(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best alarm clocks

The two things that helped me most were light-blocking shades and a white noise generator. You have the shades, obviously, but try some sort of white noise. You can leave a fan running, get an app, or buy an actual physical machine (I've done all three). I've had so much luck with white noise generators that I've bought them for most of my family and friends (even the day-shift people) and helped them improve their sleep as well :)

If you get an app/machine with multiple sound options: Listen to the sounds carefully and eliminate any that bother you on any level, even if it's something as minor as being ever-so-slightly in a key or a pitch you don't like, or a "heart" beating a, little too fast. For any surviving sounds, you may need to try them out. For myself, I've had the most success with a thunderstorm setting: the constant background "rain" helps mask little everyday sounds, while the intermittent "thunder" makes me a lot less susceptible to waking up for bass noise (lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, trucks, car exhaust, etc).

What I've used (that I remember):

• a fan.
  
• My old desktop PC with the side opened up so the noise from the fan was louder.
  
• The original versions (both desktop and travel models) of the Sharper Image Sound Soother 20 [I don't like the newer models (the pitch is off on thunderstorm); the ones I've linked look like my machines, but I've not compared the actual model numbers].
  
• A rip of rainy mood set to infinite loop.
  
• And TMSoft's White Noise Player (the site's down for me, but downforeveryoneorjustme.com is reporting that the site is up so you may have to double-check the link). TMSoft's app is really nice: you can play with pitch and mix your own combinations and stuff.
  
  Good luck!

If he's a self proclaimed hockey fan, he probably has a ton of jerseys and apparel. While we like having multiple jerseys, you don't want to double one he already has.

Because he's in Tampa, sweaters/toques are probably out of the question.

The NHL recently changed jersey providers, so a lot of the old stock is now on clearance if you can find it. Problem is they mostly fit in those 2 categories.

I'd suggest getting something different, like a figurine. It's doubly cool if you go off the board and pick someone that used to be tied to the franchise, rather than something obvious like one of the current star players.

I don't know what your budget is, but if I were a Tampa Bay fan i'd be ecstatic to get:

• Lecavalier NHL Figurine
  
  
• Vincent Freakin' Lecavalier T-Shirt
  
  
• Signed Andreychuk card
  
  The significance of these items is cool. Lecavalier basically started the franchise. He was their pick that helped carry them to their first championship. Andreychuk JUST got inducted into the hall of fame and was one of the old man leadership guy on the championship team.
  
  As a general hockey fan, these would be awesome too:
  
  
• NHL League Logo The Goal Light Alarm Clock, Small, Black
  
  
• PLAYMOBIL NHL Zamboni Machine
  
  And of course, especially if he has kids or works in an office:
  
  
• Mini Arcade Air Hockey Table 67% OFF!
  
  To get you hyped about hockey fandom, here's a Vincent Lecavalier
  
  Hope that helps. Let me know if you want more ideas or are looking at getting something more modern (with current players... i'd look for Stamkos/Kucherov/Hedman/Sergachev -- i'd especially look for Hedman because i'm a hipster)

I had this problem so many times. I hated taking 8 AM classes and I had to do it several times over the years and it sucked every time. But I did learn of a few tricks that may help...

First, I'm assuming you have either an iPhone or Android phone, there are several apps that work really well for people like us. I personally have an Android phone so some of the apps I may have used, may not be available if you have an iPhone but I'll post links for both. Check out these links and try these apps. If one doesn't help, move on and try another.

