How to Wake Up On Your First Alarm?

Most of us have a similar morning routine: The alarm blasts through the phone, we wake up startled, quickly hit snooze, and slide right back into the dreamland.

After a couple of snoozes, when waking up becomes inevitable, we end up feeling groggy and irritable. And what happens the rest of the day? We are willing our way to overcome the sleepiness.

Some of us even rely on a hefty dose of caffeine from coffee or chai to no avail.

Now, waking up to the alarm clock the first time may seem like a lofty goal. But it isn't. You just need a few tried and tested tips, and you will enjoy each morning with renewed energy. So, how to wake up on your first alarm? Keep reading ahead to find out.

9 Tips on How to Wake up on Your First Alarm

Without wasting any time, let’s get right into it.

• Ensure You Get Proper Amount of Sleep Each Night
• Make Sure Your Room Is Comfortable
• Pay Attention to Your Circadian Rhythm
• Put Thought into Your Alarm
• Motivate Yourself Not to Hit Snooze
• Use a Sleep Tracking App
• Try Being Mindful As Soon As You Wake Up
• Avoid Alcohol before Bed
• Engage in Physical Activity in the Morning
  
  

1. Ensure You Get Proper Amount of Sleep Each Night

This is very obvious, yes. But one of the easiest ways to wake up to your morning alarm without hassles is to enjoy a good night's rest. When you get seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night, you don't feel the need to hit snooze. It's that easy.

Now, if you cannot fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, the best way forward is to try to go to bed earlier.

You can also engage in calming activities before bed, such as reading, taking a warm bath, or even practicing meditation.

2. Make Sure Your Room Is Comfortable

Discomfort makes it hard to sleep. Imagine your pillow feeling a little too stiff or your mattress feeling a little too firm. These things can prevent you from sliding into a slumber on time, which means, you won't be able to your morning alarm.

So, you need to invest in a proper sleeping environment. This includes comfortable pillows and a mattress along with the right bedding. Here, The Sleep Company can help you out with a range of products that bring you the latest in sleep science.

You must also pay attention to other factors. For instance, use blackout curtains if necessary, keep the temperature cool, and shut down all doors and windows to prevent unnecessary noise.

3. Pay Attention to Your Circadian Rhythm

If you are wondering how to wake up on your first alarm, you must first tweak your body's internal clock known as the circadian rhythm.

For this, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Consistency helps reinforce your circadian rhythm.

You can also spend at least 15-30 minutes outside in natural sunlight in the morning. You not only get your fair share of Vitamin B but sunlight even helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. It signals your body that it’s time to be awake and alert.

At night, pay attention to your body's natural sleep signals. If you feel tired in the evening, try to go to bed rather than pushing through and staying up late.

4. Put Thought into Your Alarm

The loud startling sounds ruin your mood from the moment they start to ring. However, putting some thought into your alarm makes it easier. Here are a few things you can try:

• Go with a gentle and soothing wake-up alarm sound. You can also use a smartwatch and make sure the alarm vibrates rather than emitting a sound.
• Some alarms gradually increase in volume and this can be great to help you with a natural wake-up experience.
• Use an alarm tone that has positive associations for you. This could be a favourite song, something upbeat and peppy or a motivational message.
• If you struggle to wake up with one alarm, set a second alarm a few minutes after the first. Just be careful not to snooze repeatedly, as this can disrupt your sleep cycle.
• Place your alarm clock or phone far enough away from your bed so that you have to physically get up to turn it off.
• If you find yourself becoming accustomed to a particular alarm sound and it no longer wakes you up effectively, try changing it weekly or monthly. This is how to make an alarm interesting.
  
  

5. Motivate Yourself Not to Hit Snooze

As soon as the wake-up alarm sound starts ringing, motivate yourself to not snooze. Try these tips on how to wake up on your first alarm.

• As soon as you hear your alarm, take a moment to think about your goals for the day. You can also think of something exciting that you are looking forward to.
• You can try giving yourself a small reward for getting up on time, such as a favourite breakfast treat or a few minutes of a favourite activity before you start the day.
• You can try giving yourself a small reward for getting up on time, such as a favourite breakfast treat or a few minutes of a favourite activity before you start the day.
• As soon as your alarm rings, count down from five or ten and then get out of bed. This technique was popularized by Mel Robbins and helps interrupt your immediate instinct to snooze the alarm.
  
  

6. Use a Sleep Tracking App

Using a sleep-tracking app can help you wake up to your alarm on the first try. These apps monitor your sleep patterns and offer insights to improve your sleep quality.

These apps provide data on your sleep quality and help you identify and address factors that might be disrupting your sleep. So, knowing about them helps you come up with the right solutions.

Many apps also offer a smart alarm feature that wakes you up within a set time window when you are in a lighter sleep stage. You can try that too!

Also Read - Sleep Diary

7. Try Being Mindful As Soon As You Wake Up

Mindfulness is a way of life that can also help you when you prevent hitting snooze. This is ideal when it comes to how to wake up on your first alarm.

