Top 5 Ways to Avoid Snoozing Your Alarm Clocks Every Morning
We’ve all had one or many of those mornings where you can’t wake up, and you repeatedly find yourself snoozing your alarm clock. Getting up early when you’re exhausted and want to stay in bed is the worst. You’ll find yourself pressing that alarm snooze button seven or eight times to get as much time as possible in your comfy, soft, beautiful bed. However, avoiding snoozing your alarm clocks can help you feel better in the long run. Do you need an alarm clock that will wake up every morning with ease and no fuss? Check out our reviews of the best alarm clocks in 2024.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Snooze Your Alarm Clocks
There are many reasons why you shouldn’t snooze your alarm clocks. Here are the most popular:
- It causes fragmented sleep and will make you feel more tired.
- You’ll start the day on a negative note, making you feel guilty and frustrated.
- It will stress you out for the rest of the day.
- It will disrupt your natural sleep rhythm.
- You’ll get frustrated with the sound of the alarm, which will impact the rest of your day.
- It will affect your willpower and self-confidence all day.
Breaking the Snooze Button Addiction
Many of us find it painfully difficult to wake up early. How can you break the habit of sleeping through your alarm clocks?
If you want to get up at 6:00, you could try setting your alarm for 5:00 and spend the next hour snoozing your alarm. However, that isn’t tackling the problem. You need to learn to get up on the ring of the alarm.
With dedication, you can train your brain and body to wake up at the first alarm. We have compiled the best tips and strategies to help you stop snoozing and get up on the first alarm signal.
Here are the top 5 ways to avoid snoozing your alarm clocks.
5. Set a Sleep Schedule
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A sleep schedule can help you get up better.
Go to Sleep Earlier
Though obvious, going to bed earlier helps if you have trouble waking up.
The later you stay up, the harder it is to wake up. You’ll find yourself continuing to snooze your alarm clocks. If you have to wake up at 6 am, go to bed after 11 pm to get seven hours.
You will have to be strict with this set bedtime to achieve success. If you tend to stay up late and find this challenging, consider gradually modifying your bedtime. Do this by 15 minutes each night or so until you get your desired sleep and wake-up times. It will become easier for you to wake up in the morning with a full nights sleep.
If you are struggling to stick to an earlier bedtime, devote an hour before bed to relaxation and unwinding. Try these tips to help you fall asleep faster:
- Take a hot bath or shower before bed.
- Limit your exposure to blue lights and screens at night.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, or big meals late at night.
- Have a cut-off time from work.
Top Tip: Set your alarm clock to go off at night to remind you that it’s time to go to bed.
Create a Sleep Schedule
Lack of sleep makes the snooze button your ally. The temptation to stay in bed for as long as possible will be stronger than ever.
Make sure that you get a full recommended 7 to 8 hours sleep each night. Setting a sleep schedule can help you achieve this.
Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. If you are getting a good nights sleep regularly, you’ll wake up naturally and feel less sleepy. You’ll no longer need to snooze your alarm clock.
Top Tip: If you struggle to get to sleep at night, try using a sleep mask to help you get a good night’s sleep. Looking for a new sleep mask? Check out our favorite sleep masks.
4. Get Moving
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Move, Dance, and Get Physical
Get moving to avoid snoozing alarm clocks. The solution is straightforward.
Have you ever noticed that you feel alive after a workout?
The same applies here. Once that dreaded alarm goes off, get up and do a bit of light exercise or yoga. The movement will help you feel energized and ready to take on the day.
Top Tip: Set your alarm to play your favorite song so you can get up, start busting some moves and dancing.
Put the Alarm Somewhere Hard to Reach
If you place your alarm clock on a bedside table or within easy reach, the temptation to press the snooze button will always be present.
Instead, remove the temptation by placing your alarm clock somewhere out of your reach. That way, you’ll be forced to get out of bed to turn it off. Once you are up and moving, you all be more likely to stay up and get on with your day.
Top Tip: Place the alarm clock in another room so that you will have to go further to turn it off.
3. Engage Your Other Senses
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Adjust the Light
Light is one of the best ways to avoid snoozing through your alarm. Light is a natural alarm clock because eyes have natural light receptors that gauge the brightness of the light and tell your brain when to wake up.
If you wake up and it is still dark in the bedroom, these eye receptors tell your brain it’s still night. This makes it easier for you to drift back off to sleep even after your alarm has gone off.
Try using a wake-up light alarm clock that simulates the sun rising, helping you to wake up naturally and peacefully.
Top Tip: Sleep with the curtains open. Once the natural light floods into the room, it will help you wake up naturally.
Change the Sound of the Alarm
Your alarm clock’s sound can become familiar to you, making it easier for you to continue pressing the button and snoozing. Altering your alarm sound, song, or alert regularly prevents you from becoming immune to the noise and wakes you up fully.
It may be a simple tip to help you avoid snoozing your alarm, but it works. Variety is indeed the essence of life!
Top Tip: Increase the temperature of your bedroom gradually to encourage you to get out of bed. Use a smart plug to time the heating to go on in the bedroom 30 minutes or an hour before your alarm is set to go off.
2. Give Yourself a Reason to Get Up
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Have Something to Do
An incentive to wake up will make the process easier.
If you schedule a fun task to do first thing, you’ll wake up more motivated and ready to get things done. For instance, read a page or chapter of your favorite book, message your friends and check in to see how they are, or even pamper yourself by filing your nails or putting on a face mask.
The opportunities are limitless. Even the smallest of tasks can make a big difference in helping get up in the morning and refrain from pressing that snooze button. The idea behind this is if you have something to do and look forward to in the morning, it will work as an incentive.
Activities to do in the morning:
- Read a book
- Check e-mail/social media
- Play a computer game
- Pamper session
Set Yourself a Goal
If you set yourself a goal, it gives you something to work towards and will make you feel more motivated to actually get out of bed.
Goals could include getting up at 6:30 am for seven days. This may seem daunting to some, but it will become easier. Following those seven days, you’ll realize you can do it and want to continue.
Top Tip: Set your alarm to send a motivational reminder when it goes off each morning. For instance, “You can do this” or “Today is going to be an awesome day.” It will be a great little pick-me-up and encourage you not to hit snooze and go back to sleep.
1. Wake Up at the Right Time
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Wake Up in the Right Sleep Cycle
A person will experience 5–6 full sleep cycles each night. These sleep cycles are different from another.
During the first 2-3 sleep cycles, you spend time in an NREM sleep (non-REM sleep). You spend the last 2-3 sleep cycles in REM sleep, also known as rapid-eye-movement sleep, and in stage one of light sleep. Make sure you wake up during this light sleep stage.
Wake up during REM cycles? You’ll be tired and have trouble getting up. Make sure you get the right amount of sleep to avoid this. Use a sleep calculator to check the time you should be going to bed and waking up. This calculation will help you go to bed on time every night.
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
To help you wake up at the same time each morning, set your espresso machine to sync in time with your alarm clock. The sweet aroma of freshly ground coffee will awaken your senses, and your body will soon follow.
Coffee contains over 800 compounds linked to scent. Smells can trigger memories and feelings, so it’s no wonder that the smell of coffee triggers the body to awaken.
Wake up smell the coffee, then get out of bed to indulge in a tasty cup of freshly made coffee to kick start your day
Get the Right Amount of Sleep
Breaking it down, getting enough sleep is crucial. It’s that simple. Follow these tips to help you avoid snoozing your alarm and get a good start to your day.
If you need an alarm clock that is designed for the heavy sleeper or one that simulates a sunrise, click next to read our Alarm Clocks Buyer’s Guide.
