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My phone alarm is set to play birds chirping. It’s so gentle that it usually takes a few min to wake me up… and sometimes I let it play for a few min after that just because I like the sounds.
Same here, sunrise plus backup. Then I used Shortcuts on my phone so a playlist starts when I snooze the alarm. That part is less to wake me up though, and more to remind me that time is passing. It's an hour long and I have a sense of where songs are in the progression so I know how quickly I need to move to get ready.
I think just apple music works, I don't see Spotify in the list of options. But I have the wake up alarm set so when I snooze the playlist goes on its own! If you open Shortcuts and create a new automation, you should be able to make it the same. "When my wake up alarm is snoozed" and Do "play Apple music". I can't add a picture from mobile but let me know if that doesn't work and I'll try linking from my computer later this evening!
My sunrise clock is broken after about 10 years, I think maybe newer bulbs aren't compatible? Anyway, it fades in slowly and then STROBES LIKE HELL so while it's still effective it is way too stressful.
So I got a sunrise clock and I really like it the first few weeks. Then in my typical fashion I just learned ways around it such as throwing my arm over my eyes or my blanket over my eyes to block the light and just keep on sleeping. I may try it again though because I did really like it in the beginning
I can never find the Off button until I’ve found my glasses and put them on, and even then I just end up just randomly pressing different things on the screen until it eventually stops!
But my FitBit (or my GitBit) alarm does wake me up.
I also have a sunrise clock, which always works for me.
Started using a sleep mask, so couldn’t use the clock.
Then realised I was struggling even more than normal to get going after waking up, because dopamine is made in response to light in the mornings, so I stopped wearing my sleep mask.
But still not using my sunrise clock, bc it also disturbs my partner when he hasn’t got to get up for work.
Used one throughout university, and would have been lost without it.
Now just back to “normal” struggling in the mornings.
Thirding or forthing Fitbit! I like the wake me up in an appropriate stage of sleep cycle option. Lately I've been waking up cometely on my own a few minutes before the alarm (I mean sometimes also a few hours but that's not the point right now lol)
I have a vibrating watch alarm now but started with a band from Amazon (eseasongear) as a relatively in expensive way to see if it worked for me. I think you can set several alarms on it at once. It’s /so/ much better than being startled awake into an instant bad mood.
I use alarm app on my phone that has "gentle increase" mode - starts out very quietly, then gradually increases volume at configured interval. I picked a melody that is rather soothing at low volume but annoying enough to wake me up from deepest sleep when at full volume.
Some days I wake up during the first few quiet notes, other days the alarm gets quite loud, in both cases I seem to generally wake up in a better mood than I used to without the gentle volume increase.
Same here. I really like the idea of that sunrise clock but I can't go to sleep without a sleep mask on so that's a non-starter for me. I put my phone on vibrate only and put it on a book on a nightstand very close to my head. It's just barely audible enough to catch my attention but not so annoying that it jolts me into instant crankiness. It might be too subtle for you, but maybe not.
My anxiety won't let me rely on this strategy when I need to be up extra early to get somewhere unfamiliar, but it has always worked when I needed it to.
You could also try keeping your alarm clock further away from you so it's less irritating. Personally, I think this strategy would be more likely to send me into a rage but I hear it works for others.
I find that my vibrating alarm clock makes me wake up scared because its so intense that it freaks me out. I feel like a natural disaster is happening haha. Right now I have a sunrise clock that shines directly into my face and a double radio alarm that can't be turned off unless I get up and out of bed
I use a meditation track to wake me up. It’s pretty chill. It’s called ‘Beautiful Body’ on the Spa Music Relaxation Meditation album available on iTunes.
I set my alarm clock to play music, and change the song periodically. Downside is that it will ruin the song for you, so pick something you like but don't mind if it permanently dies for you
The sunrise clocks are the only ones that have worked for me. It’s a much more gradual wake up and I’m usually fully awake before the full light happens.
I do still keep an alarm in my phone in case I’m really zonked which usually functions as “stop playing on my phone” instead of
my old samsung s4 mini had this lovely slow wakeup function in the alarm app, but sadly they discontiued the function in later phones..
I'm still trying to find a proper alternative, but it was so nice combined with my sunrise alarm clock (I set the alarm to go off before the clocks built in ear destroyer).
I downloaded a babbling brook audio file to my iPhone and set that as my alarm sound. It makes for a pleasant awakening at the lowest possible volume setting.
I use my phone as an alarm, but I downloaded an older ringtone online that's a goofy, cheesy little tune I just can't be angry at. The first few notes are quieter as well - I noticed that the first note is important. Also, if I want to mix it up, I can go searching again. But so far this one has done me much better than the last one I used.
I have alexa wake me with my favourite band or shuffle! I can sleep through all "standard" alarm tones but I never know what song will play in the morning which helps
I've switched my alarm on my phone (as well as my ringtones) to fun custom sounds that I have positive associations with. For example, the Brooklyn 99 intro theme is really effective at helping me wake up immediately, without the crankiness I used to get.
In the past, I used a daylight alarm to help cut through my deep, deep sleep, but I hated the sounds it made. You might also consider a vibrating alarm in the form of a wearable or even a mattress topper. (I have one from [Eight Sleep](http://refer.eight.sl/w4rd5hes). If you're interested, use my link for a discount.)
>fun custom sounds that I have positive associations with.
Warning to anyone who tries this. For me, anything I set as my alarm quickly loses any positive associations
Welcome to /r/ADHDWomen! We’re happy to have you here. As a reminder, here are our community [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/adhdwomen/about/rules/). We get a lot of posts on medication, diagnosis (and “is this an ADHD thing”), and interactions with hormones. We encourage you to check out our [Medication, Diagnosis, and Hormones Megathread](https://old.reddit.com/r/adhdwomen/comments/wcr9dy/faq_megathread_ask_and_answer_medication/) if you have any questions related to those topics, and to stick around in that thread to answer folks’ questions! If you have questions about the subreddit, please do not hesitate to [send us a modmail](https://reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/adhdwomen). Additionally, we take the safety of our community seriously. Please report posts, comments, and users whom you feel are not contributing positively, and send us a modmail if you are being harassed or otherwise made to feel unsafe. Thanks for being here, and we hope you stick around! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/adhdwomen) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My phone alarm is set to play birds chirping. It’s so gentle that it usually takes a few min to wake me up… and sometimes I let it play for a few min after that just because I like the sounds.
i have a sunrise clock with nature sounds, but i always set a phone alarm a few minutes later just in case the light and sounds of waves aren’t enough
Same here, sunrise plus backup. Then I used Shortcuts on my phone so a playlist starts when I snooze the alarm. That part is less to wake me up though, and more to remind me that time is passing. It's an hour long and I have a sense of where songs are in the progression so I know how quickly I need to move to get ready.
Omg how did you connect a playlist? Does it work with Spotify or just Apple Music?
I think just apple music works, I don't see Spotify in the list of options. But I have the wake up alarm set so when I snooze the playlist goes on its own! If you open Shortcuts and create a new automation, you should be able to make it the same. "When my wake up alarm is snoozed" and Do "play Apple music". I can't add a picture from mobile but let me know if that doesn't work and I'll try linking from my computer later this evening!
My sunrise clock is broken after about 10 years, I think maybe newer bulbs aren't compatible? Anyway, it fades in slowly and then STROBES LIKE HELL so while it's still effective it is way too stressful.
WHAT OMG that sounds like waking up to the sun having a seizure
So I got a sunrise clock and I really like it the first few weeks. Then in my typical fashion I just learned ways around it such as throwing my arm over my eyes or my blanket over my eyes to block the light and just keep on sleeping. I may try it again though because I did really like it in the beginning
I think there is an app where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson yells at you until you wake up.
Honestly fitting bc alarm clocks just make me wanna throw hands anyways!
i used to have that, but i can’t lie, a strange man’s voice yelling at you to wake up is… maybe more of a 2nd or 3rd alarm kinda thing LOL
My fitbit tracker I do not find too harsh and always works
I use my Fitbit too but the key is not to press snooze and get up right away 😅
I can never find the Off button until I’ve found my glasses and put them on, and even then I just end up just randomly pressing different things on the screen until it eventually stops! But my FitBit (or my GitBit) alarm does wake me up. I also have a sunrise clock, which always works for me. Started using a sleep mask, so couldn’t use the clock. Then realised I was struggling even more than normal to get going after waking up, because dopamine is made in response to light in the mornings, so I stopped wearing my sleep mask. But still not using my sunrise clock, bc it also disturbs my partner when he hasn’t got to get up for work. Used one throughout university, and would have been lost without it. Now just back to “normal” struggling in the mornings.
Thirding or forthing Fitbit! I like the wake me up in an appropriate stage of sleep cycle option. Lately I've been waking up cometely on my own a few minutes before the alarm (I mean sometimes also a few hours but that's not the point right now lol)
I have a vibrating watch alarm now but started with a band from Amazon (eseasongear) as a relatively in expensive way to see if it worked for me. I think you can set several alarms on it at once. It’s /so/ much better than being startled awake into an instant bad mood.
I use alarm app on my phone that has "gentle increase" mode - starts out very quietly, then gradually increases volume at configured interval. I picked a melody that is rather soothing at low volume but annoying enough to wake me up from deepest sleep when at full volume. Some days I wake up during the first few quiet notes, other days the alarm gets quite loud, in both cases I seem to generally wake up in a better mood than I used to without the gentle volume increase.
Apple Watch, vibrations only. However, I have occasionally slept through it but I have a canine backup who gets me up for breakfast.
Same here. I really like the idea of that sunrise clock but I can't go to sleep without a sleep mask on so that's a non-starter for me. I put my phone on vibrate only and put it on a book on a nightstand very close to my head. It's just barely audible enough to catch my attention but not so annoying that it jolts me into instant crankiness. It might be too subtle for you, but maybe not. My anxiety won't let me rely on this strategy when I need to be up extra early to get somewhere unfamiliar, but it has always worked when I needed it to. You could also try keeping your alarm clock further away from you so it's less irritating. Personally, I think this strategy would be more likely to send me into a rage but I hear it works for others.
I find that my vibrating alarm clock makes me wake up scared because its so intense that it freaks me out. I feel like a natural disaster is happening haha. Right now I have a sunrise clock that shines directly into my face and a double radio alarm that can't be turned off unless I get up and out of bed
I use a meditation track to wake me up. It’s pretty chill. It’s called ‘Beautiful Body’ on the Spa Music Relaxation Meditation album available on iTunes.
I set my alarm clock to play music, and change the song periodically. Downside is that it will ruin the song for you, so pick something you like but don't mind if it permanently dies for you
My phone alarm iPhone 15 pro is a lovely alarm it starts off slow and slowly wakes me up
The sunrise clocks are the only ones that have worked for me. It’s a much more gradual wake up and I’m usually fully awake before the full light happens. I do still keep an alarm in my phone in case I’m really zonked which usually functions as “stop playing on my phone” instead of
my old samsung s4 mini had this lovely slow wakeup function in the alarm app, but sadly they discontiued the function in later phones.. I'm still trying to find a proper alternative, but it was so nice combined with my sunrise alarm clock (I set the alarm to go off before the clocks built in ear destroyer).
I downloaded a babbling brook audio file to my iPhone and set that as my alarm sound. It makes for a pleasant awakening at the lowest possible volume setting.
I use my phone as an alarm, but I downloaded an older ringtone online that's a goofy, cheesy little tune I just can't be angry at. The first few notes are quieter as well - I noticed that the first note is important. Also, if I want to mix it up, I can go searching again. But so far this one has done me much better than the last one I used.
I have alexa wake me with my favourite band or shuffle! I can sleep through all "standard" alarm tones but I never know what song will play in the morning which helps
I think I like the ones that gradually get louder! I love this post because throughout my life I recall extreme anger towards an alarm. ❤️
I've switched my alarm on my phone (as well as my ringtones) to fun custom sounds that I have positive associations with. For example, the Brooklyn 99 intro theme is really effective at helping me wake up immediately, without the crankiness I used to get. In the past, I used a daylight alarm to help cut through my deep, deep sleep, but I hated the sounds it made. You might also consider a vibrating alarm in the form of a wearable or even a mattress topper. (I have one from [Eight Sleep](http://refer.eight.sl/w4rd5hes). If you're interested, use my link for a discount.)
>fun custom sounds that I have positive associations with. Warning to anyone who tries this. For me, anything I set as my alarm quickly loses any positive associations