toni and Jackie both share how quickly sleep tracking became part of their own routines, from checking sleep scores first thing in the morning to thinking about when to charge a watch so they would not miss valuable data. That leads to a bigger question: Are we using sleep data to improve our health, or are we simply trying to improve the number? They discuss the limits of wearable sleep data, why sleep stages may not be as precise as they appear, and what happens when your device says you slept well but your body tells you otherwise. Toni also explains how anxiety can become intertwined with sleep, why simply telling someone to stop tracking may not be the best solution, and how changing your relationship with sleep can sometimes be more helpful than trying to control it. Plus, Toni shares a simple visualization technique she uses to fall asleep, Jackie talks about the sleep strategies that work for her, and they discuss why sleep hygiene, routines, flexibility, and self-compassion still matter. In this episode: What orthosomnia means When sleep tracking becomes sleep anxiety The difference between improving sleep and improving a sleep score Why wearable data needs context How trackers can subtly change our behavior Why anxiety can make insomnia worse Sleep hygiene and bedtime routines Toni’s simple mental trick for falling asleep How stress, caregiving, travel, and life changes disrupt sleep When it may be time to talk with a healthcare professional Read the article discussed in this episode: Sleep Foundation: Orthosomnia https://www.sleepfoundation.org/orthosomnia Preorder Toni’s book: Easy Somatic Exercises for Everyone’s Brain https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Somatic-Exercises-Everyone-Brain/dp/B0GGTF8YFJ/ Therapy, Tech & Takeout explores how technology is shaping mental health and what it means for how we live, connect, work, and care for ourselves. Hosted by Toni Teixeira, LCSW, and Jackie Toale.
