Do you hit the snooze button when your alarm goes off, or do you get up right away? If you do, you’re not alone.
A recent study conducted by Swedish scientists involving over 1,700 adults revealed that 69% of them do not wake up immediately at the sound of the first alarm.
Nearly 70% of people who set alarms will… snooze – (Photo: Getty Images).
Among this 69%, many either turn off the alarm completely or press the snooze button for another 5 or 10 minutes. They might also “strategize” by setting multiple alarms in succession and then turning them off one by one.
Psychologist Tina Sundelin from Stockholm University, the lead author of the study, noted that those who do not wake up immediately at the first alarm tend to sleep an additional 22 minutes.
Overall, the average age of those who hit the snooze button is 6 years younger than those who wake up promptly when the alarm goes off. Furthermore, the snoozers are four times more likely to become “night owls” compared to those who get up on time.
Does the habit of turning off the alarm and going back to sleep affect health? Psychologist Tina Sundelin indicated that in her study, she found no evidence of this.
Specifically, 31 individuals who frequently turned off their alarm and slept in were given cognitive tests in two scenarios: waking up at the alarm and waking up after snoozing. The results of the two tests showed minimal difference, and in fact, snoozing helped some individuals feel more alert.
Expert Sundelin emphasized that a good night’s sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being, but modern life often prevents many from getting enough rest. About one-third of American adults report sleeping less than the recommended 7 hours or more each night.
