My alarm is set for 6 a.m. three days a week in the ambitious hope that I’ll make it to yoga class at 6:30 a.m. In winter it is midnight dark at this hour and the only reason I occasionally do an early morning vinyasa is because of the sunrise alarm clock function Hatch restoration 2. I plan for my sound to fill the room with a gradually brightening light about 20 minutes before the singing bowls sound. The light helps my brain wake up before I do, and the subtle sound of the bongs somehow penetrates my subconscious – I’m often awake almost without knowing why.
It’s true, there are many sunrise alarm clocks. Many are cheaper and do not have an optional subscription commitment. But I like the Hatch app, which allows you to customize the duration, colors, brightness, volume, tones, etc. of your morning alarm.
You can also set morning meditations, movements, or inspirational pep talks to play after your alarm. These take a few minutes and are designed to help you go from horizontal to ambulatory. Of course, if you’re sharing a bed and the other person is still sleeping, it’s rude to play motivational messages. This way I get more benefit from the sleeping pills. Sound baths, ambient soundscapes, stories and guided meditations that ease the transition between waking life overload and sleep.
For the full library of alarm and sleep sounds, plus access to all stories and music, it’s $5 per month. Without it, you just get a selection. I’ve had a subscription for over a year now because anything that gets me working out in the dark early as hell is worth the money. — Amy Skorheim, reporter
