The Know Daily - Thursday 13 March 2025

_{Read in 4m 33s ∙ Listening to Stevie Wonder ∙}

27 UK towns and cities have been awarded Tree Cities of the World status for their “leading work in urban forestry”. To achieve this recognition, these cities have had to meet tree-planting targets, host annual celebrations to appreciate nature and lead community-driven initiatives.

😴 Seeking slumber

Sleepmaxxing is all over our social media feeds – let’s break it down.

What is the new trend?
Sleepmaxxing is the practice of optimising your sleep quantity and quality through different products, hacks and activities. It’s a trending topic on TikTok – #sleepmaxxing has amassed millions of views and search interest hit an all-time high in 2024. Viral techniques include mouth taping, curating soothing music playlists and ‘sleepy girl’ mocktails, which mix magnesium powder with cherry juice and lemonade. 

Why the interest?
It’s part of the broader wellness boom on social media over the last few years. Many people – but particularly Gen Z – are prioritising self-care and sleep is a big part of that. What’s more, sleepmaxxing lends itself well to TikTok’s short-video format, as users post "aesthetically pleasing content” of their bedtime rituals.

What are the experts saying?
Some are critical of the trend, calling sleepmaxxing hacks “questionable at best”. Sleepmaxxing staples such as exposing your skin to red light devices have been found to have minimal effects on sleep. And in fact, fixating on the perfect sleep routine using trackers can disrupt it rather than improve it. A new term has even been coined for this – orthosomnia. 

What’s the other side?
One medical professor told CNN the trend towards “focusing on sleep is a good thing”, given that in the past it has often been overlooked, especially in the hustle culture of recent years. That being said, sleepmaxxing is essentially a rebranded term for sleep hygiene which is a set of healthy habits for a good night’s rest, according to Harvard Medical School. Viral fads aside, there are plenty of scientifically backed ways to maintain good sleep hygiene, such as limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption later in the day, reducing daytime naps and technology use in the hours before bed, plus having a cool bedroom. 

💷 Side hustles: The UK government has raised the Income Tax Self Assessment threshold from £1k to £3k, meaning that up to 300,000 people with side hustles like re-selling clothes and dogwalking are no longer required to file tax returns.

• The bigger story: The move is part of a wider effort to modernise the HMRC, boost incomes and make it easier for Brits to make the most of their "entrepreneurial spirit”.

💊 Tremendous treatment: A “first-of-its-kind” daily pill for endometriosis has been approved for use on the NHS.

🌌 Capturing the cosmos: NASA launched its newest space telescope this week “to map the entire sky like never before”.

📺 Eventful viewing: BAFTA is asking the public to vote for the most memorable TV moment of 2024 – have your say here.

🚣‍♀️ Emission-free engines: Amsterdam will soon only allow ‘e-boats’ on its canals – here’s what it means for tourists.

🛒 Daily discounts: This UK supermarket is set to give away free food to shoppers, in an effort to reduce waste.

🍃 Earth tones: Check out the winners of the Tune into Nature Music Prize, which champions artists whose work collaborates with nature. 

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Trivia answer: B) Ontario’s Rouge National Urban Park will grow by thousands of hectares, preserving part of a wildlife corridor between Lake Ontario and Toronto.

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