There are two kinds of people: those who jump out of the bed fit and alert after the first sound of the alarm clock or maybe don’t even need one. The other ones press the snooze button several times – the sky is the limit. Some even set the alarm clock earlier than needed just to completely savor the feeling of being able to turn once more. Unfortunately, this positive feeling is like junk food for our body: at first, it feels good – but not for long. This procedure is even more harmful than beneficial.
When we turn around after the alarm goes off and fall asleep again we signalize our brain to release sleeping hormones. Hitting the snooze button prevents the course of natural sleeping phases since we either have to get up after five minutes or we are shaken out of sleep every five minutes. The plus in recovery we hope for leads to drowsiness. When you wake up your body right after falling asleep or during a phase of deep sleep, this drowsiness might last for up to four hours. The dizziness also occurs, when we sleep much too long or lay down in the afternoon for several hours. The idea, to tear oneself out of the beginning of another sleep cycle clearly is a bad one. So, the five minutes of extra sleep don’t contribute to recovery but create the feeling of having had a really bad sleep. Furthermore, the snooze button confuses our body and our brain – the alarm clock wakes up the body in an unnatural way and now it gets the message to sleep again. Five minutes later the alarm goes off once more and so on. The longer we play this game the more confused the body and the brain will be. The far better solution would be to give your body the additional time of sleep from the start and to set the alarm clock 15 minutes later.
Get used to regular times to go to bed and to wake up and make sure you get the amount of sleep you need. Then you won’t even need an alarm clock to wake up, your body and mind are set to wake up just at the right time. And in accordance with your personal sleep cycle. Like this, you really will be able to get up fit and alert! If you still feel exhausted in the morning, check, whether you suffer under hidden sleep disturbances like sleep apnea, for example.
Hints for waking and getting up pleasantly
- A proper sleeping routine supports the body to adjust to sleep in the evening and to produce the sleeping hormone melatonin. Take sufficient time for relaxation and avoid electronic devices.
- Place your alarm clock away from your bed so that you have to get up to turn it off. Like this you won’t be tempted to hit the snooze button.
- A daylight alarm clock can support you in getting up. The artificial light simulates the sunrise and decreases the melatonin production.
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