Nurse Jordan Bruss has issued a viral warning against setting multiple alarms to wake up, a habit many rely on to start their day. According to Bruss, this common practice disrupts the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycle, leading to sleep inertia, drowsiness, and even long-term health issues like stress and cardiovascular problems. “Each time an alarm goes off, it triggers a ‘fight or flight’ response,” she explains, stressing that this repeated adrenaline rush can have severe consequences.

Sleep coach Beatrix Schmidt echoes these concerns, sharing that sleep fragmentation caused by multiple alarms can lead to excessive tiredness. Schmidt recalls a client who set “over 20 alarms, each five minutes apart.” She emphasizes that “fragmentation at the end can really affect how energized you feel in the morning.”

To combat this, Bruss suggests simple changes: “When that alarm goes off in the morning, get up!” Moving your alarm away from the bed or establishing an enjoyable morning routine can help ease the transition from sleep to wakefulness. “Waking up is a transition, not a switch!” Schmidt adds.