10+ Tips for Choosing the Best Alarm Clock

10+ Tips for Choosing the Best Alarm Clock

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

 [ photo: pixabay ]

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

 [ photo: unsplash ]

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.