SUNRISE SIMULATORS
Alarm clocks to soothe you out of sleep,
Oh, it’s hard to crack an eye open on those dark fall and winter mornings, isn’t it? Perhaps a sunrise-simulation alarm clock is just what you need to get your butt out of bed. After all, a 2013 study from the University of Basel found that dawn-simulating lights may help improve cognitive performance, well-being and mood when experiencing sleep troubles. If that’s you, here are five choices to help shove those sheets off in the morning, by Astrid Van Den Broek
Warkit L1 Wake UP Light Rechargeable Portable LED Alarm Clock (amazon.ca, $44.35)
Program this light to start turning on 30 minutes before you really want to get up and go through up to 20 levels of brightness to wake up refreshed. If you like, you can also layer in one of the five natural sounds, including waves, thunderstorm, and thrush singing. At night time, this LED light has a three-level warm-white light model and 256 colours changing mode. With its squat, tower-like structure, it can also be used as a bedside lamp or even table lamp.
Verilux Rise & Shine Battery Operated Serenity Wake-Up Light (bedbathandbeyond.ca, $139.99)
This bold, circular clock not only may have the sleekest of design properties but it has plenty to offer in graduated light settings. Fifteen brightness levels are offered on this wake-up light, which gives you the choice of a natural energy-saving LED white light to calming colours including blue, pink, orange, green and more (in total, 250 hues are offered through three primary colours). Other offerings traditional clock-radio users will appreciate include a touch sensor for both snooze and light control, six soundscapes and an FM radio.
Sumgott US Digital Led Sunrise Simulator Alarm Clock (amazon.ca, $39.99)
While it almost resembles a small sundial next to your bed, this budgetfriendly light has bragging rights for a colourful wakeup. The graduated light starts at 10 per cent and moves to hit 100 per cent at the time you actually want to get up. (Ditto the sunset function to help get you to snooze.) It also offers seven colours and light modes, ranging from green to purple to orange, with brightness settings included. Rounding out the package are six natural sounds (birds, music, forests, beeping and more) and an FM radio. And for those who are extra slow to rise, the 2017 edition has added a Smart Snooze Function, which adds an extra five minutes. And then five minutes. And then . . . (you know how the snooze button goes!)
Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light Coloured Sunrise Simulation, White (amazon.ca, $168)
This light, which looks not unlike an actual large light bulb on your nightstand, is for those who really want the helping hand of a bright light. A 30-minute span of light that changes from red through orange to bright yellow will wake you up à la perfect sunrise. And when it comes time to actually get out of bed, you can set the light to play one of five natural sounds — bird song, Zen garden, gentle piano and others — to really ensure you get up. The display on the light alters to adjust to the light in the room, and tap anywhere on the light for an extra nine-minute snooze.
Oregon Scientific Illumine Ambient Wakeup Light Digital Clock (wayfair.ca, $87.99)
Similar in look to the Verilux, this circular black lamp also comes with a free app to help you monitor your sleep cycle. A good fit for a student dorm room, this app lets you choose from six preset moods that mixes both lighting changes and sounds (including sunset sonata, deep water, private beach and more) to alter the look and feel of your room. Large numbers at the bottom offer easy time spotting to make sure you’re not late for stats class.