RHR: The Sleep Optimization Trap: Are You Tracking Yourself Into Worse Sleep?

In this episode of Revolution Health Radio, Chris Kresser explores the growing phenomenon of orthosomnia, a condition driven by the obsessive pursuit of perfect sleep metrics. While devices like the Oura Ring, Whoop, and Apple Watch offer valuable insights, they can also increase anxiety and disrupt the very sleep they aim to improve. Chris breaks down the science behind sleep anxiety, including the role of cortisol and the hyperarousal model of insomnia. He explains why common beliefs—like needing exactly eight hours of sleep—can actually make insomnia worse, and how shifting your mindset is often the most powerful intervention. You’ll also learn why cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the gold standard treatment, how to know when sleep tracking has outlived its usefulness, and what actually works for improving sleep long-term. The post RHR: The Sleep Optimization Trap: Are You Tracking Yourself Into Worse Sleep? appeared first on Chris Kresser .

You can listen to RHR: The Sleep Optimization Trap: Are You Tracking Yourself Into Worse Sleep? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

RHR: The Sleep Optimization Trap: Are You Tracking Yourself Into Worse Sleep? is an episode from Revolution Health Radio by Chris Kresser.

This episode is 16:39 long.

This episode was published on Apr 28, 2026.

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