We have all experienced the frightening sound of our alarm clock, sending panic throughout our whole body, prompting us to shoot right out of bed. Our eyes still barely open and minds still half asleep and our alarm clocks have already created stress within the first few minutes of waking.
As a society we hold on to the preconceived idea that our alarm clocks are only used to wake us. However, this notion is far from the truth, alarm clocks play an integral role in determining the quality of sleep we get. If you want to change your sleep habits and environment to attain quality sleep, it’s time to incorporate better alarm clock “habits.”
How Alarm Clocks Can Impact Sleep
Majority of adults are not using their alarm clocks correctly, creating subpar sleep which causes us to feel drained throughout the day. Not only do we feel depleted but by not obtaining adequate quality sleep, it can bring on an array of other problems. For example, poor sleep can lead to insomnia, sleep apnea, and even restless leg syndrome. According to many sleep studies, here are the best tips for optimizing your alarm clock for the sake of ensuring restful sleep:
- Adjust your clock’s lighting.
By having a bright light illuminate your room it can alter your sleep-related hormones such as melatonin. Melatonin regulates our circadian rhythm, which oversees our sleep-wake cycle. The consequence of this is it tricks your brain into thinking it’s light outside, causing our body to stop producing melatonin. By adjusting the light to a blue color instead of red it can help improve sleep drastically.
- Alarm clock placement.
If your alarm clock is too close to you, it can significantly interfere with your sleep, which is why it’s important to keep your alarm clock farther away from you. Consider putting your alarm clock across the room facing away from you so the numbers aren’t staring at you. Many experience sleep anxiety at the mere sight of the alarm clock. Seeing the minutes pass by and inch closer to the time you must wake causes one to worry about falling asleep and waking.
- Install soothing sounds.
It is much more beneficial to wake up to a comforting sound rather than an alarming ring. By waking to a soothing alarm clock, it can put your body into a state of ease and comfort, which is how we should all be starting our day. The outcome of a startling alarm clock puts your body in a state of fight or flight and a stressful wake up does not need to be added to your already stressful enough workday.
- Avoid the Snooze Button.
This tip might be the hardest one to integrate into your daily routine but by doing so it will significantly help your sleep. When your alarm clock goes off either force yourself to sit up or get out of bed but try your best not to hit snooze. By hitting the snooze button, it disrupts our sleep cycle and can cause us to feel even more tired when we wake.
These are the first steps and lifestyle changes that can be easily changed. However, if your lifestyle changes are not enough Jacksonville Sleep Center is here for you. Here at Jacksonville Sleep Center, we strive for our patients to obtain exceptional sleep so they can take on their day feeling energized and healthy. We carry out our mission by providing help and knowledge on a wide array of sleep disorders; By specializing in Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, and much more we assure that every need of each patient is met. If you feel like you’re not getting the sleep you deserve and need, request an appointment today and our team will be more than happy to assist you in any way!
