Dawn simulator alarm clocks... good or gimmick?

kingQuez

I'm curious if anyone here has used one of the lumie bodyclocks (or other "dawn simulators"), and can comment on whether they're useful or a waste of money? I haven't found much by way of independent trials on them, but the fact that they're suppliers to the NHS has me thinking there must be something to them. What's the difference between them (or their lightboxes), and a regular light -- as far as I can make out its just a shift in the spectrum of light they produce to something closer to sunlight?

adamski8

The only benefit i have felt is that you wake up to a nice soft light and its much easier on the eyes than switching a bright light on first thing in the morning straight from darkness. This is a really nice benefit though and makes waking up easier.

innad

I love the idea of these, but in practice is just hasn't really worked for me. I got a fairly cheap model, and found it too bright. At least half of the time it didn't actually wake me up, so I ended up being jolted out of my sleep by my regular alarm clock to a glaringly bright room - bit startling! The one advantage I guess is that if the light is already on, you might be less likely to hit the snooze button..

goose06

I got my better half a Philips one years ago as she can be quite difficult, shall we say, first thing. It has an adjustable light setting that slowly comes on over the course of 30 minutes before the alarm to goes off and different soft sound alarm tones, worked very well for a good long time but like anything you get use to it after a while, especially when she learned to switch off the alarm in her sleep!

Blue Whale

I have mine for about two months (lumie), for the first month it was great, then the bulb went, and I keep forgetting to go and get a new bulb. I will get a new bulb though, I found it helps.

noah45

I use a 'sunrise systems' one and find it brilliant.

http://www.morningsunrise.com/products.php?content=detail&code=SRS320

It has many features, I set the light to come on gradually over the space of an hour and it always wakes me about 20 min before I need to get up. I think the light really helps as I suffer from SAD on top of depression.

Winter for me is always worse especially Jan-Mar for some reason. I think I was meant to hibernate :-)

thegreatiam

I found waking up to light was much nicer than a sound alarm, rarely felt tired after I woke.

I didnt get a purpose built alarm for it I just bought a low watt bulb, 25w and a timer from maplins.
Worked grand for 530 am wake ups last winter. Had my phone alarm set for around 5 minutes after the light, vast majority of the time I was wide awake before it went off.

loomk

The Lumie light from Boots was dispatched this morning to me

irishgoldberg

adamski8 wrote: »

The only benefit i have felt is that you wake up to a nice soft light and its much easier on the eyes than switching a bright light on first thing in the morning straight from darkness. This is a really nice benefit though and makes waking up easier.

I agree totally with what you said, highly recommend one!

Blue Whale

Went and bought a bulb for mine yesterday, bought two. I probably wear out the bulb quicker than most as I also use it as a reading lamp.

Was a lot easier to wake up this morning

kingQuez

Great stuff, thanks for the info+feedback, on the balance it sounds like its worth giving one a go.

The Guvnor

I think they are a great idea but never used one.

Anyone read about sleep and 3 hour blocks so getting up after 6hrs you can be fresher that 7.5 etc.

The Guvnor

I think they are a great idea but never used one.

Anyone read about sleep and 3 hour blocks so getting up after 6hrs you can be fresher that 7.5 etc.