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How rude of me to talk about alarm clocks when we are experiencing a pandemic and alarm clocks don’t matter as much. Much like other things I’ve finally written about during this time, this post on alarm clocks was originally supposed to go live last September (2019). Then we moved states and all hell broke loose. Last summer on Prime Day, I purchased the LBell Sunrise Simulation Alarm Clock , which is the cheaper version of Philips Wake Up Light Alarm Clock. I really like it and wanted to share my thoughts on it with you!

LBell Sunrise Simulation Alarm Clock | Houzz Night Stand | Parachute Home Quilt | Wall Light | Scrabble Mug | Kendra Scott Frame (c/o) | Primally Pure Yellow Nephrite Roller (get 10% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS) | Diffuser

To give you a little back story, I am that person who saids 15 alarms and wakes up to the 16th one. I don’t know why, but I just can’t get up! I think part of my problem is that I have never really prioritized sleep. Why sleep when I could be getting things accomplished? One thing that I’m really happy about that has come from quarantine is that I’ve been making sleep a priority. For the first time in my life I have been making sure that I get 8 hours! Sleep is so beneficial for you. It is when your body can truly rest and heal, so why not make it a point to get good rest?! Note, this doesn’t make getting up any easier, but it does make me feel better!

Okay lets talk alarms. I never really set alarms until I went to college. Previously, my parents always woke me up! I can’t recall my transition from alarm clock to phone, but I do remember that I got my first iPhone in 2011 and I think I started using their alarms then. I guess one thing led to another and I stopped trusting myself to wake up on time and began setting multiple alarms. I only overslept once in college and really haven’t had any close calls other than the time I overslept for an early Hawaii flight, so not sure what my deal is! For awhile I used the Alarmy app which for sure got me out of bed; however it is abrupt and not a very fun way to wake up. There are different settings like taking a photo with the light on or doing a really hard math problem and the alarm will not turn off unless you consciously do those things.

Moonlight Night Shirt | Hip Optical Beverly Glasses in Midnight (c/o - use discount code ELLE10 for $10 off) | Emu Australia Slippers

How you wake up tends to set your day, so I started looking at other modes of waking up. Additionally, studies show that avoiding contact with your phone in the morning (and night) can greatly improve your mood and morale. That’s what I found with the LBell Sunrise Simulation Alarm Clock! It is a sunrise simulator meaning that it gradually changes color from dark red to bright yellow, to begin waking up your body. You can choose radio or alarm noises of your preference, but I chose birds chirping. It is so natural and gradually gets louder, I’m not sure there is a better way to wake up! It also has a sleep aid function to try and assist you while falling asleep, if that’s something you are looking for. Overall for $40, I think it is totally worth the price and a great way to wake up, especially if you want to be on your phone less. While I haven’t tried the Philips Wake Up Light Alarm Clock, I don’t think spending $100+ on a similar alarm clock would yield that different of a result than the $40 one I have.

If an alarm clock is not in the budget, try out the bedtime feature on your iPhone! Click on the “clock” app and then choose the bedtime icon at the bottom / middle of the screen. Touch bedtime / wake up to schedule your alarm. Simply choose when you want to go to sleep and when you want to wake up you will be all set, just like a normal alarm! Just make sure you turn on “bedtime schedule” switch and tap on the days you want the alarm to sound. If I’m using this, I set it each night before I go to sleep. It will usually send you a notifation reminder to set as well! I really like it, because you can easily visualize how many hours you are getting, plus it gradually wakes you up. No light, but the sound does start softly and get louder. You can also track your sleep in the “health” app, which paints a nice picture too.

TIPS FOR GOOD SLEEP

You can be all good in the alarm clock arena, but if you aren’t getting good sleep, that is a major issue. Here are some best practices that sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t ;) Pick and choose wisely.

• No screens at least 30 minutes before bed. You guessed it - I'm bad at this. I do have blue-light blocking glasses though!

• Pajamas. The simple act of putting on sleepwear starts the evening ritual and getting the body ready for bed! Read more about how to shop for pajamas and what to look for here.

• SleepyTime Tea - I drink this every night! I love this ritual almost as much as drinking lemon/lime water every morning. It is calming and lets my body know it is time for bed.

• Magnesium - I am a big believer in this supplement, as it helps with headaches and bowel movements. It is great for relaxing your body before bed too! I’ve taken natural calm for almost a year, but am trying out this supplement right now instead.

• CBD - I know so many people who get their best nights of sleep by taking a CBD supplement or hitting a CBD pen. I like WildPlant Wellness and can say that it does help me fall asleep and get a more restful sleep. Try it for 33% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS. Click here to learn more about CBD.

• Melatonin - This is another supplement that I know can help me sleep, though sometimes it makes me have crazy dreams. My favorite one I’ve tried is the Sugar Bear Hair Sleep Vitamins, but I’ve heard good things about Goop Knock Me Out and Olly Restful Sleep.

• Diffuser - This is another one of my favorite rituals. I love diffusing lavender essential oil, which gives a relaxing tone to the room.

• Sleep mask - Something I haven’t pulled the trigger on, but have heard such good things about! Our bedroom backs up to a lit parking garage, so we always have light. I’d love to do black-out curtains, but it just wouldn’t look very pretty. The mask seems more doable and wouldn’t mess up our aesthetic. Dark spaces promote better and easier sleep! On that note, they say cool places are better sleeping conditions too. We just got the Dyson Pure Cool fan and love it thus far!

• Clear your mind - Headspace gets a lot of praise and while I haven’t tried it, I have done similar things! Spotify has similar readings for FREE right now that are read by celebs. I personally have been enjoying the Bloom app. It actually has different readings / meditations that are based on your specific needs. It also creates a space for you to unpack your feelings, which is always good idea, but especially good during this time. Get $25 off a year-long subscription with discount code LAUREN25. IT comes out to $35 for the entire 365 days!!

Have any sleep tricks up your sleeve or a favorite alarm clock I need to know about? I’ve considered an ejector-bed before, so anything goes. Bottom line is create a bedtime ritual and you might find yourself looking forward to it and even sleeping better! My current favorite is applying my Primally Pure Soothing + CBD Serum with my Gua Sha Stone. (Try them for 10% off with discount code ELLEMULENOS)

Sweet dreamzzz!

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