• Android Google Play: I Can't Wake Up! Alarm Clock
  
  
• Android Google Play: Alarmy (Sleep If U Can)- alarm
  
  
• Android Google Play: Alarm Clock Xtreme Free +Timer
  
  
• Techpp: The 10 Best Alarm Clock Apps for iOS and Android
  
  
• Business Insider: 9 fiendishly clever alarms guaranteed to get you up in the morning
  
  
• Beebom: 5 Best Android Alarm Clock Apps For Heavy Sleepers
  
  
• Make Use Of: The 10 Best Alarm Clock Apps for Android in 2016
  
  
• Life Hack: 15 iPhone Alarms That Wake You Up Right Away
  
  
• Gotta Be Mobile: 5 Best Alarm Clock iPhone Apps
  
  
• Joy of Android: 5 Best Android Alarm Clock Apps for Heavy Sleepers
  
  
• Life Hacker: How to Turn Your Phone Into the Ultimate Alarm Clock for Any Situation
  
  
• Android Authority: 10 best alarm clock apps for Android
  
  
• App Advice: Best Alarm Clock Apps
  
  If you want to get an actual clock/alarm that doesn't use your phone, there are some options...
  
  
• Life Gag: Top 10 Best Alarm Clocks For Heavy Sleepers
  
  
• The Endearing Designer: 10 Creative Alarm Clocks For Heavy Sleepers That Will Wake You Up In 30 Seconds Or Less
  
  
• Now Get Up: Top 10 Alarm Clocks for Heavy Sleepers
  
  
• Health: 11 Alarm Clocks for Heavy Sleepers
  
  
• CBS News: 10 offbeat alarm clocks to wake a heavy sleeper
  
  
• Lifestyle 9: 16 Most Creative Best Alarm Clocks For Heavy Sleepers
  
  
• Amazon Smile: INLIFE Wake-Up Sunrise Simulation Alarm Clock Night Light with Nature Sounds, FM Radio and USB Charger, Touch Control
  
  
• Amazon Smile: Sonic Alert Loud Dual Alarm Clock SB200ss with Vibrating Shaker
  
  
• Amazon Smile: Sonic Alert SBB500SS Sonic Bomb Loud Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker
  
  
• Amazon Smile: Sonic Alert SBD375SSEU/USA Sonic Boom Dual Alarm Vibrating Alarm Clock
  
  
• Amazon: Umiin Runaway Alarm Clock on Wheels for Heavy Sleepers,Kids,Boys Room(Black)
  
  
• Amazon Smile: Sonic Alert SBP100 Portable Loud Vibrating Alarm Clock
  
  
• Amazon Smile: Wake Assure Alarm Clock 85dB - Black

Seconding all of these things. I was having sleep issues recently, so I have a few things to add that helped me:

• Melatonin (but only take if you have enough time to get a full 8 hours of sleep, or you may wake up groggy)
  
  
• Get a sunrise simulation alarm clock. It gradually wakes you up the natural way. I have this one
  
  
• Darken your bedroom as much as possible. Cover any lights from chargers, power strips, electronics, etc. with electrical tape. Also invest in some blackout curtains if you can. Even a little tiny light from your TV or something can disrupt your sleep.
  
  
• Find a book or activity that you enjoy that doesn't involve any blue light (like those from screens) and partake in it before bed. It will take your mind of things and help you wind down.
  
  
• Meditate. I know it seems silly and a bit difficult when you have a lot on your mind. I suggest the Headspace app. It is a really good introduction. I have also use the Pzizz app to help facilitate power naps (never more than 20-30 minutes!) and getting to sleep at night.
  
  
• Exercise. Not too close to bed, but sometime during the day. It helps you sleep better. Even if it's just a 20 minute walk!
  
  
• No alcohol, or at least limit it to weekends. I have found that when I drink (even just one beer) before bed, though it may help make me sleepy, ultimately lowers the quality of my sleep.
  
  
• Get a FitBit. I have the Charge 2, which has a heart rate monitor. It tracks your sleep and you can see what your cycles look like so you can set your wake up time to a place where you will not be in deep sleep.
  
  
• Use your bed for sleeping and sleeping only (except for sex, lol)! No eating, watching TV, homework, etc in bed. Your body will associate being in bed with stressful or wakeful things, making it more difficult to sleep.
  
