Hitting Snooze Again? Here’s Why Multiple Alarms May Leave You More Tired

Here are five reasons your multiple alarms may be leaving you more tired.

Repeatedly hitting the snooze button or setting multiple alarms may leave you feeling more tired instead of refreshed. Sleep experts say that each alarm interrupts the natural sleep cycle, preventing the brain from completing important stages of sleep, particularly the later REM stages that support memory, emotional processing and mental clarity. Falling back asleep for just a few minutes after an alarm often results in fragmented, low-quality sleep, increasing the likelihood of waking during a deeper sleep stage and causing sleep inertia—the groggy feeling that can make it harder to concentrate, react quickly and feel fully awake.

Needing several alarms every morning may also be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep or that your sleep schedule is out of sync with your body’s natural rhythm. Instead of relying on repeated snoozes, experts recommend going to bed earlier, maintaining a consistent sleep and wake schedule, setting a single alarm for the actual time you need to get up, placing the alarm away from the bed, and exposing yourself to natural light, water and light movement soon after waking. These habits can help improve morning alertness and reduce dependence on multiple alarms.