The function of the sleep button in devices, briefly explained.
Alarm clocks and their infamous snooze buttons: A troubling sleep habit
Research reveals that, tempting as it may be to hit the snooze button in the morning, this practice is far from beneficial for one's sleep. A team of sleep researchers from Harvard Medical School, led by Rebecca Robbins, reported this in the journal "Scientific Reports."
The study, which analyzed data from over 21,000 users of the "Sleep Cycle" app over approximately three million nights, found that the snooze button was used in almost 56% of nights. In fact, nearly half of the users pressed the snooze button more than 80% of the time. On these days, they slept an average of about 20 minutes more.
The data also showed that people in Sweden used the snooze function an average of 2.7 times on such days, while in Germany and the US, it was 2.5 times each. Given this pattern, it is unsurprising that the function was used more often on weekdays than on weekends.
However, it's worth noting that the snooze button tends to disturb some of the most important sleep stages, according to Robbins. These crucial sleep stages, particularly REM sleep that occurs just before waking, are often disrupted by repetitive snoozing. As a result, deep sleep between snooze alarms is usually not achievable.
In light of this, the team recommended uninterrupted sleep. To optimize one's sleep, set the alarm for the latest possible time and get out of bed when the first alarm goes off, rather than using the snooze button repeatedly.
Sleep experts generally recommend seven to nine hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Insufficient sleep can have detrimental effects on mental health, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and impair cognitive performance.
Repeatedly using the snooze button confuses the body's natural sleep cycle and internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. This can lead to long-term consequences on overall health by interfering with natural sleep patterns.
While there is a gap in the literature regarding gender differences in the effects of the snooze button, it is generally understood that women are more prone to sleep disturbances and may experience more significant impacts on sleep quality, mood, and cognitive function due to hormonal fluctuations.
In summary, repeatedly using the snooze button compromises the quality of one's sleep by confusing the circadian rhythm and sleep cycle, resulting in a groggy and less refreshed start to the day. To maintain optimal health, it's best to eliminate the use of the snooze button and strive for uninterrupted, quality sleep.
- The study on alarm clocks and sleep habits elucidates that using the snooze button frequently, as seen in nearly 56% of nights, can disrupt crucial sleep stages, particularly REM sleep, which may hinder the achievement of deep sleep between snooze alarms.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and lifestyle, optimal sleep is essential, and health experts recommend seven to nine hours of rest each night for overall well-being. Repeatedly using the snooze button on an alarm clock can negatively impact sleep quality and have detrimental consequences on mental health, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function.
- In the realm of education and science, sleep research has shown that using the snooze button on alarm clocks can interfere with the body's natural sleep cycle and circadian rhythm, leading to long-term health issues and sleep disturbances that may be more pronounced in women due to hormonal fluctuations. Therefore, it is recommended to eliminate the use of the snooze button for uninterrupted, quality sleep.
