Waking up is hard, and waking up without an alarm can be even harder for some. Nobody likes to be jolted awake from a loud, ringing noise, but many of us depend on our alarms to get us up in the morning. What if we told you there’s a way to train yourself to wake up without a jarring alarm? The key to doing this is training your body and circadian rhythm to adjust to the morning naturally.
Consistency is key
To stop using an alarm, you need to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. This means going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday. Following a specific schedule will set and regulate your internal body clock. You can start by waking up every morning at 7 AM using an alarm. Your body will gradually adjust to this time and you’ll soon find yourself waking up on your own, before your alarm.
Establish rituals
To help you stick to a sleep-wake routine, we suggest creating a bedtime ritual that gets you ready for sleep and forming morning habits that get you excited about waking up. Your pre-bed routine should promote good sleep hygiene. About an hour before bed, dim the lights and switch your phone to night mode. You can also practice relaxation techniques like meditation or a warm bath to destress and wind down. Since we’re talking about waking up, the morning routine is most important. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to wake up on the morning of a vacation or big event you’re looking forward to? This is because your brain knows that you need to be energized. The best way to trick your brain into thinking this all the time, is to schedule exciting things to do in the morning. Go for a run, sign up for your favorite yoga class, or make a delicious smoothie. If you do something fun or active every morning, you’ll start to get used to waking up early.
Open your blinds
The sun is your natural alarm clock, so use it to your advantage. Open your blinds a crack to let the sun in. Light plays a huge role in our circadian and signals the brain that it’s time to get up.
Set one just in case
If you’re afraid of sleeping in, set an alarm as a backup. It’s always better to be safe than sorry (or in this case – late). Our favorite type of alarm to use is a smart alarm because it wakes you up in your lightest stage of sleep. If you set your alarm at 7 AM, it may go off up to 30 minutes earlier depending on your sleep cycle. You’ll feel better waking up with the smart alarm because you won’t feel groggy. This way, you’ll have more energy to go about your day.
