

I'm usually in that pleasant in-between state of not quite asleep but not fully alert. By the time the alarm beeps, I have already started to wake up. Having warm light flood the room before I'm fully awake makes getting up feel easier. The first time I used it, I was surprised at its effect. As I write in 2021, I'm coming up on my second winter with the Lumie alarm clock by my bedside, so I can tell you from experience that it works. The alarm clock simulates daylight and has a sunrise and sunset setting. Because there's no way to bring more sunlight into the space, I figured this was the next best thing. I came across the Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 Wake-Up Light ($99) when looking for an affordable solution.

Add in the fact that I live in a ground-floor apartment with little natural light in the bedroom, and it's a recipe for disaster. As the warmer days start to disappear, my moods naturally become lower, and getting up in the morning becomes even harder.įor a long time, I had to set several alarm clocks on my phone at short intervals (two minutes apart) to even have a fighting chance of getting myself up and out of bed at a somewhat decent hour. While I've never been officially diagnosed with the condition, all of these signs sound familiar. Symptoms include a persistent low mood, lack of energy, losing interest in things that you would usually enjoy, feelings of despair and worthlessness, and sleeping for longer than usual. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that can be triggered by the changing seasons. The days are getting shorter and colder, and for those of us who are affected by the shift in weather, it's time to get a self-care game plan underway. Now that they are officially looming over us, there's an undeniable change in the wind. Finally, we consulted more than 75,000 reviews, written by people who’ve bought these models, on sites like Amazon to settle on these eight.Wrap yourself up in cute knitwear and switch on as many festive lights as you want, but there's no avoiding the truth of it. We then took into account price, light controls, light colors, alarm sounds, and additional features. We looked at expert-tested reviews from trusted sources like Wirecutter and CNET. To find the best options among the many sunrise alarm clocks on the market, we researched the most popular models available. Finally, there are models that can be controlled through an app or voice control, so if you are looking for ease of use, you will probably want to opt for one of those. Many sunrise alarm clocks can wake you with typical alarm sounds, but others feature nature sounds, white noise, or even guided meditations. While this isn't integral to its main function, having other color options can be great for setting a relaxing mood before bed. While they will all be able to dim and get brighter, some will have multiple color options, while others will only have the option of yellow and/or white light. While most sunrise alarm clocks work in a similar manner, there are a few key features that differ between models.

While many sunrise alarm clocks have similar functionality, we've narrowed down our favorite features to help you choose the one that's right for you. If you don't think light alone will cut it, many sunrise alarm clocks also have an array of natural sounds, like birds chirping or ocean waves, that can both lull you to sleep at night and wake you in the morning. Unlike traditional alarms, which jar you awake, these use gradually increasing light to gently rouse you from your slumber. Whether you wake up easily or sleep like the dead, a sunrise alarm clock is a gentle, peaceful way to start your day, and can help you feel your most refreshed after a good night's sleep. Even if you are a self-proclaimed morning person, it's unlikely that you love waking up to the sound of a blaring alarm.
