What do reading more books, eating more fiber, and perfecting your sleep routine have in common? On social media, they are all forms of “maxxing,” the viral trend of taking self-improvement to the max.
In a recent CNBC article, “From booksmaxxing to looksmaxxing: Why the viral trends concern some mental health experts,” reporter Renée Onque turned to Dr. Jennifer Hartstein for an expert perspective on what the trend can mean for our mental health.
As the article explains, maxxing has become shorthand for optimizing just about everything: booksmaxxing (reading more), fibermaxxing (adding fiber to your diet), sleepmaxxing (chasing perfect sleep), and looksmaxxing (changing your appearance to look more conventionally attractive). The trend has taken off alongside a booming wellness industry projected to approach $10 trillion by the end of the decade.
Wanting to improve your health is a good thing, the experts interviewed agree. The trouble starts when optimization tips into obsession. “The idea is about optimization, but the risk is about overdoing it,” Dr. Hartstein told CNBC.
Clinging too rigidly to a goal can set off feelings of shame when we fall short, feed anxiety and depression, and crowd out the parts of life that matter most, including our relationships, Dr. Hartstein explains in the piece. Appearance-focused versions of the trend carry additional risks, from body image struggles to physically harmful tactics popular among teenage boys.
So why is maxxing everywhere right now? In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, “locking in on one thing almost provides a sense of stability,” Dr. Hartstein notes.
Her advice: start with your “why.” Ask yourself what goal you actually want to set and what is reasonable for you specifically, not for the people you follow online. And remember that the healthiest habits are the ones you can step away from when life demands it and pick back up when you have the bandwidth.
Read the full article on CNBC.com, and watch CNBC’s companion video, “Why everyone’s so obsessed with ‘maxxing’ right now.”
