Traditionally, alarm clocks have only had two functions, as advertised dual words in the name: they wake you up and they tell the time.
But it turns out that they have the potential to do so much more than that if you’ll let them. There are alarm clocks aimed at heavy sleepers, those who struggle to sleep and for those who want data-led insights into their night’s rest. You might already know about sunset and sunrise alarms that may help you sleep better, but do you know what else alarm clocks can do these days?
With sleep and wellness experts all suggesting it's not the best idea to go to bed with your phone on your nightstand, is it time to re-invest in an alarm clock? Here are some innovations from the world of alarm clocks that you might convince you it's time for a bedroom upgrade.
1. Lull yourself to sleep with white noise or other calming sounds
Sometimes, the silence of a quiet bedroom can be deafening, and you just want some background noise to help you drift off. Yes, you can do this with your phone or an Amazon Echo, but some alarm clocks have the feature built-in too.
Hatch’s Restore 2 and Loftie are two such examples offering white noise (and pink noise, which is actually better for sleep) or nature sounds to help lull you off to a full night’s restful sleep.
Price: $119.20
Was: $149
A wide range of calming sleep sounds, white noise and even meditations make this a great choice for those who struggle dropping off.
Price: $199
Gentle sleep sounds are a great addition to this sunrise alarm clock, and it's minimalist design makes it one for the style-conscious.
2. A built-in lamp to slowly ease you out of sleep
With traditional alarm clocks, the act of waking up can be extremely jarring. A loud buzzer isn’t anyone’s idea of a nice way to rouse you from your slumber, even if it does get results.
There’s some evidence to suggest that waking up with the sunrise may improve how you feel upon waking, and as a result, a number of the best wake up lights now seek to emulate the rise and fall of the sun for a more relaxing wake-up call.
The most famous of these is the Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light, available on Amazon, which will gradually get brighter as your wake-up time approaches. But there are plenty of cheaper alternatives on Amazon if the price is offputting. If you like the idea of sunrise and sleep sounds, then revisit the Hatch Restore 2, as it has both.
3. A clock that will force you out of bed
On the other end of the spectrum, some people simply don’t trust themselves with an alarm clock that can easily be ignored. That’s where the extremely mischievous CLOCKY, available on Amazon, comes in.
When your wake-up time arrives, CLOCKY will literally run away with the help of its two wheels, forcing you up and out of bed to catch it and switch it off. It may not be pleasant, but it’s pretty much guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs.
If you’re simply a heavy sleeper, you can also get alarms with an attachment that will physically shake the bed, like this one on Amazon, too.
Price: $35.99
It might not be the most aesthetically pleasing alarm clock, but if you're guilty of pressing snooze too many times, this may be the way forward.
4. Add some sleep-tracking to your nightstand
If you don’t have a smartwatch or fitness band that tracks your sleep (or you find them too uncomfortable to wear at night), the second-generation Google Nest Hub is a smart screen that can do just that.
It does this with its Soli radar sensor that keeps track of your motion patterns and breathing. It works in conjunction with sound, light and temperatures to establish a holistic analysis of your sleep. And, of course, with a ‘Hey Google’ command, you can set up a wake-up call at the time of your choosing.
Having a screen near your bed may feel counterintuitive for a good night’s sleep — and you may also find the monitoring a touch on the creepy side — but if you want insights without a wearable, this is the way to go.
5. Memory aid for dementia sufferers
Dementia is a horrible condition that can make completing even simple tasks without a reminder a daily struggle.
That’s where the Relish Day Hub dementia clock comes in. It provides personalised alarms throughout the day that the sufferer can physically tick off as they’re achieved, allowing sufferers to maintain a healthy routine. If you need to cover more than one room, it can be paired with a second clock without the tick list, too.
