The key to more sound, restful sleep may not be your bedtime routine but how you start your day. And if you’re still using your phone as an alarm clock, it’s time to ban it from the bedroom. Upgrading to an alarm clock can help you cut down screen time, unwind at night and wake up in the morning when it’s right for your body.
How you wake up can set the tone for your whole day. According to Dr. Shalini Paruthi, a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and co-director of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, you should choose a sound, music or light that’s pleasing to wake up to and alerts the senses. “Exploring different alarm clocks for ease of waking and also how alert they are after waking will help a person choose an alarm clock that works for them consistently and reliably,” she says.
The Jall Digital Alarm Clock made our list for the best digital alarm clock because it has the ability to program and save up to three different alarm times—and that came in clutch during testing when our week included both working from home and commuting to work as well as days off.
Setting and resetting an alarm clock is usually a pain, but with this clock, we set our desired wake-up times and chose one of three programmed alarm modes the night before. While it doesn’t have fancy settings like customizable alarms or calming wind-down sounds like dedicated white noise machines do, it effectively served its purpose of waking us up on time and not being an eyesore on our bedside table.
While this basic alarm clock doesn’t feature smart connectivity or bonus phone charging, the digital screen clearly displays the time and shows a bell icon indicating that the alarm is indeed activated. We think this pick is a good choice for those looking for a fairly basic alarm clock that also looks nice.
For less than $20, we were shocked this alarm clock comes with so many features—including one that some of the most expensive, teched-out alarm clocks on this list don’t have: blackout functionality. This digital screen has a dimmer that goes all the way down to 0%, making it perfect if you’re sensitive to light because these LED numbers are super bright. (And if you don’t like white light, there are five other color variations you can buy.)
The two-inch numbers are also huge and fill up the entire screen, making this a great choice for those with vision challenges. Another handy feature: The back of the clock is outfitted with two USB ports—one for plugging the alarm clock into the wall and a bonus port for charging a smart watch, e-reader, and more. We especially liked the compact size of this clock as it could easily be packed in a suitcase or overnight bag.
During testing, we felt the simplicity of this clock was really the main attraction. Sure, at this price, you won’t get all the bells and whistles, but we were very satisfied with the DreamSky’s reliable performance and basic (in a good way!) appearance. Keep in mind that you can only set one alarm at a time, so it doesn’t work well for couples with different sleep schedules. There is also only one alarm sound option, and it increases in volume and intensity until the Snooze button is pressed.
While we love the Hatch, the price tag is steep. However, we found the Winshine Touch Wake Up Night Light to be just as effective in the morning and had a perfect score for value of features for the price. At about the size of an Amazon Echo, this lantern-shaped sunrise alarm clock will mimic the gradual light increase of the sun 30 minutes before a set alarm goes off. This feature can be especially helpful if you use blackout shades or curtains in your bedroom. We found that on several mornings the light feature actually gently woke us up before the alarm ever went off, but we enjoyed hearing peaceful nature sounds, too, soon after waking.
While the Winshine doesn’t have a vast content library or sound machine capabilities like the Hatch, it does have a straightforward sunset lighting program and a reading light with a warm yellow glow and three dimmable settings, perfect for creating a soothing bedtime routine. It also features six different color modes which could be used as a soft nightlight for kids.
We were disappointed at the limited alarm settings, though, as you can only set one alarm at a time, making it a better buy for single sleepers or couples who get up at the same time in the morning. We also didn’t like that the clock doesn’t completely fade to black. During testing, we turned the clock towards the wall to reduce the glare. However, the brightness may not be an issue for everyone, especially if you use a sleep mask or are used to sleeping with a nightlight.
he Mosito Digital Wooden Alarm Clock is like having secret tech on your nightstand because unlike other digital alarm clocks in this list, the Mosito is wooden. The digital clock screen is dimmable to 0%, making it a chic, modern piece of decor when not in use. This is also perfect for minimalists because the bonus charging station doesn’t require an extra cord on your nightstand. Simply set your phone on top of the wooden block for easy, wireless charging. Though we noticed that the charge is not as powerful or fast as a traditional corded phone charger.
What did impress us is how fast and easy it is to set up this clock. The instructions are simple and well laid out and it took us less than two minutes to set up time, alarm, and volume. There are options to turn the alarm on or off and on Monday through Friday, but there are no other customizations beyond that. The buttons are located on the back for a streamlined, minimal look on your nightstand. However, it does make snoozing or adjusting alarm settings difficult to reach for in the dark as the buttons are small and not illuminated.
This smart alarm clock has it all. There’s white noise, but there’s also nature and wellness settings such as the sound of a lavender field or breathwork for kids. Or if you’d rather listen to your favorite playlist, there’s a Bluetooth enabled speaker built-in. Everything is controlled by the Loftie app or three easy-to-use buttons on the alarm clock. We especially liked that the snooze button was super easy to find and hit in the morning, maybe even a little too easy. (Wink-wink!)
Additionally, we loved the modern design, especially the lit-from-within look of the light which can double as a nightlight for kids or a soft reading light before bed. We also really liked that our alarm time was displayed on the screen so we could be sure that we set the right time before falling asleep. But what really sets Loftie apart from other digital alarm clocks is the two-phase, two-sound alarm system. First, the wake-up alarm sounds. And then nine minutes later, the get-up alarm sounds. It’s perfect for chronic snoozers or if you hate waking up in a panic as this two-step system makes getting up a more intentional process.
However, the soft and gentle alarm may not be abrupt enough to wake up really deep sleepers. While ease of setup was a bit lofty for the Loftie Clock as we had to download multiple apps and run several updates, it was ultimately worth it.
Credited to : https://www.bhg.com/best-alarm-clocks