Being mindful as soon as you wake up can be great. When your alarm rings, take a moment to breathe deeply and focus on your day ahead.

Don't think about anything. Just be present in the moment. This even helps you get rid of any stress you may have regarding the day ahead. You can then think of something you are excited about or grateful for.

Also Read - Sleep Tips for Peaceful Sleep

8. Avoid Alcohol before Bed

A glass of wine or a drink or two may feel okay at night. But alcohol can be the culprit.

While alcohol might make you fall asleep faster, it actually disrupts your sleep cycles. So, it not only leads to poor quality sleep but makes you hit snooze multiple times. This means you might wake up feeling tired and groggy.

9. Engage in Physical Activity in the Morning

Exercise is good for your health and sleep. When you engage in physical activity in the morning, it can help you wake up on the first alarm.

How? Well, exercise means that your body releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins that make you feel more awake and energized. Also, it boosts your metabolism and gets your blood flowing to shake off any sleepiness. So, it's a win-win situation.

What Happens When You Snooze: Is It Bad?

We have all been there and done that where hitting the snooze button seems like a good idea. But it is a no. The very first reason, of course, is that you wake up later than you are supposed to. So, your mornings end up feeling rushed and hasty.

But wait, there's more. When you snooze, you fall back into a light sleep. Now, this is chartering into dangerous territory. So, let's say your alarm snoozes for 10 minutes. Here, you slide into a light sleep but are quickly awakened. This disrupts your natural sleep cycle and makes you feel tired.

Also, hitting snooze can confuse your body’s internal clock and make it harder to get up on time. And, when this happens regularly, your body’s natural sleep-wake rhythms become disrupted. This is why you must learn how to wake up to an alarm on the first try.

Why Do You Find It Difficult To Wake Up On Your First Alarm

Now you know how to wake up on your first alarm easily. But why does it feel difficult in the first place? Well, here are some of the reasons. Make sure you understand your reason and see which tip can help you overcome the snoozing habit. Also, if you think you are suffering from a sleep disorder or any other medical condition, don’t hesitate to speak with your healthcare practitioner.

• You are not getting enough sleep, or your sleep schedule isn't consistent, which is known to disrupt the body's internal clock.
• You are consuming caffeine or alcohol at night, which is making it difficult to wake up on time.
• You might be suffering from sleep disorders, such as insomnia or sleep apnea, which can be the culprit. Look out for any symptoms and speak with your doctor.
• You don't follow any pre-sleep routine to get rid of stress and anxiety, which makes it harder to sleep and wake up.
• Your mattress or pillow is unable to offer the comfort you deserve, and it can interrupt your sleep cycle.
• You may be sleeping too much, which again, is not good for you and makes it tough to wake up on time.
• Your alarm tone can be harsh or annoying, and this can spoil your morning and make it difficult to wake up.
• You may be suffering from certain medical issues, such as thyroid problems or depression, which can affect your sleep patterns and make waking up hard.

The Final Note

Now you know everything there is on how to wake up on your first alarm. The above-mentioned tips will surely help you out. But, be consistent and don't give up on the first try. They say it takes about 21 days to cultivate a habit. So, make sure you keep at it.

Remember, to ensure you wake up to the set morning alarm, it is imperative to sleep well at night. And, a good night's rest begins with a great mattress, such as The Sleep Company's Smart Ortho Pro Mattress.

This mattress is designed using the latest SmartGrid Technology and is scientist-approved for advanced back pain relief. It offers 5-zone orthopaedic support, which offers ideal spine alignment and zonal support for different body parts.

The mattress is also breathable and comes with 2500+ air channels for a deeper and cooler sleep.

Now is the perfect time to experience the ultimate in sleep innovation with The Sleep Company's Smart Ortho Pro mattress and wake up refreshed every morning.

FAQs

1. Why is waking up on the first alarm important?

Waking up on the first alarm is so crucial because it sets a positive tone for the day, reduces morning grogginess, and improves your overall productivity. It helps maintain a consistent sleep schedule and makes sure you enjoy better sleep quality. All this lets you start your day with energy and focus.

2. How does sleep quality affect waking up on the first alarm?

Sleep quality significantly impacts your ability to wake up on the first alarm. High-quality, uninterrupted sleep means your body completes the necessary sleep cycles. So, once the alarm starts ringing, you wake up refreshed and alert. The reason for grogginess and difficulty in waking is due to poor sleep quality. This makes it harder to resist the temptation to hit the snooze button.

3. How long does it take to adjust to waking up on the first alarm?

It can usually take about 21 to 30 days to adjust to waking up on the first alarm. So, be consistent.

4. Is setting a second alarm 10 minutes after the first a good strategy?

If you wish to set an alarm after 10 minutes after the original one, it can be a good strategy as it can help you gradually wake up, but avoid hitting snooze repeatedly. You can also try to set an alarm for 3 or 5 minutes after.