Wake Up Light
Welcome to iWakeUpLight.com, your resource for everything Wake Up Lights!
If you landed here, you probably have a traditional alarm clock. You know, the kind that RUDELY wakes you up in the morning, at which point you slam on the snooze button only to be rudely waken up again by some obnoxious noise?
Sound familiar?
What a way to wake up in the morning…but fortunately, there’s a better way, one that will leave you refreshed, awake and ready to start your day (and keep you in a good mood too).
Wake Up Light
A wake up light is a new-age alarm clock, but it’s not really an alarm at all. It’s a gentle device that helps you wake up like nature intended you to: gradually, and with light!
And not just any light….
Most wake up lights (the ones you’ll see reviewed here on iWakeUpLight.com) are built with specialized “natural” sunlight – or light that mimics that of the sun.
Have you ever heard of a happy light, or light therapy? Maybe you’ve heard of seasonal affective disorder (also known as sad) or sad light therapy?
It’s real. VERY real.
There are special lights that are meant to be turned on in an area where you are working or sitting for an extended period of time (like a desk at your office, or a sofa or couch in your home) and after a little bit of time the light starts to have a “good mood” effect on you!
I know, it sounds crazy – but it works. I have a Happy Light (a product from Verilux) that I have sitting next to my desk, and it actually does work! I’m usually full of energy and in a good mood within 15 minutes!
Wake up lights, also known as sunrise alarm clocks, work in the exact same way with the exact kind of light – except instead of keeping it on while you’re awake, it turns on so you become awake, and in gentle way like the sun was rising in your own bedroom.
Wake Up Refreshed with a Wake Up Lights
A Wake Up light is an electronic device that helps you to wake up naturally through a light that gradually shines brighter in a certain period of time, usually 30 minutes before the alarm time. The bright light sends a signal to your brain to increase the production of cortisol, the energy hormone and lessens the melatonin level (it’s a hormone that actively adjusts the sleeping and waking cycle) which helps to wake up comfortably and feel revitalized. As soon as you wake up on set alarm time, your hormones are balanced well and you feel more energetic. With its confirmed health advantages, the Wake Up Light is already considered a health device.
How Does a Wake Up Light work?
First, you need to set the time, say for example, at 6:30 A.M., and then you customize the brightness of the light and volume level prior to going to sleep. When the clock strikes 6:00 A.M., it starts to produce light at lower intensity and then gradually gets brighter until it reaches its brightest at the 6:30 A.M. alarm time. Sound alarm is also included but setting it up is purely optional. If you want to set up the sound alarm together with the wake up light, it will go off beginning at 6:30 A.M. and increases its volume with a five minute period to give you enough time to wake up if you are not yet woken up.
Why is it recommended to use Wake Up Light?
When one wakes up with a Wake Up Light, it makes the waking experience more pleasant rather than abruptly woken up by a traditional sound alarm clock. It will significantly reduce stress and mood swings, making you feel more energetic. It also helps to stabilize metabolism because the light heightens cortisol production and minimizes melatonin level. You can also adjust the light so you can use it as reading light.
If you feel so irritated waking up to the sound of your alarm clock and you feel very tired despite the adequate amount of sleep you get, it might be a time to switch to a Wake Up light. Here are some highly recommended Wake Up Light models that you can choose from:
Philips HF3470/60 Wake Up Light
- This is the official light therapy device endorsed by National Sleep Foundation
- Stimulates the sunrise to wake you up with a better mood and increased energy level
- On top of the wake up light, you get a choice of FM Radio or two nature-inspired wake-up sounds to make waking up a pleasant experience
- With limited one year warranty
Northern Light Technology NLT-SRCS Sunrise Clock
- The clock light slowly brightens up 15, 30, 60 or 90 minutes prior to the set alarm time, gradually illuminating the room helping you to wake up comfortably
- It has an adjustable light feature
Soleil Sun Alarm Clock Radio SA-3
- It is most effective during fall and winter season where there is least amount of daylight.
- This can be activated at 0 to 90 minutes interval, slowly increasing the brightness to reinforce a sunrise.
- It’s high-intensity LED Reduced power consumption helps to preserve operation life of the light bulb longer