Whether you use your phone, a dawn simulator or an old school alarm clock, it’s estimated that 80% of adults use an alarm clock during the week to start their day. So, what’s the best strategy for using an alarm to wake up?
Ideally you wouldn’t even need an alarm to help you get up – you could go to sleep when you’re tired and then wake up once you’re rested. Unfortunately, between work and school schedules, as well as all the artificial light after dark we’re exposed to, we usually have to rely on something to wake us up. If you do need an alarm, here’s some advice to follow:
- Whether you use an alarm clock or phone, limit yourself from looking at the time until you are finished sleeping by turning away, dimming or covering the face of your alarm clock.
- Most electronics emit a blue light that can affect sleep, so try and find an alarm clock that has an amber, orange or red light. The warmer light ensures more restful sleep.
- Forget about using the snooze button, because while it may be tempting to set up your alarm so you can doze in bed, it’s not a good idea because it essentially interrupts your sleep. According to Matthew Walker, a professor at UC Berkeley: “Interrupted sleep is not good-quality sleep… set the alarm for when you need to get up, then turn it off and get up.”
What about training yourself to wake up without an alarm? It is possible, but only if you go to sleep at about the same time every night. Lisa Artis, an adviser for the UK Sleep Council says: “Your internal body clock will strengthen, and you will start to wake naturally at a time that suits you. However, if not setting an alarm is going to make you anxious about sleeping in and missing a train or an important meeting, you should set the alarm.”
Of course, the key to waking up easily in the morning is ensuring you get a good night’s sleep the night before. If you’re looking for ways to get better sleep, try our app, Rain Rain Sleep Sounds, to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.