When it comes to finding the best alarm clocks, heavy sleepers will need stronger stimuli than typical sleepers to wake up. Here are some specific features that you should look for in alarm clocks:
✔️ Extra-loud alarms. “The louder the volume and decibel level, the more likely it will wake you up,” Harris says. But you should also be aware that an alarm that’s too loud can lead to an unpleasant wake-up. “Using too loud of an alarm clock can trigger your stress response and essentially shock your body into waking up in the morning which, in turn, can lead to other negative effects on the body,” warns Harris. In addition to your typical alarm buzzer, some alarm clocks also offer different kinds of sounds, such as music or radio.
✔️ Vibrating or bed-shaking functions. If you need different stimuli besides (or in addition to) sound, there are some alarm clocks that use vibration, shaking your bed to provide that extra jolt you need to wake up. These devices typically come in the form of a separate disc connected to the alarm clock that you can place on your bed, such as under your pillow or your mattress.
✔️ Light features. While some alarm clocks employ bright flashing lights to help you wake up, other options—like the Hatch Restore 3—are sunrise alarm clocks, which “are designed to simulate the natural sunlight, which is essential in regards to the regulation of our sleep-wake cycles,” says Harris. However, heavy sleepers are less likely than light and normal sleepers to wake up to light alone, says Harris—which is why she recommends that heavy sleepers “should look for [sunrise clocks] that also have noise or vibration features in order for it to be more effective.”
✔️ Brain stimulation. For those who need even more stimulation, consider giving your brain some exercise to help it get out of that sleep mode. “Puzzle alarm clocks are really useful, too—ones that won’t turn off until you solve a puzzle,” Harris says, noting that this is a popular available option for smartphone apps.
✔️ No-snooze function. Heavy sleepers may struggle to get out of bed because they keep hitting the snooze button—why is why an alarm clock with no snooze function can help ensure that you actually wake up and don’t just go back to sleep.
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