  
• Get an oil diffuser. I sometimes diffuse lavender essential oil at night, which naturally helps facilitate sleep and rest.
  
  
• Set out your clothes, pack your lunch, and prep anything you can the night before so getting out of bed is easier and you have less to stress about at night.
  
  I know that is a lot of suggestions, and by no means do you have to do all of them to get better sleep. But, adopting just one or a few of them could really help. It gets really tough this time of year with the sun setting so early and it being really gloomy a lot of the time. I barely got any work done when DST ended. I just sat in my office and attempted to at least get emails answered while trying to stay awake. Push through these next few weeks. You are SO close to the end of the semester!
  
  Don't forget self care. I'm terrible about treating myself when I need it. Whether it's getting a massage, going for a walk, giving yourself an hour to watch a show that puts you in a good mood, or indulging in something tasty, taking a nice warm bath, or just taking a quick power nap, everyone needs some kind of self care. This time of year, it's definitely something that falls by the wayside!
  
  Sorry for the long post....I hope you find at least one thing that is helpful from it!
  
  Edit: Formatting!

I am also moving really soon so I have giant list dedicated to the move, feel free to check it out.


First this is to not for get cleaning supplies or a plunger because they are things you are going to need!


Storage bins and closet organizers are always good for keeping the potential small apartment clean, organized and a bit bigger.


Who wouldn't want to wake up to this awesome alarm clock in their brand new apartment?!

I love this shelf and I think it would be perfect for a small apartment and this beanie bag looks pretty comfy, and would be great if you have friends over to play video games!

How old is your mom? Do you think she could be experiencing depression? Speak to her doctor about this possibility. Is her doctor aware of her memory and concentration issues? He may have very simple solutions for her memory and any mood issues she may be having. They could be as simple as a pill.

Also ask her doctor about an adult daycare in your area, or even a home health aid. Look into groups or clubs that she might be interested in getting involved with. (Find a craft group through your local craft store, for instance.) Ask her to teach you to knit! Teaching you may bring back her ability to do it herself, even if she can only do simple stitches or small items.


Another thing that comes to mind is a bone density test. Do you know if she's had one recently? That may shed some light on exact reasons for her pain, and change her doctor's treatment plan.

See what google has to say about social gatherings for senior adults where you live. Can you have people in to visit with your mom? Would she be just as comfortable in an easy chair or recliner with the heating pad on her back? At least then she'd be sitting up and more able to interact with the world. Would she enjoy just sitting outside for a little while? Would she enjoy a jigsaw puzzle? Reading? Board or card games? You just have to keep trying different things to keep her mind active. My mom benefits a lot from this clock: https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Clock-Calendar-Optional-Impaired/dp/B015M3DYNO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1YLNKAKZTWYSG&keywords=digital+calendar+day+clock&qid=1558085838&s=gateway&sprefix=digital+calendar+%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-3

Hope I've hit on something that helps. Best to you and your mom!

At my best, my routine looks something like this:

1. Set three alarms:
   

• One using my sunrise-simulating alarm clock. It isn't cheap*, but it works very nicely.
  
• One on my cellphone -- set to make noise at the same time as the sunrise alarm hits peak brightness, and set to have about a 5-10 minute snooze.
  
• One on a loud flip phone that I kept as a secondary alarm -- this is set far away from the bed, and set for about 5 minutes after the the snooze.
  
• Example times: 7:30 sunrise clock, 7:30 on cellphone, with a 10 minute snooze, and 7:45 on the alarm away from bed.
  

2. Set my first dose of medication and a bottle of water next to the away-from-bed alarm.
   
3. When my first alarm goes off, snooze it the one time, then when it goes off again, climb out of bed, sit on the floor next to my bed where I take my meds and drink a good amount of water, and then sit or lie on the floor until the last (e.g., 7:45am) alarm goes off.
   
   *Cheaper options:
   
   

• There are cheaper sunrise alarm clocks -- I can't speak to how bright they are, but the reviews suggest that people are happy with them -- for example a ~$30 sunrise alarm clock.
  
