What to know
- ‘Maxxing’ means taking self-optimization to the extreme, from fitness to skincare to relationships.
- Experts say the trend can boost motivation but also risks mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion.
- The pressure to ‘maxx’ everything may fuel perfectionism and make healthy habits harder to sustain.
- Moderation is key: sustainable self-improvement matters more than chasing viral extremes.
Proteinmaxxing, pheromone maxxing, tanmaxxing. The suffix -maxxing is defining Gen Z’s way of living, but what does it truly mean in everyday life?
The viral phenomenon of -maxxing everything you’re doing is taking over social media, especially across Gen Z users’ For You Pages (FYP).
Co-Founder and Registered Psychotherapist & Life Coach of Psych Company, Krista Roesler, defines maxxing as “a viral online trend that means optimizing self-improvement to the maxx. It can introduce positive changes but also has the risk of obsessive behaviours.”
Professional Certified Coach Lisa Murphy emphasizes that “maxxing” is a “capital T trend,” saying that the word “maxxing” may focus on “maximizing” things in life. Still, it needs to be pursued in a healthy way for it to be effective.
“It’s great that people want to optimize their lives, but at the same time, we don’t want to get so intense and focused that we’re potentially hurting ourselves,” Murphy told Now Toronto.
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Why is Gen Z obsessed with “maxxing” their lives?
Murphy says the trend stems from a desire to look and feel your best, but cautions that it has a backlash effect.
“I think there is a cultural intensity right now about optimizing our health and our lives… but it can lead to unhealthy obsessions or interests,” she said.
Things that were once supposed to be effortless, such as a skincare routine, have now become a 15-step process.
Roesler explained that Gen Z wants to “maxx,” rooted in a desire to feel accomplished.
“There is an allure of having a clear sense of purpose that comes with adopting a maxxing mindset. Channelling and focusing one’s thoughts, actions and time into self-care, hobbies, food or relationships and optimizing them can create the feeling that something concrete is being accomplished,” she told Now Toronto.
“Also, this can de-emphasize the hyper-focus on work and career that are the hallmarks of the earlier generations – and instead elevate the mundane to a higher level of importance in life,” Roesler added.
Murphy adds that maxxing can sometimes feel like too much, giving the trend some backlash.
“What about just feeling like we’re enough, or getting more rest and toning down some of the rhetoric over optimizing every aspect of life?” Murphy questioned.
“I think there’s a desire to have this perfect recipe for happiness or health, but the reality is that everybody has different individual health and relationship needs,” she added.
But is “maxxing” always better, or counterproductive?
Murphy explained there could also be some psychological appeal to the challenge of “maxxing” their lives.
“It can be sometimes motivating to go all in on something and give it some focus. That sense of challenge can be exciting,” she said.
It can also remind people of “side quests” or turning your life into a game, Roesler explained.
“It makes boring activities more interesting and fun – like a game. You can gamify your life and be on a quest to optimize yourself. Doing this can make you feel more control over aspects that contribute toward defining you as a person,” she explained.
Roesler shared that it can even build on one’s confidence after “maxxing” in looks, sleep, eating, and exercising.
But Murphy compares the trend to a New Year’s resolution, saying people often don’t accomplish these goals when they overdo it till they fall off the wagon.
“Taking small, progressive, and achievable steps are more likely to make habits stick and succeed. The ‘maxxing’ aspect of things can sometimes make it too difficult to follow through,” Murphy said.
The pressure of “maxxing” can also sometimes have a detrimental effect, she shared.
Roesler shared that it can sometimes feel like being a perfectionist.
“It can be a toxic way to live your life and can actually cause people to fail to create consistent long-term habits,” she said. “Maxxing can lead to emotional, mental and physical exhaustion.”
Roesler says it’s a trend designed to fail.
“Maxxing as a goal in and of itself is designed to fail. It is reductionist in that it boils life down into a checklist to rinse and repeat and live up to,” she stated.
Murphy also shared that it reflects “hustle culture,” with individuals “being extremely intense in pursuit of something.”
How to effectively “max” your life?
Instead, Murphy recommends evaluating your needs and feelings, and deciding to optimize something that will matter a few years from now and align with you.
She reminds Torontonians to pursue their goals without letting it take up space from other important things in life.
Roesler says to “maxx” less by listening to and believing influencers less, and to avoid extremes, but to “maxx” moderation more.
“Eating in moderation, exercising in moderation so it’s doable and realistic and so it can be maintained consistently over time,” she said.
