Why You Should Break Up With Your Alarm Clock for 2022

Be honest. When your alarm wakes you up in the morning, do you feel rested? Most people don't. That's because an alarm clock quite literally scares you out of your sleep.

In the past few years, companies have created more soothing sounds that wake us gently. Now, we can wake up to the sounds of birds chirping or the crash of waves against the shore.

But, it doesn't change the fact that you're being startled out of your sleep. I mean, it's literally called an ALARM clock for a reason. So, let's consider a gentler approach to waking up for the new year.

Why Alarm Clocks Are Unhealthy

Waking up to an alarm is the human equivalent of unplugging your desktop while it's updating the OS. Humans might not brick as easily as devices do, but it will still make for a terrible start to the day.

This is especially likely if you wake up during deep non-REM sleep or during REM sleep. These are the two sleep stages where your brain begins to repair itself and the rest of your body.

What Happens During Deep Sleep and REM Sleep

When you slip into deep and REM sleep, your brain has completely disregarded reality and the outside world. It is now entirely focused on building muscle, repairing tissue, and strengthening the immune system.

Regularly disrupting your brain during these crucial tasks can have a negative impact on your health. It can also negatively impact your sleep pattern over time.

How To Break Up With Your Alarm Clock

Saying goodbye to the alarm won't be easy, especially if you need to wake up by a specific time each day. However, there are some good ways to reduce your reliance on this modern nuisance.

1. Go To Bed at the Same Time

Instead of setting an alarm to wake up, set one for going to bed. This will take some trial and error, but it's possible to estimate what time you need to go to bed to wake naturally at a specific time.

2. Reduce Night-Time Distractions

If you have trouble falling asleep at night, consider what might be keeping you up. Common distractions include stress, phones, TVs, and noises. Identify each problem and look for solutions to reduce their effects.

3. Change Your Work Schedule

Do you find that you wake up naturally at a specific time on your days off? Maybe that's your true sleep pattern. If possible, try to create a work schedule that is more compatible with this, instead of forcing yourself to conform.

4. Try Light Therapy

Light therapy is an excellent way to get to bed on time and wake up on time. Dim the lights as it gets closer to bedtime and reduce blue-light exposure from devices, such as cellphones. Then, use an alarm that mimics the sunrise, so you wake naturally to light instead of noise, in the morning.

5. Reduce Substance Use

Cleveland Clinic identifies substances as a top reason for sleep disruptions. Examples include nicotine, caffeine, anti-depressants, alcohol, and some medications. If you must take medications, talk to your doctor to determine how best to mitigate the effects they have on sleep.

6. Exercise More Often

If you already lead an enviably active life, this tip isn't for you. For everyone else, it's time to pull out the yoga mat in the living room or head to the gym. Some people sleep better when they exercise after waking up, while others sleep better if they exercise before bed. Try both to see which one works for you.

You might still need to set an alarm clock in the morning, just in case you sleep past your scheduled wake-up time. But, reducing the likelihood of being startled out of deep sleep will do wonders for your health and self-care goals.

No, I'm not a medical doctor or sleep expert. I'm just a girl who kissed her insomnia goodbye in 2020 and broke up with her alarm clock.

Did you find this useful? Feel free to share, follow, pledge, or leave me a tip!