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Soon after launching her lifestyle brand Goop in fall 2008, Gwyneth Paltrow championed the concept of “clean sleeping,” creating an environment and healthy habits conducive to maximizing your ZZZs. Fast-forward to the current viral wellness trend of “sleepmaxxing,” TikTok-speak for hacks that improve the quality of your snooze, and it’s clear that the social media masses are just catching up on a subject that the actress-turned-wellness guru has been talking about for nearly 17 years.
Paltrow’s latest project is the Goop video series, Sleep Training for Grown-Ups, in partnership with Westin Hotels & Resorts, known to integrate well-being into the guest experience. The Westin Heavenly Bed, available for purchase alongside a forthcoming $295 version for dogs and a Sleep Well Menu of p.m. snacks are among Westin’s sleep-centric offerings highlighted in the series, which debuts on April 10.
The day additionally marks the launch of The Sleep Shop on Goop, peddling GP-approved sleepwear, bedding, p.m. wellness and beauty products, even a meditation bench and a Loftie alarm clock with built-in media from soundbaths to breathwork.
The trio of videos feature Paltrow and Dr. Cheri Mah, a sleep science expert who consults with pro sports teams, discussing sleep-better strategies, facts and hacks to use at home or on the road. The series was directed by Ora DeKornfeld and produced by UNR Studios, with executive producers Justin Barocas and Carlos Naude.
“I believe that when you sleep well, you live well, and that’s why it’s so important,” Paltrow says in the series, cutting to how quality sleep is vital to good health. She jumped on the phone to talk to The Hollywood Reporter about the new collab and all things sleep.
What was the most unexpected thing you learned while working on the series with Dr. Mah?
I learned a lot, actually. For one, I really thought that if you are exhausted and sleep badly and under-sleep — if you normally sleep eight hours and one night you sleep six hours — that you’ve sort of lost that sleep permanently and can never benefit from it again. And she said it’s actually not true. That you can absolutely fill up your sleep bank. If you make a concerted effort to go to sleep earlier for a few nights in a row, you can incrementally add back those 15 or 30 minutes or whatever. I also learned about something called a ‘napuccino,’ which means if you want to take a nap, you would shoot a cappuccino and then quickly take a nap for 20 minutes. Then when you wake up, the caffeine will be hitting your body. I still have not tried that, but I am intrigued.
I have read how Tylenol PM, ZZZQuil and Benadryl (which all contain the antihistamine, diphenhydramine) can impact short-term memory. Can you suggest alternatives? Have you had luck with magnesium or melatonin?
Absolutely! I used to sleep perfectly, with no issue, until I went into perimenopause. So for a few years now, I’ve had a very interesting relationship with sleep. Sometimes I still sleep really well and sometimes it’s really elusive. I think magnesium is a great place to start. It’s never going to hurt you. We’re all magnesium deficient to some degree. And it can be really helpful. Then I use a melatonin in a pump, with other stuff in it, that I got from my nutritionist. It has been so incredibly helpful if I’m really struggling. You pump it under your tongue and you’re gone. It’s amazing. And then actually I was just recommended something called Insomnitol, which is [a supplement], not a pharmaceutical with PharmaGABA in it.
You mention perimenopause, and I understand progesterone levels are linked with sleep quality. So is the equation different for women in terms of hormones and sleep?
Yeah, the hormone thing is really crazy. When our progesterone and estrogen drop, it’s incredible how much it impacts. Without progesterone, it’s hard to fall asleep. And then estrogen can just kick us awake. I think for women it becomes a very complex puzzle and the hormonal piece is major. I’m in perimenopause and I’m having night sweats, hot flashes. Some nights I’m just miserable and I can’t sleep. Then it’s weird, the next night I’ll sleep like a toddler. So I’m in a very confusing phase in my life.
Westin’s latest Heavenly Bed has silver fibers and gel-infused foam to help regulate body temperature. A while back, you collaborated with Avocado on a 29-layer mattress, which reminds me of The Princess and the Pea. Can a mattress make a big difference?
Oh my God, yes. I think everybody should make an investment to get the best quality mattress that they feel comfortable getting. Especially one that’s not going to off-gas chemicals and that’s as natural as possible. We spend a third of our lives on our mattress, so it’s worth having something really comfortable and even luxurious and also non-toxic.
After you married Brad Falchuk, you initially had separate houses and did sleepovers. Is solo sleeping part of the time something you are into for sleep quality?
I mean, not for us. When we were solo sleeping, it was because we were trying to give our kids a soft landing into the idea of us being married and blending families and stuff like that. I think we actually sleep better when we’re in the same bed together. But I have a lot of friends who do. I have one friend who jokes and calls it a ‘sleep retreat,’ because she doesn’t like how ‘sleep divorce’ has a negative connotation. Some people really sleep better solo. The lovely husband of one of my best friends snores a lot and keeps her up, so she prefers to cuddle and watch TV and then go to her own bed. I think whatever works. No judgment around it.
Sex can help improve sleep. You’ve talked about how your character and Timothée Chalamet’s have lots of sex in your upcoming film, Marty Supreme. Does fake sex on set also help you sleep better? Half joking.
Unfortunately not. (Laughs) Sadly, I don’t think it impacted, but you’re hilarious.
Are you still into mouth tape and Oura Ring sleep tracking?
Oh my God, yes. I’m obsessed with mouth tape! I use one by VIO2 and it’s kind of an ‘H’ shape. And I religiously do the sleep tracking. Sometimes it’s a little demoralizing, but sometimes I feel really proud of myself.
Any other cutting-edge sleep products you’re into lately?
We have these Ozlo earbuds that are pretty amazing. You put them in and they sense when you fall asleep and shut off. So you can listen to a sleep podcast or something and it will stop playing when you are asleep. They’re noise-canceling, too, so really awesome.
What do you wear to bed?
I love a good cotton pajama. There’s a company called Schostal in Rome and they make my favorite pajamas. Also, Charvet in Paris has very luxurious, good pajamas.