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Ask HN: Most effective and "non-invasive" morning wake up alarm method?

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Re: Ask HN: Most effective and "non-invasive" morning wake up alarm method?

#22

Post by jerkstate »

the__alchemist wrote: post #14

Go to bed early enough so that your natural circadian rhythm wakes you up prior to your alarm most of the time. The alarm becomes a backup mechanism. This isn't always feasible due to social obligations (Many people like hanging out late), but if you can do it, it is fantastic.

This is really the best answer. I finally learned to go to bed on time when I had to quit caffeine. It took a couple of weeks for my body to learn to fall asleep and I supported it with calming music (singing bowls and chants at a quiet volume) and not using screens within an hour of bedtime, as well as getting more exercise during the day. The results have been life-changing though. Some words of wisdom: never stay up late to do something you wouldn’t wake up early for.

Re: Ask HN: Most effective and "non-invasive" morning wake up alarm method?

#23

Post by matheist »

I use a vibrating alarm on my cell phone under my pillow (off to the side, not directly under my head).

I sleep with both earplugs and a white noise machine, so an audio-based alarm can't work for me. (City living! the garbage trucks come for some house on the block on every weeknight.)

I still have traumatic memories of my radio-alarm-tuned-to-static waking me up for high school, and when the garbage trucks used to wake me up before I started with earplugs and noise machine, I'd wake up with a jolt of adrenaline, so I relate to your "gunshot" comment. The vibrating alarm doesn't trigger that for me.

Re: Ask HN: Most effective and "non-invasive" morning wake up alarm method?

#28

Post by runjake »

I wear my Apple Watch almost 24/7 and use it's sleep functionality to wake me with gentle wrist taps. Twice a day, I charge it for a small amount of time:

1. Once, while reading right before bed gets it to 100%.

2. During my morning shower, which tops off the battery for the day.

Background: Apple Watch Series 7 with the fast charger it comes with, plugged into an Apple 20 watt USB-C charger that I think came with one of my iPhones.

Re: Ask HN: Most effective and "non-invasive" morning wake up alarm method?

#29

Post by Jugurtha »

A song with a volume that goes crescendo. Sleeping with the window open, so you'll start getting sun-light with gradually increasing power starting at dawn and you'll tend to ease into waking up, and you'll notice you'll wake up earlier.

Birds help. I've planted a dozen trees near the house fifteen years ago. Now they're huge (three stories high) and attract all kinds of birds, and the chirping definitely helps start the day and tops any alarm clock.

Re: Ask HN: Most effective and "non-invasive" morning wake up alarm method?

#30

Post by mlhpdx »

Jugurtha wrote: post #29

A song with a volume that goes crescendo. Sleeping with the window open, so you'll start getting sun-light with gradually increasing power starting at dawn and you'll tend to ease into waking up, and you'll notice you'll wake up earlier. Birds help. I've planted a dozen trees near the house fifteen years ago. Now they're huge (three stories high) and attract all kinds of birds, and the chirping definitely helps start…

This is my summertime method, but at this latitude (Portland, Oregon) it’s not really practical in the winter, so I revert to the musical alarm method.
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