• Another way to rig this up would be to get one of those LED light-bulbs that you can control via an app on your phone -- there are many that allow you to set the light to fade in slowly in the morning.
  
  As long as I am not deeply sleep deprived, this routine works very nicely to wake me up.
  
  Other tips:
  
  
• I use a pleasant sound for the one next to my bed, and an aggressive sound for the one away from my bed -- this is on purpose. I don't want my first reaction to waking up to be "AGH, everything is terrible!" So I pick something that I really like the sound of.
  
• This routine works best when I also have something to look forward to -- such as a breakfast pizza that I then set to preheating the oven for, and about an hour to do little bits of tidying around the house that make me feel good about myself and my home.
  
• The breakfast pizza also means that if I am still feeling wiped out that particular morning, once I get it in and cooking, I can lay on the couch until it is done -- and the threat of a burned pizza paired with the promise of good food will get me to climb off my couch when the alarms go off 20 minutes later.

I LOVE LEGOS! I'd love this and this!

Thank you for the awesome contest! Ole Kirk Christiansen

You issues waking up sound a lot like issues I have (I have idiopathic hypersomnia). I suspect part of your issue is having to accommodate to such severe jet lag so often. When you do wake, are you very sleepy during the day? It may be beneficial to see a sleep specialist? You may need a sleep study. I know this doesn't help your immediate problems... but would be something to look into and strongly consider.

In the meantime, I have found that an alarm clock called Sonic Alert has helped me, combined with my phone alarm. Sonic alert has a vibrating disc that goes under my pillow and it is also VERY loud. It's designed for deaf people. I have my phone alarm set to go off every 5 minutes starting an hour or more before I need to get up, as well as the sonic alert.

I've also used an app called Kiwake. It's pretty nifty and did work some, although when I used it over a year ago it was somewhat buggy. Hopefully that is fixed now.

Good luck!

Edit: spelling errors, inserted links to products/apps

I love this thread so far lol. I've found a couple of things that might be fun:

-Chemistry bacon shirt

-Bacon boxers

-Bacon alarm clock!

I agree that bacon is meat candy ;)

Oh man. All the bacon.
I found a list of awesome things.

To play. 1

To wake up. 2

To 'w'rap.3

To take a bite.4

To adventure.5

To represent! 6

Bacon is meat candy!
Surprise.

They look good, but it looks like they're selling the cheap travel alarm clocks from decades ago, the ones you can pick up in pound shops, for a 20x markup. What do you like about them over the cheaper ones like this?

Get a light alarm like this one! It didn't work as well for me in the summer time, but in winter it works like a charm.

Thank you! :) I got it from a dutch store but Amazon sells it as well, here is a link https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Desktop-Brightness-Adjustable-Office/dp/B07PT7G2PK/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?keywords=digital+led+clock&qid=1565011089&s=gateway&sr=8-19

Found it on Amazon here. There is a Boba Fett model that looks quite awesome too!

I've known that I had Seasonal Affect Disorder since I was in elementary school and every winter, the teachers would tell my mom that I wasn't the same person once the weather got colder. My mom did everything she could to help me, one year we even went to Disney World during February so I could avoid the cold weather. By the time I was 13, my parents were out shopping and bought me an alarm clock with a powerful light built in, and I used it to wake up around five in the morning, and from that point on I was a morning person.

That sounds good too. I've been thinking of getting something like this, which gradually gets lighter to wake you up.

Get a wake-up / light-up sun lamp alarm clock. Your physiology will love you.

Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Up-Sunrise-Simulation-Charger-Control/dp/B01LL8THNU/

I bought this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0104ZI42Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got it in November of 2015. It has a light, the alarm slowly gets loud over 30 seconds, and it takes one AA battery which I've only replaced once since I bought it.

Main reason I bought it was so I didn't have to deal with yet another wire at home and so that I could take it anywhere. I highly recommended it.

