Why I Ditched My Alarm For A Sunrise Alarm Clock :- For a considerable amount of time, it has been the customary habit to awaken to the piercing sound of an alarm. However, there is another option available. In order to simulate the natural rhythm of the sun, natural alarm clocks or wake-up lights might be utilised.
Why I Ditched My Alarm For A Sunrise Alarm Clock
They use gentle, simulated dawn light to gradually stimulate wakefulness in the human body. Some of the ways in which these devices can help you get a more balanced and refreshed start to your day are as follows.
Downsides of a Traditional Alarm
Over the course of several decades, people have relied on conventional alarm clocks that emit loud and screaming sounds. There are a few possible drawbacks to these alarm clocks, despite the fact that they might actually be helpful at rousing a household. Just one example:
An abrupt awakening occurs when a person is startled awake by the sudden and loud sound that is produced by traditional alarm clocks. A surge in stress hormones such as cortisol may be triggered by this unexpected jolt, which may result in grogginess that may persist for some time after the individual has woken up.
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A loud alarm can cause increased stress and worry, particularly if the sound is bothersome. This is especially true if the alarm is set to go off at a reasonable hour. There is also the possibility that the association with stressful situations, such as racing to get to work or school, can lead to feelings of anxiety.
The circadian rhythm, which is our natural sleep cycle, can be disrupted when we wake up suddenly from a deep sleep stage. This can cause sleep patterns to become disrupted. It is possible that this will result in disturbed sleep patterns and feelings of fatigue throughout the day.
It is possible to establish a negative tone for the morning by beginning the day with a loud and unpleasant sound, which can have an effect on one’s mood as well as their overall well-being. When you begin your day with a negative attitude, you are not setting yourself up for a successful day at work or with your family.
Physical Effects: The unexpected shock of a blasting alarm clock might even cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure for some individuals. An established risk factor for cardiovascular issues is having a blood pressure that is too high.
Some individuals choose to wake up using different approaches in order to avoid the potential drawbacks described above. It is possible that they will look for alarms or wake-up lights that play peaceful music or sounds of nature. These have the potential to facilitate a more seamless transition from sleep to waking, so enhancing the quality of the morning experience.
Describe what a wake-up light is
There is a sort of alarm clock known as a wake-up light, which is also known as a sunrise alarm clock or dawn simulator. This form of alarm clock creates a fake dawn. Through the use of a sunrise simulation, it is intended to wake you up in a more gentle and natural manner.
Wake-up lights are designed to simulate the natural daybreak through the use of light rather than sudden sounds. A progressive increase in brightness occurs between 15 and 40 minutes prior to the time that the alarm is set to go off.
Wake-up lights are designed to imitate the appearance of a sunrise in the natural world. As soon as the sun rises, it causes the body to commence the process of gradually decreasing the production of melatonin and increasing the production of cortisol. Despite the fact that many people refer to cortisol as the “stress hormone,” it also plays a role in making you feel awake and attentive.
This slow but steady increase in light helps to control the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal clock. When you get up each morning, you might find that you have a more positive disposition and more energy.
Which Advantages Does It Offer?
For individuals who have trouble getting out of bed in the morning or who reside in areas with a limited amount of natural light, the utilisation of a wake-up light may be of assistance. The following are some of the potential advantages:
The wake-up lights replicate a sunrise by gradually raising their brightness until the alarm goes off. This process is known as the natural wake-up experience.
The body receives a signal to decrease the production of sleep hormones such as melatonin and increase the production of cortisol as a result of this gradual exposure to light, which simulates the natural process of beginning to wake up. In this manner, it assists you in waking up in a more natural manner.
Wake-up lights have the ability to lessen a phenomenon known as sleep inertia. This is accomplished by softly waking you up with light rather than loudly and suddenly waking you up with a loud noise. Sleep inertia is characterised by feelings of grogginess and disorientation that occur after waking up from a deep sleep state.
By the end of the day, it has the potential to make you feel less lethargic and more alert in the morning.
Enhanced Mood and Energy Levels: Waking up to gradually increasing light levels can have a beneficial effect on both your mood and your energy levels.
The use of a wake-up light was shown to reduce depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in a clinical experiment conducted in 1993. It was proven by a meta-analysis in 2005 that bright light treatment was effective in alleviating feelings of depression.
Circadian Rhythm Regulation: Using a wake-up light on a regular basis can assist in the regulation of the circadian rhythm and the internal clock of the body. Over the course of time, this may result in improved sleep quality as well as a more consistent sleep-wake cycle.
Personalised Settings Many wake-up lights come with elements that can be customised, such as the intensity of the light, the colour of the light, and the sounds of nature. These customised features allow users to personalise their waking experience based on their preferences.
Wake-up lights can be very helpful for people who work non-traditional hours, such as those who perform shift work or have dark mornings. In addition to assisting the body in adjusting to the sensation of waking up in the dark, they can deliver the sense of a sunrise.
To summarise, wake-up lights provide a more peaceful and natural method to wake up, which has the potential to improve general well-being at the same time. On the other hand, there are still some individuals who like conventional alarm clocks or alternative methods of waking up.