5 Alarm Clocks That Won’t Spike Your Anxiety Before Coffee 

The popular notion is that it’s the duty of an alarm clock to jolt you into wakefulness. The word “alarm” itself gives you ample clues about what its primary function is, and most people feel that without that sudden blast of sound you won’t be shaken out of slumber. 

In desperation, you may have resorted to using your phone alarm. The downside of this is that keeping your phone within arm’s reach is far too tempting. You feel compelled to scroll social media, check your news feed, or respond to messages that come pouring in 24×7. Besides being unhealthy and addictive, this can cause more anxiety and stress, leading to poor sleep quality. 

The answer is an old-fashioned alarm clock that does just one thing, and does it perfectly. Its work is to ensure that you are alerted at the set time, with the least amount of fuss or technology. 

Why You Need To Wake Up Gently

Sleep is a restorative process that goes through several stages. Good quality sleep has cycles of deep and shallow sleep and periods of dream-time. Your body is completely relaxed, breathing is regulated, and most sensory inputs are shut off. This allows the brain to process information gathered during the day, consolidate and store it in the right way. Toxins are removed through regular breathing, the digestive system can do its work thoroughly and tired muscles are restored to their normal strength. 

You wake up refreshed and rejuvenated, to face another day with all its unpredictability and stress. 

Waking up suddenly can happen because of several reasons. It could be a difference in the sleeping environment such as a sudden temperature change, a bad dream or unusual sound. If this happens in the middle of your sleep cycle, it may not be easy for you to go back to sleep, causing stress and anxiety. In physical terms, sudden waking may result in blood pressure spike, and increase cardio rate. There could be a sudden rush of adrenaline or other fight or flight hormones into the bloodstream. 

Emotionally, you wake up confused and disoriented, leading to stress and anxiety that may not get dissipated immediately. You could carry that stress into your day, leading to loss of energy and motivation, making it difficult for you to focus, concentrate and remember things. 

While the occasional sudden wake-up event isn’t likely to cause problems, frequent episodes can result in long-term damage with serious health consequences. 

5 Gentle Wake-Up Alarm Clocks

Many people have their own biological body-clocks that allow them to wake naturally once they’ve had their full quota of sleep. 

In today’s busy lifestyle, this luxury may not be available to you on working days. Meetings, buses, trains or flights to catch, deadlines to meet, kids to ferry to school or to activities, plus your own classes or daily schedules, have to be met at the right time. You certainly don’t want to tumble out of bed in a fright, dazed and confused. You could be half asleep as you stumble into the kitchen to get the coffee going, and this is certainly not the best way to start the day.

So why not start your day the right way, with a gentle and calm wake-up alarm?

1. Analog instead of Digital: Reduce the number of digital and electronic devices in your bedroom. Most of them give off a blue light that keeps your brain on alert mode, unable to relax. Choose a small but effective analog alarm clock that provides a gentle but persistent alarm tone to wake you. Choose a simple design that allows you to check the time if you happen to wake up mid-sleep. Find an analog clock with alarm and light here. 
2. Wake-Up Light Alarm Clocks: These are great products that create a gradual increase of light that resembles the day dawning. They  imitate the body’s own circadian rhythm and natural response to light. The nicest part is that you can use the sunset settings to mimic the end of day light effect that gently lulls you to sleep. 
3. Pleasant Music: Harsh, jangling sounds can irritate you awake, but the aftermath is less than pleasant. These are the products that compel you to reach out and put a stop to the infernal cacophony. So you start your day feeling irritable and annoyed. Instead, look for an alarm clock that gives you soothing classical music, instrumental versions of your favorite numbers, spiritual music or chants. Ensure that the volume is set loud enough to wake you up, otherwise, you could miss your appointments! 
4. Radio alarms: Do you have a favorite radio station that has a morning show that you love to wake up to? Perhaps an RJ you enjoy listening to first thing in the morning? You can set your radio alarm clock to the right radio frequency and drop off to sleep knowing that your wake up experience will be exactly the way you want it to be. 
5. Nature Sounds: One of the nicest ways to wake up is to the sounds of nature. Flowing water, the wind in the trees, bird calls and the like give you a feeling of peaceful energy that stays with you through the day. You can also opt for alarm clocks that emit white noise. These sounds are neutral yet they blend naturally into the human experience so that your waking up is not traumatic or artificially driven. 

Choose your alarm clocks based on quality and good reviews. You need a product that is durable and strong enough, and one that needs minimum maintenance. Pick a soothing color to match your bedroom decor. Ensure that it’s made from good quality materials and is manufactured by a reputed brand.