ASK TIP SHEET

0.cached.png

By Newsweek Editors

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

It's an "age-old question," says Jim Katz of Timex. Unfortunately, it's also one with no definitive answer. According to one theory, when GE introduced the first snooze alarm in 1956, its nine-minute timing was determined by its gears. Jay Kennan of telechron.net says its creators were modifying an existing clock and added a new gear that could be set for just over or just under 10 minutes. Better to undersleep than oversleep, they figured. Today, while nine minutes is still common, many clocks come with five-, seven- or 10-minute intervals. Sweet dreams.

Read More on News