In the morning, the alarm clock rings, but you don’t feel like getting up yet. Press the snooze button and roll over again until the alarm goes off again in five to ten minutes. Sounds like a relaxed morning. However, under certain circumstances, repetitive snoozing can have a negative impact on health. Researchers at the German Society for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine know how and why .
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When is “snoozing” unproblematic?
The good news first: If snoozing is firmly integrated into the sleep and morning ritual and if the need for sleep is met, snoozing does not have a negative effect on your health. On the contrary: Hans-Günter Weeß, board member of the German Society for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine, calls this snoozing “supplementary sleep”, which makes it easier to get up. However, caution should be exercised if the snooze button is pressed for too long.
Too much sleep can lead to depression
On the other hand, if you press the snooze button too often, you may oversleep. The consequences are listlessness, lack of drive and, in the worst case, mild depression during the day. The more a person sleeps over their need for sleep, the more pronounced the symptoms are, according to Weeß.
Snoozing when not getting enough sleep
If the need for sleep is not reached in the morning, the snooze button is pressed and the person falls asleep again. Every time the alarm rings again, he is woken up again and again. With consequences: the quality of sleep deteriorates and sleep is less restful. The brain cannot work properly during the day and concentration problems can occur. Permanent sleep problems and lack of sleep can make you fat, weaken the immune system and thus promote diseases , as well as lead to high blood pressure and impure skin .
Finding sleep easier in the evening
- Do without blue light from smartphones and televisions.
- Reduce caffeine and alcoholic beverages in the evening.
- Get into the habit of pre-sleep rituals.
- Provide a comfortable environment, eg blackout curtains, a comfortable temperature and a suitable mattress.
- Do not toss and turn in bed: Convulsive falling asleep does not work. Try to relax or read until you get tired.