EDIT:
I don't think I reset the time since early last year (when the first battery died), and it seems to be running about 2 minutes early. So it seems to keep time pretty well too.

We got my father-in-law a clock like this: https://www.amazon.com/American-Lifetime-Newest-Version-Clock/dp/B019G79V1Q/

Seems like a rip-off for what it is, but it was worth it. I had been considering using an old android tablet and a clock app/screensaver, but I tested it at home and it would occasionally freeze or the screen would sleep and it would need to be restarted/reset.

I got this clock for my elderly mom. It has the time, day of week, and date - very large. You can change the display options a few ways. She really likes it.

It's nice for people who are home all day and can lose track of what day it is.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019G79V1Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not sure if you're unaware of this or failed to mention it, but this is a screencap from Agents of Shield.

The clock is awfully similar to this but the display resolution is oddly high for such a simple clock.

Could just be a custom prop made from that clock for the scene, so the audience can clearly see the time on the display.

Have you tried getting her the Day Clock? We got grandma this one from American Lifetime and her confusion over what day of the week it is has pretty much dissipated. It's probably worth a try https://www.amazon.com/Newest-Version-Day-Clock-Impaired/dp/B019G79V1Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1509885568&sr=8-4&keywords=day+clock

http://www.amazon.com/Temperature-Repeating-Light-activated-Touch-activated-Nightlight-/dp/B00EDIGA90/ref=sr_1_federatedaps0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1412821955&sr=8-3&keywords=digital+alarm+clock

This is pretty close.

I'm considering just going for this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0104ZI42Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 :)

this one looks good

Get something like this for your bedside.

Charge your phone on the other side of the room. Or another room entirely.

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Desktop-Brightness-Adjustable-Office/dp/B07PT7G2PK that's the same link like yours, just saying

I have the Philips Wake Up Light Plus but I paid much less for it - at Costco, I think?

Anyway, I love that it wakes me up gradually. I am usually wide awake about 4 minutes before the actual alarm goes off. Most mornings, I get out of bed and never hear the audible alarm.

Saw a Sonic Alert was mentioned, I had the Sonic Alert SBD375ss and SB200ss, I didn't use the sound part of the alarm, just the vibrate portion of it. Both worked great for waking me up without making a bunch of noise. It's noticeable to anyone in the same bed.


SBD375ss wouldn't power on after two years. Tried swapping power adapters with a replacement, but no luck. Still have the SB200ss, but the original vibrating disc stopped working due to a short in the cable. So I just took the one from the SBD375ss. Amazon shows I bought the SB200ss 7 years ago.


Still have the alarm, but mainly just put lights on a timer as an alarm. I have the alarm and a cellphone as a backup. Sound was never really effective for me, unless it was really, really, loud. I seem to respond better to light and movement.

[Item for your wishlist] (http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-9003530-Minifigure-Alarm-Clock/dp/B000KFCZGC/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1394658555&sr=8-17&keywords=boba+fett)

I think I found the clock! https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Desktop-Brightness-Adjustable-Office/dp/B07PT7G2PK/ref=mp_s_a_1_29?adgrpid=54161525657&gclid=CjwKCAjwgqbpBRAREiwAF046JYRoSx3PE9Y8aZorwJ0B-hHxb58MU1_1AiQRS0L1aDGtJv_-lre4CxoCAPwQAvD_BwE&hvadid=274737950380&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9012085&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14552493050021994604&hvtargid=kwd-311703713733&hydadcr=13567_9455140&keywords=digital+desk+clocks&qid=1563038196&s=gateway&sr=8-29

What's Shakin Bacon?

Bacon is Meat Candy!

I got this one. <--- Link to Amazon


Sonic Alert SBD375ss Sonic Boom Dual Alarm Vibrating Alarm Clock

I actually have an alarm that does both of these things.

There are less expensive versions as well, but this one allows you to use your own sounds if you get tired of the ones it has.