Anyone using those alarms with "natural light" to wakeup?

Ok, maybe I didn't exactly word the title right but anyhow, was wondering if anyone is using any sort of light on a timer or "alarm" with a light as you can find on Amazon.com that provides some natural type UV or sunlight type exposure upon wake-up in the mornings? Reasons I ask are:

- My master bedroom is situated in the center of the house and because of some previous additions to the back porch converting it to a den, I have NO exterior windows thus never get any natural light into the bedroom.

- I know a lot of the talk about Melatonin is in regards to the natural "light" process and it attempting to replicate it in some fashion so didn't know if having a natural light source to help regulate waking time would be of benefit.

If anyone is using such a method or device or has any recommendations or opinions on the matter, please chime in!

I think this has been part of my problem of never wanting to really get myself out of bed due to a constantly DARK bedroom.

An example of what I'm talking about: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hf3470-60 ... B003XN4RIC

I have used the one in the picture, as I live in a basement apartment. I found it was no more or less effective for me than any other form of alarm clock, even after a couple of months of use. I still didn't want to get out of bed, it was just bright in the room LOL.

I *do* get benefit out of a small light-panel device at my desk that I use for about 20 min per morning after waking up. I feel more energized and awake when using that device.

So, for me, the dark bedroom wasn't the problem in itself. But a lack of natural light soon after waking was an issue.

TalonNYC wrote:I have used the one in the picture, as I live in a basement apartment. I found it was no more or less effective for me than any other form of alarm clock, even after a couple of months of use. I still didn't want to get out of bed, it was just bright in the room LOL.

I *do* get benefit out of a small light-panel device at my desk that I use for about 20 min per morning after waking up. I feel more energized and awake when using that device.

So, for me, the dark bedroom wasn't the problem in itself. But a lack of natural light soon after waking was an issue.

Thanks for the feedback. Is the small light-panel device a UV, white-light, or anything special? I do think my dark bedroom is throwing off my sleep cycles a bit over the years and combined with all the melatonin talk and why people take it just got me thinking more about this and the fact that my bedroom is always dark short of turning on the light briefly and manually upon awaking, I just thought having a device on a timer such as an alarm clock with the proper type of lighting that would mimic real "sunlight" might be of benefit to say come on during that first alarm where-as I stay in bed reaching for the snooze button several cycles and also awaiting my other alarms I set on my smartphone to ultimately get up. This has been one part of my "poor sleep hygiene" that I've yet to be able to conquer and am just looking for an aid in promoting the feeling of crawling out of bed at the proper time in the mornings.

I use a Philips blu-light device on my desk, for about 20 min after getting out of bed. It's a "safe UV" device that uses blue-white LED's to generate a very bright light-field.

As for the alarm, what I found was that I was hitting the snooze on the light just as much as on the standard alarm clock. The devices in general have decent track records, so it may very well work for you. But for me, it didn't have any significant impact on my sleep cycles or wake-up events. I'm still slow to get out of bed, and not a morning person =)

TalonNYC wrote:I use a Philips blu-light device on my desk, for about 20 min after getting out of bed. It's a "safe UV" device that uses blue-white LED's to generate a very bright light-field.

As for the alarm, what I found was that I was hitting the snooze on the light just as much as on the standard alarm clock. The devices in general have decent track records, so it may very well work for you. But for me, it didn't have any significant impact on my sleep cycles or wake-up events. I'm still slow to get out of bed, and not a morning person =)

Hrmm. I wonder about this one: http://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Healths- ... B004I03L0O It's also a little pricy at $129



But it's also a timer/alarm clock. I couldn't yet find one that was just a strip or whatever as you describe. I'll keep looking.

Yea, that's my problem. I've never been a morning person my entire life.

The Philips goLITE I have is very much like that one. They can function as alarm clocks as well, but I find audio better to wake me up than light LOL

I found mine at the Goodwill for about 4 or $5.00 and it works great for me as I can't hear alarms in the first place so they are great for the deaf. I love mine. Don't know what I would do with out mine. Have a great day, Huggies, Fay

I use a fancier model of the one you found on Amazon. I keep it out of reach, so that I can't sneakily reach over and trip the switch to turn it off (who needs "snooze" when you know where "off" is). When I use it, I generally don't sleep long enough to hear the audio alarm I have set separately to it, and I do find that the brightness (or lack thereof) is useful in deciding whether or not I'll continue to attempt sleep.

tetragon wrote:I use a fancier model of the one you found on Amazon. I keep it out of reach, so that I can't sneakily reach over and trip the switch to turn it off (who needs "snooze" when you know where "off" is). When I use it, I generally don't sleep long enough to hear the audio alarm I have set separately to it, and I do find that the brightness (or lack thereof) is useful in deciding whether or not I'll continue to attempt sleep.

Curious as per your mention above, which exact make and model are you using?

Found another one: http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/lt ... 62_ctg.htm New! BlueMax™ Sunrise System Model 320 But the pricing seems to be increasing as per my searching about.



$165

lazer wrote:

tetragon wrote:I use a fancier model of the one you found on Amazon. I keep it out of reach, so that I can't sneakily reach over and trip the switch to turn it off (who needs "snooze" when you know where "off" is). When I use it, I generally don't sleep long enough to hear the audio alarm I have set separately to it, and I do find that the brightness (or lack thereof) is useful in deciding whether or not I'll continue to attempt sleep.

Curious as per your mention above, which exact make and model are you using?

Mine is also a Philips Wake-up Light. My model is HF3485, and the feature that got me to try the more expensive version was the dusk simulation.

I wonder what they use in the Japanese coffin hotels?

Hi lazer -- I have a light like the ones shown in this thread and for me its biggest benefit has actually been at night. In addition to slowly lighting up in the a.m., you can set it to gradually go dim over a period of time that you select. Something about the light going down seems to help me fall asleep, I think it's probably the melatonin-boosting effect (I often go straight from computer work to bed, not a smooth transition to sleepytime). If you do buy one of these lights, might as well get one that has both features.

Love and adore mine. It is second one I have owned. Is over 6 years old at this time. First one lasted long time too. Label on front says SharperImage but got it at what is now called CVS drugstore. On back it mentions: www. soleilsunalarm.com. No idea if this site still works. I
t has a nasty buzz alarm that goes on for a whole flipping 1/2 hour if the light hasn't helped. Let's not discuss how I would know the time but pillow over head helps with ignoring it.
IF/when it dies I will DEFINITELY be in the market for another one. LOVE waking up to light, esp on dark mornings in the winter or when I have to be up at 0darkhundred for some reason. And light comes on gradually over 1/2 hour to prepare you for having to actually rise and shine.

just moved into my first apartment complex..and so far it's a little noisy around here. am considering using ear plugs but was concerned about waking up on time. one of these light alarms would provide a great alternative to an audio alarm.

hmm.....