Sunrise Alarms Are a Better Way to Wake Up (The Experts Say So)
The funny thing is, an alarm clock will scare you awake but then allows you to snooze and snooze. It turns out more than half of Americans do this daily. Starting the day off this way is definitely not ideal and leads to exhaustion and more during the day.
So what’s the solution? Throwing your traditional alarm clock away altogether! That’s right. It’s time to follow a sunrise alarm to the promised land of gentle, easy wakeups and away from the vicious cycle of alarm scares and snoozing.
Sunrise alarms make for a gradual, natural way to wake up. Quite the change from that shrieking alarm that makes you jump out of the sheets! Not only will you enjoy the experience, your body will too.
A sunrise alarm is also called a “dawn simulator,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. A sunrise alarm simulates the colors and sunlight of a sunrise. It will gradually wake you up over a 30-minute timeframe as the light gets brighter.
With the Hatch Restore, you’re able to personalize your wake time with a 30-minute simulated dawn.
So what are the benefits?
- Prepares body for wake-up
- Natural wake up
- Improve sleep quality
- Reinforce regular sleep schedule
- Supports healthy cortisol levels
- It helps to balance melatonin.
- Can help depression and seasonal affective disorder
On the surface, a sunrise alarm seems like a more pleasant way to wake up compared to the blare of an alarm. This is true, but the benefits don’t end there.
This light helps regulate, balance, and enforce all the chemicals and processes in the body.
The Circadian Rhythm
It’s all about your circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is the body’s natural cycle it goes through in 24 hours. It encompasses physical, mental, and behavioral changes. This cycle is affected by light and darkness.
When the sunrise alarm starts, it will be a red light 30 minutes before your alarm time. Over the next half hour, it will change from red to orange to a bright imitation of sunlight. During this time, the light will trigger the optic nerve through the eyes and go to the brain responsible for the circadian rhythm.
The Chain Reaction
Your brain’s area that controls your body’s “internal clock” is called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is in the brain’s hypothalamus. The SCN is sensitive to dark and light signals and works with the optic nerve in the eye to figure out if it’s time to wake up.
Once the optic nerve feels the sunrise alarm light, this triggers the SCN to release cortisol and other hormones, which tells your body to wake up (at night, it will trigger melatonin elsewhere).
There are various other chemicals in the mix when waking up, including serotonin (the feel-good chemical), which can actually be triggered by sunlight itself!
So what else should you do to improve your wake-up? We love a good morning routine! Create a personalized morning routine that you can look forward to and get ready for the day ahead.
Get Dressed and Ready For the Day
This might sound simple, but it can be tempting to stay in PJ’s if you work from home!
Hydrate and Fuel Up
Water with a filling breakfast is the best way to go. If you’re a coffee addict, be sure you’re hydrating with water first!
Meditate
Meditation is a great addition to your morning to clear your mind, set your intention for the day and prepare for what’s ahead.
Journal
Like meditation, journaling allows you to have one-on-one time with yourself to write about whatever makes you feel good. Journals can contain intentions, gratitude lists, or to-do lists.
Get Moving
Once you’re up, stay that way! Opt for a morning walk or get your workout in early.
Imagine having a sunrise alarm and implementing these morning routine ideas? You’ll be unstoppable!
Once you get used to this pleasant wake-up, you’ll wonder what took you so long to try it! Sunrise alarms avoid the morning heart attack and help to stop the snoozing, all while kickstarting your body for a proper wake-up. Make 2021 your best year of sleep yet with the sunrise alarm and understanding the psychology behind healthy sleep habits!