Internal Rhythms (Or Why I Hate The Alarm Clock)

Internal Rhythms (Or Why I Hate The Alarm Clock) 05/01/2009

I don't really think that humans were created to endure alarm clocks.

When we lived in Seattle I had the wonderful opportunity to work for a company who didn't really care that I was "in the office" at exactly 8:30. They were more concerned with whether or not I was coming up with good ideas within my deadlines. So since I didn't have a bus to catch or the requirement to be at work at a certain time each day, I got into the wonderful habit of sleeping until I woke up rather than according to the alarm clock.

Something amazing happened.

I found out that I usually woke up within 15 to 20 minutes of the same time each day so long as I went to bed around the same time each night. The difference was, sleeping until I needed to wake up rather than being awakened felt more natural.

I felt more rested.

I was on my game.

All this changed again when I began working at Advantor last month.

I didn't want to begin my career by coming in later than the official 8:30am office opening and so I began setting my alarm clock to make sure that I was getting up on time. And even though I began going to bed at a reasonable time, I found that I was much more tired and exhausted because of the artificial wake-up time.

I'm not entirely sure what to do to thwart this, because I obviously can't risk going into work habitually late... but I'd like to go back to my body's needs rather than something external. I just don't know that my new boss is going to be happy if I come in late every once in a while because I'm trying to "go natural."

Anyone have ideas on how we can meet the standards of Western Work Schedules and also trust our own internal clock rather than technology to wake us up?

Comments

jenn j

05/01/2009 08:20:27

Try http://tr.im/kd5R
and this: http://tr.im/kd6b
Both focus on allowing your body to naturally come out of sleep by reducing the production of certain chemicals in your brain that keep you in a deep sleep. :)

Jonathan C.

05/01/2009 10:32:46

So, what I meant to say was, I'm just not wired for a diurnal work schedule. But I do find that being woken up by a person is better than by a buzzer. I tend to drag less on the days Katie wakes me up or I receive a phone call from someone to wake me up.

Nathan

05/01/2009 11:24:33

@Jonathan- I agree... I definitely find that waking up to my wife (or child) is much sweeter than something artificial. I my case, however, I try to get up without waking either of them so I don't know that having them be "my alarm clock" is the ideal.

@Jenn- Those both look like great products. But would they wake Beth and Ethan, too? That's the kicker!

Jones

05/01/2009 14:03:06

Oh, we cared that you weren't in the office at 08:30 - we just didn't have the heart to tell you. ;-)

jenn

05/02/2009 13:46:59

You can train yourself to start waking up at the first signs of light. The first few times you may make it all the way to the alarm but if you get to bed early enough, you will start to wake up as it gets brighter. Keep it next to your bed and eventually you should get to the point where you never need the alarm portion. And as long as Beth and Ethan don't make the effort to mentally train themselves to wake up, they should be fine. :) On the days that I need to wake up earlier, I sleep with my blackout curtains open. I only use a regular alarm when I need to wake up before the sun. And waking up before the sun is just crazy talk! :)

seth

05/04/2009 06:18:54

I like this idea of "going natural" with waking up. Test it out over the weekend so you don't run the risk of getting hand slapped by your employer. I find that if I go to sleep the same time on friday night as I do the rest of the week I generally wake up early on saturday, not "going to work" early but not the typical sleep till noon operandi most people have for the weekend. With practice I'm pretty sure you can train yourself to wake up whenever you need to.

Nathan Key

Husband, Father, Thinker.

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