You'll thank yourself for buying this Lumie Alarm Clock on dark winter mornings
I've had the Lumie sunrise alarm clock for four years, and it's made waking up so much easier.
I've never been very good at getting a decent amount of sleep, but investing in the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 four years ago has been a game-changer. For the uninitiated, Lumie makes a range of SAD lamps designed to mimic a sunrise to wake you up gradually, which makes getting up in the dark, winter months a whole lot more enjoyable. Its Bodyclocks are designed specifically for aiding sleep, doubling up as an alarm clock with settings that will help you doze off faster, sleep better for longer and wake up more easily.
Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100
£99Lumie Sunrise Alarm - Sunrise Wake-up Alarm
£40£50Save £10Alarm Clock Wake Up Light with Sunrise
£33REACHER Sunrise Alarm Clock, Wake Up Light
£50
You may be thinking £99 for essentially a fancy bedside light is unnecessary, and I did too until I owned one myself. Four years in, and it's one of the best investments I've ever made - and more importantly, it makes waking up in the morning so much easier.
🛍️ Product reviewed: Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100
⏰ Tested it for: Four years
⭐ Rating: 5/5
💸 Reasons to buy: It mimics the sunrise and sunset, making waking up and falling asleep easier than ever. There's no blaring foghorn alarm and within a week of buying it I was sleeping better
✋ Reasons to avoid: It's rather pricey, but it does double up as a bedside table lamp too
It emits a soft light and the alarm sound gradually gets louder, all to ensure you wake up slowly and well-rested.
How it works
Sunrise alarm clocks are recommended for those who suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in the winter months, as it helps to regulate your sleep and wake cycles.
Research has found that light at the start of the day is the most effective way to reset your internal clock, as well as your daily cycle of hormones and metabolism. According to Lumie: "The Bodyclock Spark 100 is a Class 1 graded medical device that will introduce you to the benefits of sleeping and waking with light, so that you can experience a more regular sleep and wake pattern".
Having used it daily for four years I can confirm it has made such a difference to the quality of my sleep. Read on to find out why I think it's a night-time essential.
💸 Reasons to buy
Firstly, it has a very simple set-up. All you need to do is plug it in, choose your alarm time, brightness and volume setting between one and five. I prefer number four as it's just loud enough to wake me up but doesn't feel like an abrupt awakening.
If, like me, you love a snooze button, just tap the dome to give yourself another five minutes – I often reach out to tap it from under my duvet.
The sunrise feature allows the lamp to gradually get brighter simultaneously with the alarm sound for a more gradual experience, rather than rushing to turn off a blaring iPhone.
£99 at Amazon £99 at John Lewis £99 at Argos
Of course, throughout the day and before bed you can use it solely as a warm bedside lamp, but my favourite feature is the sunset setting. This fades the light over 30 minutes, from a warm white, to pink, orange then red, which makes you feel more sleepy, and by the time the light turns itself off, I'm usually drifting off.
Lastly, the domed design is minimal and sleek, and doesn't take up much space on my bedside.
✋ Reasons to avoid
The only downside to the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 10 is the initial up-front cost – £99 is a lot of money when it's full price.
However, having owned one for four years and after using it daily, the cost per day over a year averages out to just over 24p, and I'm a firm believer that the best investment you can make is for your sleep, including everything from your pillows to your alarm clock.
Lumie does however do cheaper versions if you'd rather a more budget-friendly purchase. Lumie's Sunrise Alarm is currently an Amazon best-seller and currently reduced to just £39.99.
Upgrade your alarm clock with this sunrise clock that slowly brightens to wake you up gently. It also has a 30-minute sunset feature to help you relax at bedtime, and six different light colours ranging from red, blue, pink, orange and blue.
Shop now: Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 Wake up to Daylight Table Lamp | £99 from Amazon
Other affordable options on Amazon
Simply set your alarm time, and the alarm clock light will gradually increase from 10% to 100% over 10 to 60 minutes.
The digital clock offers wake-up light gradually and has three alarm sounds to choose from, including soft music, bird and beep.
