Australia: A new study suggests that hitting the snooze button in the morning may not be as harmful as once believed and could potentially enhance cognitive performance for certain individuals.
Researchers from Stockholm University in Sweden and Monash University in Australia have conducted the study. The research was published in the Journal of Sleep Research.
In a laboratory study involving 31 regular snoozers, researchers observed that an additional 30 minutes of snoozing either had no impact or, in some cases, actually enhanced the participants’ cognitive performance in tasks conducted right after waking. This was in contrast to regular snoozers, who had to wake up abruptly.
“The findings indicate that there is no reason to stop snoozing in the morning if you enjoy it, at least not for snooze times around 30 minutes,” remarked sleep scientist Ms. Tina Sundelin from Stockholm University.
“In fact, it may even help those with morning drowsiness to be slightly more awake once they get up,” Ms. Sundelin added.
The 30 minutes of snooze time was divided into three separate delay periods, each lasting 9 to 10 minutes. When compared to sleeping continuously for that half-hour, the multiple interruptions to wake up led to an average sleep loss of 6 minutes per night.
In addition to the cognitive improvements observed in certain participants, the researchers also propose that snoozing might facilitate waking up from a lighter phase of the sleep cycle as opposed to being abruptly awakened from a deep sleep, potentially making the wake-up process gentler on the body.
The study found no discernible differences in mood, stress levels, morning sleepiness, or sleep patterns (sleep architecture) between those who snooze and those who don’t.
In a broader survey of 1,732 participants, the researchers discovered that snoozing is fairly common, with 69 percent of respondents reporting that they occasionally hit the snooze button or set multiple alarms. Snoozers tended to be younger and night owls rather than early risers, typically snoozing for an average of 22 minutes.
Among the larger group of participants, snoozers experienced more morning drowsiness and shorter sleep durations. The researchers acknowledge that snoozing can potentially disrupt sleep patterns while also recognizing some of the observed benefits. Ultimately, the impact of snoozing appears to vary depending on the individual.