Hitting snooze
I’ve recently come to the conclusion that there’s a conspiracy going on among companies that produce digital clocks. Namely, that they’re aiming to make us sleep later. This dawned on me the other day when I stretched my arm over to the night table to switch off the alarm that startled me awake. I was fumbling to turn the alarm off completely when I realized that it was much easier to simply hit “snooze.”
Take a look at your own clock. I’ll wait while you go inspect it. Nearly every clock I’ve looked at has the same feature—the snooze button is three times the size of the “off” button. If you’re more apt to use your smartphone as an alarm clock, guess what? It’s the same there, too. On my phone, at least, when the alarm sounds—SNOOZE appears in bright orange right in the center of the screen… while the option to stop the alarm altogether appears as a much smaller button at the very bottom of the screen. It’s almost as though they want to make it even more difficult to wake up than it already is.
I’m sure there’s some method to this madness. After all, from my unscientific poll (with a rather small sample size) it seems the majority of Americans tend to hit snooze once or twice before actually getting out of bed. The clocks are only giving people what they want, I suppose.
Or… maybe… it’s some subtle reminder that it’s okay to rest. To move a little slower. Or to take even a few extra minutes to breathe and relax before the rush of the day begins.
The Bible has a lot to say about resting. Mostly that it’s an important part of being human. We simply cannot continue at a frenetic pace indefinitely. And we’re at our best—our most compassionate and our most faithful—when we’ve taken time to let our body, mind, and soul rest, even just a bit.
There’s a reason God, in fact, commands us to take time for sabbath and renewal. Or why the psalms tell us to “be still” and know God is present. Because it’s a necessary part of the Christian life.
So, set aside some time throughout the day that’s meant for quiet and restoration. Or, at the very least, hit snooze once or twice, as needed. It seems it’s what God (and the clock companies) would want you to do.
Michele Pittington
Thanks Katie!
I now understand why I snooze 5 or 6 times before I get up!!! Those extra sets of nine minutes are so important to the great start of my day.
Jane Strittmater
It was brought to my attention that it was ok to take a nap during the day which I have not yet done but thinking now that’s it might not be a bad idea to do that or to hit the snooze on the clock. Thanks, Katie, for giving me permission to do so.
David DeWit
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Cal Werner
Excellent advice