Why You Should Change Your Alarm Sound By: Olivia Ekeland

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This obviously doesn't apply to us now because of COVID-19, but this can be useful for when we eventually go back to school. 
Waking up to music and not an alarm can help you feel more alert. According to an Australian study, a person’s morning melancholy can be due to the type of alarm that a person is using. Actually, studies have shown that a brusque, harsh tone can be more disadvantageous, whereas a more melodious alarm can keep the person more alert. This study used 50 people, and each person was asked what type of sound they prefer to wake up to, how they feel about that particular sound, and whether or not they felt alert or groggy when they woke up to that sound. The lead author, Stuart McFarlane, announced that his team found that people waking up to more melodic sounds had an easier time waking up and staying alert. McFarlane also explains that in order for a tone to be melodic, there have to be at least two notes, time, and sequence and they have to sound in relation to one another. One example of a melodic sound that McFarlane gave was the introduction to the song “Borderline” by Madonna. This introduction is a complete opposite of an alarm that just repeats one note, like a traditional alarm clock. McFarlane also believes that maybe the rise and fall of certain notes in an alarm that’s more melodic helps to keep our brains focus. A cliche, brusque alarm sound can trigger confusion and anxiety. The grogginess that we feel when we wake up is called sleep inertia and it can temporarily impair our abilities to react, think, and remember. Normally, sleep inertia lasts for about 30 minutes but there have been some cases where it lasted for at least 4 hours. With more research, McFarlane also believes that we can set up alarms that can be used for the general public and for various industries. He also says that we can design sounds that help reduce sleep inertia at the very least. There are, in fact, many tips for waking up refreshed and Dr. Timothy I. Morgenthaler gives many examples like getting enough sleep, keeping a regular sleep and wake schedule and being more active during the day.
Change your alarm sound for the next time you need it and see if it actually makes a difference (I tried it and it worked)!
How To Wake Up Without An Alarm Clock - The Sleep Matters Club

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 31, 2020 at 9:36 AM

    This has inspired me to change my awful alarm sound. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 31, 2020 at 9:38 AM

    Wow, this is super interesting. I never would've thought that.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DanielleMarch 31, 2020 at 10:31 AM

    I completely agree with this! I used to use an typical, blaring alarm sound and it was terrible. Now I a have soft musical sound that starts low and gradually increases in volume and it's so much better! But I do have a question...do any of you use an alarm now that we're home? How late do you sleep?

    ReplyDelete

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