How I stop using an alarm clock to wake up
“It is how we spend our time here and now, that matters. If you are fed up with the way you have come to interact with time, change it.” — Marcia Wieder.
An alarm clock is a device that assists us in waking up. It is now an added feature of many types of equipment, including computers and mobile phones.
It is okay, but do you know that its continued use has conflicting effects too? You ignore this aspect.
Allow me to take you on a journey to solutions and problems related to the use of alarm clocks.
Imagine you will catch a train or a flight at 4 am tomorrow. You have already enjoyed the weekend today and come to bed to sleep at around 11 pm. What will you do to get up early?
Exactly!
You will go for a personal alarm clock most of the time. You may set your alarm clock to 3 A.M. so that you can reach the station on time and feel good.
I remember an analogous event in my life when I depended on the alarm clock. I have to catch a train which departs at 4 A.M. I set the alarm clock at 3 A.M. so that I could reach the station before 4 A.M. But it was not sufficient for me because it was not even possible to go to bed and fall asleep instantly.
I did not remember when I fell asleep, but I was certain; it would take at least half an hour.
I woke up at 3 O’ Clock when the chirping sound of the alarm clock interrupted my sound sleep. I caught the clock and thought for a second.
I had two options. Either turn off the alarm or snooze it for the next 10 minutes.
An idea flashed in my mind. If I didn’t bathe, I needed only 30 minutes to reach the station. I pressed the snooze button after that thought and slept again.
The alarm rang once again after 10 minutes. I was wondering how fast 10 minutes passed. This time I showed courage and woke up turning off the alarm.
I needed more time to sleep, but it was not convenient. I ran to the station and slept on my confirmed berth in the train as soon as I boarded it.
That event forced me to think on 4 points:
1. Why does the alarm clock have a snooze feature?
2. Why is snooze time for 10 minutes?
3. Is it desirable to pressurize me to get up?
4. What is an alternative to an alarm clock?
Here is the answer:
#1. Why does the alarm clock have a snooze feature?
I was a procrastinator. I was lazy, as well. When I used the alarm clock to get up, I often loved the snooze button. Studies also show that our brain is wired to procrastinate.
Procrastination is our natural response. We procrastinate first. Then we train ourselves to tackle our procrastination behavior if it creates obstacles.
We usually choose a comfort zone. That is why I think the alarm clock has a snooze feature to suit our such requirements. In that way, you nurture your procrastination behavior using a snooze button.
It is my view; and I do not intend to discourage snooze-feature but I recommend building a habit to wake up yourself without using an alarm clock.
Remember, if you snooze, you lose.
#2. Why is snooze time for 10 minutes?
It is not a coincidence that the alarm clock has a 10 minutes snooze period. As you know; sleep has various levels. It takes around 10 minutes to have sound and deep sleep. If the clock has a longer-period for snoozing, people will go for sound and deep sleep.
Several studies on sleep pattern suggest people would wake up quiet and happier after a shorter snooze.
If an alarm disturbs us before entering a deep sleep stage, it must ring within 10 minutes. It serves the purpose of using the alarm clock to force us to wake up. That is why an alarm clock has 10 minutes of snooze period.
#3. Is it desirable to pressurize me to get up?
Empathetic No! I did not find forcing myself to break my sleep. It causes irritation, stress, and makes me feel unworthy of myself.
I started studying about sleep. I learned many useful things.
According to Professor Matthew Walker, a neuroscientist and director of the University of California’s Center for Human Sleep Science, when we are wrenched from sleep by an alarm clock, a burst of activity from the fight-or-flight branch of the nervous system causes a spike in blood pressure and shock acceleration in heart rate. He termed it as ‘multiplicative abuse to your heart and nervous system.’
Besides, several other studies suggest that using the snoozing can likewise affect a hormonal level by increasing your body’s cortisol, a hormone that is released when you’re stressed.
Sleep expert Neil Robinson also suggests that interrupted sleep due to using the snoozing option causes us to feel fatigued for the rest of the day.
These are some studies that show a negative impact of using the alarm clock.
#4. What is an alternative to an alarm clock?
What will be the alternative then? I found understanding a biological clock is helpful to us. We can train our mind and synchronize our biological clock to the tune of our necessity.
What do I do to get up early in the morning without using the alarm clock? I follow the following five steps:
1. Before going to bed at night, I stop using mobile phones, watching televisions or working on laptops. I avoid using any electronic devices that reflect light. Such devices affect our eyes, mind and sleep.
2. I do not intake spicy food. I avoid taking coffee or tea before going to bed.
3. I switch off all lights in my bedroom.
4. I drink a glass of water and declutter my mind with positive affirmations.
5. I talk to myself and direct myself to get up early in the morning.
The above steps help me get up early in the morning without using the alarm clock. I know it seems simple, but it works for me.
I say that what you do today creates your future, and not what you will do tomorrow.
Will you try it?
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(This Article was first published on medium.com)