You probably feel
empty without your smartphone by your side while you sleep. However, using it
as an alarm clock may interfere with a good night’s sleep as you are tempted to
check your notifications every hour or so. Smartphones also emit
“blue light,” which is so bright that it could trick your brain into thinking
it’s daytime and keep you awake late at night. It’s time you turned your
bedroom into a smartphone-free zone and considered an alarm clock to ease you
into a good morning.
10+ Tips for Choosing the Best Alarm Clock
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Why Choose an Alarm
Clock?
Many of us rely on
alarms to wake up in the morning. While some people use the built-in alarm on
their smartphones, others prefer physical alarm clocks. Alarm clocks have
advanced dramatically over the past few years to include more than just snooze
options and programmable alarms. Today’s models come with LCDs, wall
projectors, “weekend mode” settings, Bluetooth connectivity, and so on.
10+ Tips for Choosing the Best Alarm Clock
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However, the most
crucial factor in choosing a solid alarm clock is performance. Sleepers need a
clock that can wake them up reliably each morning. The best alarm clocks
feature customizable snooze and volume options to accommodate you with
different needs. While high-tech clocks tend to cost more compared to
minimalist models, most alarm clocks are available for less than $100.
That said, here are
some essential tips to consider before choosing an alarm clock.
Traditional Alarm
Clocks
#1: Do You Prefer a
Digital or Analog Face On Your Alarm?
Modern alarm clocks
have great looks and styles, while classic ticking hands look both amazing and
“classy.” But none of that really matters. You should rather consider what
effect your alarm has in regards to waking you up on time.
Here are some things
to consider:
The LED display light
can brighten up your room so much that it will be difficult for you to sleep.
Compared to analog
clocks, it’s harder to avoid staring at an LED display once you wake in the
middle of your sleep. This can cause you more stress and make it difficult for
you to fall asleep again.
Digital displays
allow you to tell the exact time instantly.
#2: Do You Travel a
Lot?
You may want to
consider reducing the size for traveling.
If your job requires
you to travel from one place to another, it’s easier to have a small alarm
clock that runs on batteries and can fit comfortably in your suitcase.
A few things to
consider:
Some travel alarms
fold into cases, which protects them from damages.
Charge your batteries
regularly to make sure your clock never stops ticking.
Always carry some
extra batteries.
Speaking of
batteries…
#3: Get a Model That
Supports Battery Backup
Some alarm clocks
come with battery support, while others just plug into your wall. Plug-in
models tend to reset in a blackout or power surge. Therefore, an alarm clock
with battery support will be much more efficient and reliable.
#4: Wake Up to
Podcast or Music
When you stimulate your brain with music or words rather than “Beep! Beep! Beep!” you respond much
better and wake more effortlessly. Consider a clock radio that you can set to
your favorite morning talk show or radio station.
#5: Choose Le Snooze
Most alarms clocks
are built with a snooze that lasts 9 minutes as many believe snoozing for 10
minutes put you back into a deeper slumber. If you like a shorter or longer
snooze, some alarms have snooze options you can set between 1-60 minutes.
Alternative Alarm
Clocks
#6: Wake More
Naturally By Incorporating Light
Some alarms can
brighten the room and create an illusion of sunrise in order to initiate the
wake-up mechanism in your body. Light can trigger your body to build hormones
like cortisol—this helps you wake up more naturally. It also signals a slight
change in body temperature and lowers the building of sleep-inducing chemicals,
such as melatonin.
Rise & Shine
alarm clocks can slowly light up your room and increase the volume so you can
wake more comfortably.
#7: Get Busy With
Physical Activities
You must engage in
various physical activities to help you fall asleep and wake up seamlessly.
When your body moves, your blood moves as well—this is a healthy and effective way to start your day.
Work Out alarm clocks
are compact and amazing. They won’t stop playing the alarm sound until you
complete the required bicep curls.
#8: Set The Volume As
Per Your Liking
While some people are
able to sleep through an alarm sound, others cannot stand the noise. Even when
you’re asleep, your brain processes auditory signals. Once you get deep into
the sleep cycle, it will require more noise to wake you up. If you sleep
through alarms or wake up at odd hours, consider an alarm clock that has
increased volume.
For example, the
Sonic Alert Loud Dual alarm clock lets you adjust the volume up to 112
decibels. Also, you can make it fully silent and choose the shaker option
instead. This can be helpful if you have some people over and don’t plan to
ruin their sleep.
Another option is the
Screaming Meanie, which can be adjusted to loud, louder, or even loudest (the
alarm turns into a siren). It’s a nifty travel tool, and can also work as a
timer.
#9: Shake Yourself
Awake
Many alarm clocks
boast a device that you can place right under the mattress, so it shakes you
awake. It’s a gentle shake and can either accompany your alarm sound or just
shake on its own. This is incredibly useful for those with trouble waking to
the alarm sound.
For instance,
SmartShaker can work with your smartphone’s alarm clock. It connects via
Bluetooth and activates the shake. The sound, however, is optional. On the
other hand, silent alarms avoid noises entirely.
They wake you with gentle
shakes. All you need to do is strap a rubber band on your finger and set the
alarm time. It’s wirelessly connected and activated to shake when the time is
right. Just shake it vigorously each time you want to snooze.
#10: How About a
Carpet Alarm?
Carpet alarm clocks
are basically a carpet that you place right next to your bed. You get a
nice-looking LCD, which reads the time and doesn’t stop sounding until you get
off the bed and stand on top of it.
#11: Why Not Combine
All the Elements?
You don’t necessarily
have to choose one way of waking up. You can combine different elements to
cover all the bases to ensure you never miss those important morning meetings
again. Buy a clock that uses various tactics to wake you up from a deep slumber.
So, these were eleven
essential tips to consider before choosing an alarm clock for your daily needs.
Be creative and use several alarm clocks to figure out which one suits your
needs the best.
If you don’t want to
be bothered with a traditional alarm clock, by all means, use the built-in
alarm app on your smartphone. Just make sure your phone stays silent, not the
alarm. You can also turn the vibration on with one of your all-time favorite
songs.
Some alarm clocks
display dim after specific hours (e.g., during sunsets). So, if you like
sleeping in the dark, look out for this feature.
Also, if your digital
clock is an electronic device and requires to be plugged in, chances are it
will blink repeatedly and reset to 12 am each time you turn it off or unplug
it. So, unless the clock has a battery backup, you will have to adjust the time
correctly.
Did you find this
article helpful? If so, make sure to share it with your friends and family.
Also, leave a comment below if you have any queries regarding how to choose an
alarm clock. We’d love to help you out.
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