Excellent sleep quality is the driving force behind productivity, healthy living, and emotional balance. However, many people struggle to achieve a good night's sleep, especially when they have to get up early every day. One of the popular ways to extend the sleeping pleasure is to use the alarm's snooze feature.
While snoozing the alarm gives you some more time to sleep, it could be stealing some of your energy. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of hitting the snooze button.
Pros of Hitting the Snooze Button
A snooze button could be an excellent way to prepare for the day ahead and get a few minutes of extra sleep. Its main advantages include:
- Mental preparation – using the snooze button gives you a few moments to prepare for the day ahead. Instead of rushing out of bed, you can take some time to gather your thoughts, set your intentions, and plan your day.
- Physical relaxation – when you hit the snooze button, you often drift back into a light sleep. This can provide an opportunity for physical relaxation and tension release.
- Better mood - waking up abruptly to the sound of an alarm can sometimes leave you feeling irritable or groggy. After using the snooze button and allowing yourself a few extra minutes of sleep, you could wake up in a more relaxed state of mind.
A study conducted by Stockholm University evaluated the sleeping habits of 1,732 adults. The most common reason why these people hit snooze was feeling too tired to get up after the alarm went off.
The study found that while those who snooze the alarm regularly felt drowsier in the morning, this action didn't contribute to the release of stress hormones or affect the sleep quality during the night.
Cons of Hitting the Snooze Button
While studies show that the snooze button isn't inherently bad, using it could still make you feel worse.
- Irregular Wake-Up Routine - Your body prepares to wake up around two hours before it does. If you maintain a sleeping routine, your body is often ready to get up the moment your alarm sounds. By hitting the button, you allow yourself to drift off and confuse the body into starting a new sleep cycle. After you finally wake up, you could experience drowsiness that's hard to shake off throughout the day.
- Deep Sleep Disruption - Studies show that the effect of sleep inertia could become especially serious if you wake up during the deep sleep cycle, also called REM sleep. By using the snooze button many times, you are increasing your chances of disrupting the deep sleep phase. When this happens, you may find yourself feeling groggy all day long.
Resolving the Snooze Issue the Right Way
So, should you hit the snooze button in the morning? While pressing snooze now and then won’t harm your physical health in the short term, it can leave you feeling groggy, irritable, and less productive throughout the day. The best way to break the snooze cycle is to train your body to wake up naturally, no snooze needed. Start by establishing a consistent sleep schedule: go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Just as important, make sure your bedroom sets you up for restful sleep.
At Land of Sleep, we have an impressive selection of high-quality mattresses that can help you wake up well-rested every morning and forget about the snooze button. Contact us today or visit one of our locations!
