A recent study suggests that hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock can actually be beneficial. Researchers found that spending an extra 30 minutes in bed can make you more alert in the morning.
People who snoozed for that additional half-hour performed better on memory, concentration, and math tests upon waking, compared to those who immediately got out of bed. Dr. Tina Sundelin from Stockholm University explained, “There’s no need to feel guilty about hitting snooze in the morning. In fact, it might even help those who struggle with morning drowsiness.”
The improved performance is attributed to the gentler awakening from REM sleep, the stage associated with vivid dreams. In their experiments, researchers observed 31 habitual snoozers and found that snoozing didn’t have any significant negative effects on stress hormones, morning tiredness, mood, or overall sleep structure. It seems those extra minutes of snoozing can provide a smoother transition from sleep to wakefulness without disrupting sleep quality.
