Monday, December 11, 2023

It’s time to throw out your alarm clock

And start getting to bed earlier.
͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­ ͏ ‌     ­
 
Healthline
 
 
Wellness Wire
 
 
In a Nutshell
I'm just as into productivity and self-optimization as the next millennial. But there's one thing I refuse to do in the name of achievement and that is wake up to an alarm. I've been living alarm-clock-free for years now and I've never felt more rested (or more in control of my life, for that matter).
You may not like to hear it, but research shows that using an alarm to wake up disrupts your natural sleep cycle and can perpetuate poor sleep hygiene. Thanks to the 24-hour sleep-wake pattern — aka your circadian rhythm — your body has a built-in internal clock that tells you when it's time to wake up each morning. When you override your internal clock by using an alarm, you run the risk of throwing your circadian rhythm out of sync.
So how does one live their life (and keep their job) in lieu of that trusty alarm? The answer is actually pretty simple.
But first, some other health stories to drift off to:
What kind of sleeper are you? Take our quiz to find out
The best sleeping positions for your heart
8 tips for how to get more REM sleep
Stay sharp,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline
 
 
  Written by Ginger Wojcik
December 11, 2023 • 3.5 min read
 
 
 
What's better than an alarm clock? A consistent sleep schedule
what's got us buzzing
What's better than an alarm clock? A consistent sleep schedule
Last year, my TikTok feed was peppered with videos of people waking up before the sun to do elaborate skin care routines and cook multistep breakfasts. The viral "5-to-9 trend" encouraged people to spend the hours between 5 and 9 a.m. doing all those things you talk about doing but never get around to.
As a human being with my own ambitions, I definitely saw the allure. But there was a glaring issue with the whole thing I couldn't get past. In order to wake up at 5 a.m. — without the disruption of an alarm clock — I'd need to regularly be asleep by 9 p.m. and in bed around 8:30 p.m.
Yeah, not gonna happen.
When I'm sleep deprived, my quality of life takes a nosedive. So throwing out my alarm has made me serious about my 10 p.m. bedtime. (FYI, there's no universal right time to go to bed. While there are definitely advantages to being an "early bird," the most important thing is that you're getting enough sleep, i.e., between 7 and 9 hours.)
I've found that to keep a consistent sleep schedule, I have to make a concerted effort to be in bed around the same time every night. For me, this means eating dinner by 8 p.m. and getting home from social events by 9:30 p.m. But your personal routine will depend on your lifestyle and sleep needs.
If you need help training yourself to wake up at a new time each morning, an alarm clock can definitely help. Just make sure to set your alarm for the same time every morning (yes, even weekends!). If you're healthy and practicing healthy sleep hygiene, your body should eventually "learn" to wake up without an alarm.
Set a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Do you use an alarm clock to wake up? Why or why not? If yes, how many do you set? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (BTW, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
 
 
 
Great finds
Make some noise
 
 
 
Yogasleep Dohm Classic White Noise Machine
Yogasleep Dohm Classic White Noise Machine
Is there anything more frustrating than finally slipping into sleep only to be jolted awake moments later by the neighbor's barking dog? If you live in a loud environment, a noise machine may be just what you need. Consider this tried and true option from Yogasleep, which has been in the white noise machine game for over 60 years.
Buy now
Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
health stories you need
What we're reading next
🫠 How to stop catastrophizing all the time. Fixating on the worst possible outcome can take a toll on your emotional health.
Why you should consider a winter deep clean. For starters, it can lower your chance of coming down with a seasonal illness.
📱 Podcast: Is online dating actually making us lonelier? Michael Kaye from OkCupid shares his thoughts.
🫀 Symptoms of heart failure to know about. Learn to spot the signs of this common and serious condition.
 
 
 
 
Thanks for reading, friends! I hope you're all getting the rest that you deserve. On Wednesday, I'll be back in your inbox ranting about baths. Talk soon!
 
 
 
 
 
Until next time,
healthline
Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon!
 
 
Telegram
This edition was powered by
my internal clock.
 
fb   tiktok   X   youtube   insta
View in browser

Did a friend send you this email? Subscribe here.
To see all newsletters, click here.

Privacy    |    Unsubscribe

Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Healthline does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional. Healthline is owned by RVO Health.

© 2023 Healthline Media LLC
275 7th Ave., 24th Floor
New York, NY 10001
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment