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Who likes jolting awake in the morning, your heart racing a mile a minute, and your previous relaxed sleep already a distant dream? If your answer to that is "me," I challenge you with a new way of waking up: Try the natural increase of light that a sunrise alarm clock can provide. If you're looking to ditch the phone alarm and start waking up with something more in sync with your body's circadian rhythms, a sunrise alarm clock could be the solution.
A sunrise alarm clock can gently wake your body up in a natural manner by simulating natural dawn. It allows light to gradually illuminate your room as though the sun is rising and shining through your window onto your face. It's a much calmer alternative to a loud alarm ringing and could be just the thing to get your body aligned with a more natural rhythm over time. And even if it isn't for you, it might be the perfect holiday gift this year.
A sunrise alarm clock can also help those with limited sun exposure or at risk of seasonal affective disorder improve mental health in dark, wintry months. Experts recommend getting bright light early in the morning, as it boosts serotonin production and can have a positive impact on your mood. Not to mention, a silent alarm will also mean you feel less stress each morning, with the sunrise alarm acting as light therapy just as you start your day.
Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant and author, told CNET she came across these types of noise-optional alarm clocks during her research surrounding noise pollution: "Our lives and homes are filled with noise, and this creates the potential for insomnia, anxiety and stress. I love the idea of these silent alarm clocks for tying in with our natural circadian rhythms and helping start our days on a calmer note. Some heavy sleepers may need a stronger wake-up system, but if you're not one of them, it's definitely a solution worth considering."
Since I started using a sunrise alarm clock, I've had a better night's sleep. Waking up without the loud sound of an alarm has also made my mornings happier and my days more productive. According to a small study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research, exposure to artificial light in the mornings can also improve cognitive performance throughout the day.
If all of this sounds like something you'd be down to try, particularly if you're looking for a calmer start to your day, we've rounded up the best sunrise alarm clocks on the market -- from basic models to those that come with sleep timers, snooze functionality or even reading lights.
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After testing the Hatch Restore 2 for a few weeks, this sunrise alarm clock stands out as my top choice because of its functionality options and design. You can customize the light options to your liking to create the perfect sunrise. Whether you like to wake up to warm golden tones or a gentle amber glow, the Hatch Restore 2 offers a wide range of hues that mimic a sunrise to ease you into your day. Since using the Hatch Restore 2, my bedroom has become phone-free at night, which has significantly improved my sleep quality.
Another feature that I really like about the Restore 2 is the collection of sounds to pair with your sunrise light. You can choose from soothing nature sounds to peaceful melodies to create the perfect ambiance to wake up or fall asleep to. I have mine set to the sound of ocean shores to wake up and light rain at night to help me wind down after a long day. The ability to mix and match your light and sound options is endless.
To properly use the Hatch 2 Restore you must download the app. It's a straightforward, user-friendly app where you set up your personalized routines. I control the alarm time, light settings and sounds all from my phone. For $4.99 a month, you can subscribe to Hatch+, a library of meditations, music, bedtime stories and ASMR.
If you're not quite ready to shell out $100 or more on a sunrise alarm clock, this budget-friendly sunrise simulation clock from Jall should do the trick. It has all of the basics and makes for a rather customizable sunrise: Choose from seven colors and 20 brightness levels to end your sunrise, as well as seven natural sounds to accompany the light. You can also choose to wake up to FM radio.
The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock functions as a night light and bedside lamp, and you can adjust the brightness level for both. It doesn't have a sunset function like some others on this list, nor does it double as a white noise machine. If you only want the sunrise function, that doesn't matter.
The majority of reviewers on Amazon love this clock: It has 4.3 stars and nearly 100% of the reviews are favorable. It seems that most people who bought this clock were looking for a less abrupt way to wake up, and the Jall Wake Up Light did the trick for them. Buyers also love that it's easy to set up and simple enough for kids to operate on their own.
The Casper Glow Light makes our roundup as most versatile sunrise alarm clock for good reason. Once charged, the Glow Light becomes a portable night light I can carry around, whether it's a trip the the restroom or the kitchen for a midnight snack.
The Casper Glow app adds another layer of convenience to your alarm clock. From the app, you can customize the brightness, sync multiple glows to wake up or fall asleep and schedule your wakeup time. I really like the fading options for falling asleep as it signals to my brain that it's time to start preparing for bed.
Of all the sunrise alarm clocks on this list, the Casper Glow is probably the most unique one to use. Besides the app, it also uses tactile controls, like flipping the device to turn off the light.
Its minimalist, sleek design goes with just about any type of decor.
The Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 is a simpler version of the Lumie Shine 300. It's a high-quality intro-level sunrise simulator alarm clock for people who are looking for just the basics: The Lumie Rise 100 features a 30-minute sunrise with the option to set the final light intensity. You can also program a sunset to help you fall asleep.
The Lumie Rise 100 does not have nature or ambient sounds to add to your sunrise and sunset, although you can program the optional beeping alarm to start when your sunrise reaches maximum light intensity. Like the Lumie Shine 300, the Lumie Rise 100 has a tap-control snooze feature and an auto-dimming display.
If you have a bedside lamp already, you can make a DIY sunrise alarm clock by replacing regular light bulbs with smart light bulbs from Lifx. These Wi-Fi-enabled bulbs connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana and Apple HomeKit, and you can program them to dim and brighten like a sunrise and sunset as you fall asleep and wake up, respectively.
You won't get any sound, but if you're a relatively light sleeper who wakes up to changing light intensity, these programmable light bulbs will still get you up in the morning. You can also combine with Lifx strips in fun colors for the coolest faux sunrise ever.
Read our Lifx Mini smart bulb review.
If you want a broader selection -- not just sunrise clocks -- check out our separate list of the best alarm clocks for 2024. If you need a good night's sleep, check out the best mattresses you can buy online and the best pillows too.
How we chose the best sunrise alarm clock
Our roundup of the best sunrise alarm clocks entailed a comprehensive evaluation of several key metrics to ensure a great user experience.
Customization: We prioritized sunrise alarm clocks that offer customizable light settings and included some models that offer sound selections to pair with your light.
Features: We looked at what special features the sunrise alarm clocks offer. For example, app integration for seamless control, sound libraries and portability.
Design: There's nothing we love more than an aesthetic but practical design. We chose models that can blend into almost any decor you have in your home.
Durability: Our staff members personally tested these alarm clocks to assess each device's quality and longevity.
Our top pick is the Hatch Restore 2 because of checks off all the boxes of things you'd want in a sunrise alarm clock like customization, sound options, app integration and ease of use.
Yes. The simulated sunrise light helps signal to your brain that it's time to wake up.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.