As a tech journalist, I’ve had the chance to test some of the latest and greatest gadgets for almost five years.
There have been many highlights during this period, from flagship smartphones to cutting-edge foldables to a robot vacuum cleaner and even a 3D printer.
However, my favorite piece of useful tech is a gift I received for Christmas in 2020. It’s not particularly attractive or advanced and only serves one function for me: waking me up in the morning.
You guessed it: it’s an awakening. However, this is no ordinary awakening.
It’s called a light alarm, which simulates the sunrise to gradually wake you up thanks to the light. After years of being woken up by a loud, annoying noise every morning, I was excited to make the change.
The one I chose was the Bodyclock Spark 100 from Lumie. It’s one of the more affordable versions offered by the British company, although it still costs £99 when paying full price in the UK.
This specific model is not available in the US, but the Bodyclock Rise 100 is functionally identical and costs $99.
That’s a lot of money for what is essentially just a fancy alarm clock. Is it really worth buying over a regular alarm clock, which costs a fraction of the price?
After almost three and a half years (was 2020 really that long?!) of almost daily use, the answer for me is a resounding yes.
My favorite way to wake up
Waking up with the Bodyclock Spark 100 has had a hugely beneficial impact on my mornings. It starts turning on 30 minutes before I need to wake up (more expensive models can customize this duration), with a beep not starting until the alarm time is reached.
95% of the time I wake up halfway through a half hour feeling much more rested than I otherwise would have been. Spending an extra 10 to 15 minutes in bed is a nice added benefit.
It’s no coincidence that I feel better. Using light means I naturally wake up in a lighter stage of sleep, rather than being awakened from deep sleep. It’s not foolproof — a full sleep cycle usually lasts about 90 minutes — but I doubt most people can afford a 1.5-hour window to wake up in the morning.
It’s not the only solution to this problem: many people wear a smartwatch or activity tracker to bed, allowing them to be silently awakened by a vibration when sleep data suggests they are sleeping slightly. This is always the best choice if you sleep next to a partner and need to wake up earlier than them.
However, I find wearing something on my wrist while I sleep uncomfortable, and it’s another potential source of distraction when I’m trying to rest. I already try to leave my smartphone in another room while I sleep to limit this.
Not a perfect solution
However, the Bodyclock Spark 100 doesn’t do everything right. I don’t particularly like the way it looks, while the plastic buttons on the front look a bit cheap. You also can’t set a schedule for alarms on this particular model, so I have to remember to set it every night.
And of course, being mains dependent, you can’t use it when you’re not at home. In this situation, a cheap alarm clock does the trick, and I set it up as a backup anyway (in case there is a power outage during the night).
However, none of these are deal-breakers for me, nor should they be for you. Combined with a blackout blind (I use a £23.95/$26.99 Easynight, which can easily be put up and down each day), it has transformed my mornings for the better.
I don’t even use the sunset feature, which gradually dims the light and shifts it to warmer tones to promote sleep at night. After 30 minutes, you can set it to stay on as a night light or turn it off completely.
In addition to customizable sunrise and sunset times, other Lumie models include features like weekly alarm scheduling, Bluetooth support, and FM or DAB radio via built-in speakers. But you don’t need these extra features to get a real advantage.
A light alarm is arguably most important during the darker winter months, especially if you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). However, I find this to be extremely beneficial throughout the year, and you could do it too.
Considering a light alarm but not set to Lumie? Check out our roundup of the best you can buy.
