Why Might Your Sleep Tracker Be Keeping You Awake?

Because chasing a perfect sleep score can create the exact anxiety it's supposed to measure. Sleep researchers have a name for this: "orthosomnia," a preoccupation with tracker data that can leave you more anxious and more awake than if you had never checked the app at all. The fix is not throwing the tracker out, it is loosening your grip on the daily number.

What orthosomnia is and why sleep researchers coined the term

In 2017, a Rush University Medical Center research team described patients showing up to sleep clinics fixated on their tracker data rather than a diagnosable sleep disorder. They named the pattern orthosomnia, a perfectionistic quest for ideal sleep numbers rather than actual rest.

How a tracker can create the stress it's supposed to measure

A 2024 cross-sectional study of 523 adults found that among regular sleep-tracker users, orthosomnia prevalence ranged from roughly 3 percent to 14 percent depending on how strictly it was defined, and those who screened positive for it had higher insomnia scores than non-trackers. A newly validated measurement tool, the Bergen Orthosomnia Scale, found that orthosomnia scores correlated with perfectionism and health stress, meaning the fixation on the number can be more disruptive to sleep than helpful.

"Sleep is… the king, the queen… of health."

— Dr. Samantha Ess, ND, Naturopathic Doctor specializing in hormone health and fertility

What to actually do instead of chasing a perfect score

• Look at weekly or monthly trends instead of a single night's number.
• Trust how you feel during the day over what the app reports.
• Set a consistent bedtime and wind-down routine rather than a target score.
• If tracker stress is keeping you up, consider taking the device off for a few nights.

Supporting a healthy stress response instead of a perfect data point

A lot of what disrupts sleep in the first place is stress, not the absence of the right gadget. Cortisol Complex, formulated with 300 mg organic ashwagandha and algae-sourced DHA, is designed to support a healthy stress response and a balanced mood, which is a more useful daily habit than a nightly grading system.† It also includes chamomile, traditionally used to support relaxation and a sense of calm.† If you are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding, pair your evening routine with our clean-label prenatal with 5-MTHF and iron bisglycinate as part of a simplified daily foundation.† Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or while managing a medical condition.

"With six kids and a business built out of a garage, I learned early that chasing a perfect night's sleep only added to my stress. Rest matters, but so does giving yourself permission to simply do your best and trust the process."

— Amy Suzanne Upchurch, Founder and CEO of Pink Stork

Frequently asked questions

What is orthosomnia?

A pattern where preoccupation with sleep tracker data creates or worsens insomnia symptoms, first described by sleep researchers in 2017.

How common is orthosomnia among people who use sleep trackers?

A 2024 study of 523 adults estimated a prevalence of roughly 3 percent to 14 percent among regular tracker users, depending on how strictly it was defined.

Should I stop using my sleep tracker?

Not necessarily. The issue is treating one night's score as a medical verdict rather than one data point among many.

Can stress cause the sleep problems a tracker is picking up on?

Stress is a well-documented driver of poor sleep quality, which is one reason supporting a healthy stress response during the day can matter more than optimizing the number at night.†

Is Cortisol Complex safe while breastfeeding?

It is breastfeeding-friendly per the product page. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement while breastfeeding.

What ingredients are in Cortisol Complex?

Organic ashwagandha root, algae-sourced DHA, chamomile, saffron bulb extract, and a full B-vitamin complex, among other ingredients, formulated to support a healthy stress response and calm mood.†

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or while managing a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.

Read more in our guide on whether more health tracking and supplement stacking is actually helping you.

Sources: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Baron et al., 2017, Brain Sciences, 2024 orthosomnia prevalence study, Frontiers in Sleep, Bergen Orthosomnia Scale, 2025, NIH NHLBI, sleep health basics.