Snooze Your Way to a Sharper Morning: The Unexpected Benefits of Hitting Snooze

For years, the snooze button has been vilified as the ultimate sleep disruptor. But recent findings from Stockholm University’s Department of Psychology are flipping the script, revealing that those extra few minutes of rest might do more good than harm.

Snoozing: A Maligned Habit?

It’s long been believed that tapping snooze leads to grogginess and disrupted sleep patterns. However, a new study led by Tina Sundelin is challenging that notion, suggesting that, for many, snoozing could actually help ease the waking process. Particularly for young adults and night owls, who often feel overwhelmingly fatigued when the first alarm goes off, the snooze button might provide a much-needed buffer.

The Science Behind the Snooze

Sundelin's team conducted two phases of research to dig into the effects of snoozing. The first phase surveyed over 1,700 people about their morning routines, showing that many regularly hit snooze because they still feel tired after their initial alarm. In the second phase, 31 habitual snoozers spent two nights in a sleep lab. One morning, they were allowed to snooze for 30 minutes; the other morning, they had to wake up right away.

Surprisingly, the results showed that those who snoozed were able to enjoy more than 20 extra minutes of sleep without negatively affecting their overall sleep quality. Even better, those participants displayed sharper cognitive function when they did finally get up. There was no significant difference in their mood or alertness, and they didn’t feel groggy upon waking—debunking the idea that snoozing causes sleep inertia, that foggy feeling many associate with repeated alarms.

Snoozing May Benefit Your Brain

The real revelation? Snoozing might prevent the jarring experience of waking up from a deep sleep stage. Sundelin explained that this gradual waking process, supported by the snooze button, could actually smooth the transition between sleep and wakefulness, allowing the brain to adjust without being shocked into alertness. This could explain why some people find they feel sharper after snoozing.

However, Sundelin offers a word of caution: not everyone benefits from snoozing. The study focused on habitual snoozers who are able to fall back asleep easily, meaning the results might not apply to those who struggle with restlessness or fragmented sleep.

The Takeaway

For those who love stealing a few more minutes in bed, this study is welcome news. Snoozing doesn’t have to be the enemy of a good night’s sleep. In fact, it might just offer a subtle boost to your morning brainpower, allowing you to start the day on a clearer note. So the next time your alarm sounds and you’re tempted to press snooze, go ahead—you just might wake up feeling sharper than ever.