When activated, the sleep button instigates a power-down sequence, preparing your device for a brief rest before being ready for use again.
Alarming Habit: Frequent Snooze Button Usage for More Sleep May Disrupt Rest
Pressing the snooze button to buy a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning is a common practice, particularly in parts of Europe like Germany. However, according to a study led by sleep researcher Rebecca Robbins from Harvard Medical School, this habit, while tempting, is not beneficial. The research was published in the journal "Scientific Reports."
An analysis of data from over 21,000 users of the "Sleep Cycle" app revealed that people used the snooze function on nearly 56% of nights. Moreover, nearly half of them pressed the button more than 80% of the time. This frequent snoozing resulted in an average of approximately 20-minute longer sleep on such days, compared to an average of 11 minutes per day among all app users.
When looking at specific locations, the average number of snooze buttons pressed was 2.7 times in Sweden, 2.5 times in Germany and the US, and 2.2 times in Japan and Australia. Interestingly, women tended to press the snooze button slightly more frequently than men, on average about 2.5 times compared to 2.3 times. The use of the snooze button was also more prevalent on weekdays than weekends.
However, the study found that those who slept a maximum of five hours typically did not use the snooze button. The researchers explained that this group, with the least amount of sleep, tries to utilize every minute efficiently, leaving no room for extra sleep.
Robbins shared her insights, stating, "The snooze button unfortunately disrupts some of the most important sleep phases. The hours just before waking are rich in REM sleep. Hitting the snooze button interrupts these crucial sleep phases and usually only offers light sleep between the snooze alarms."
Experts generally recommend seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and regular snoozing can negatively impact mental health, increase the risk of heart disease, and reduce cognitive performance. The general consensus is that frequent snoozing should be avoided for optimal sleep quality and overall health.
[1] repeat usage of the snooze button can disrupt the body's natural sleep patterns, causing confusion for the internal clock, or circadian rhythm. Women may be more susceptible to the negative effects of sleep fragmentation, as they tend to be more sensitive to such disruptions and report more sleep disturbances, according to some research. However, direct studies comparing genders on this specific behavior are limited.
- Frequent snoozing, as observed in the study conducted by sleep researcher Rebecca Robbins, can disrupt the body's natural sleep patterns, leading to conflict with the internal clock, or circadian rhythm.
- The study also suggests a possible gender disparity in the effects of sleep fragmentation, with women appearing to be more susceptible due to their increased sensitivity to disruptions and reported sleep disturbances, although further studies comparing genders on this specific behavior are needed.
- Enhancing one's lifestyle and overall health requires adequate sleep, but repeated use of the snooze button, as it disrupts important sleep phases, can negatively impact mental health, increase the risk of heart disease, and reduce cognitive performance, making it essential to avoid frequent snoozing for optimal sleep quality.
