We’ve hit the third Monday in January — also known as Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. Browse our edit of the best sunrise alarm clocks to curb any dark feelings, and your remaining dark winter mornings too.
Philips Sleep and Wake-up Light with Relax Breath
£169.99, Philips at amazon.co.uk
They say: Clinically proven to improve general wellbeing after waking up, 92 per cent of users find it easier to get out of bed in the morning. The Relax Breath light-guided wind-down feature helps you to ease into a deep sleep while the sunset simulation calms the senses.
The Philips Sleep and Wake-up Light with Relax Breath
We say: A pricey lamp may not be on your most recent list of must-haves, but this one should be. I originally scoffed at the idea of using a sunrise and sunset-simulating lamp to wake up and wind down. Now I am a total convert. I have even persuaded my boyfriend to have one on his bedside table so I can continue to reap the benefits when I stay there. I’m a 6am gym goer and I religiously make it each morning because of the clever natural sunrise provided by Philips. The lamp starts waking you with a soft red hue that gradually increases to orange, until your room is illuminated in a bright yellow glow. This stimulates your natural wake-up system while your body is still asleep. It’s much less abrupt than an iPhone alarm, which I would snooze continually. And you can choose between natural sounds or the radio. I like the subtle bird chirping melody that evokes waking up in my hometown in the Yorkshire countryside — far nicer than the rumblings at dawn on bin collection day in Clapham. Not only is it brilliant at getting you up and out in the morning, but it’s also lovely to switch off to in the evenings. The sunset simulation gradually decreases the light slowly over your preferred length of time — I opt for roughly 25 minutes while I read (sounds are optional). Before you know it, you’ll have nodded off. Simply reset the alarm for a lie-in at the weekend. It’s a worthy investment if you have the funds. Hannah Skelley
The Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB
£171.75, lumie.com
They say: Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB is an alarm that mimics the light and colour of a real sunrise to wake you up gradually and more effectively. No more jarring alarm sounds or scrolling your phone first thing! Waking with light boosts energy, productivity and mood.
We say: I’ve been considering getting one of these for a while now — and when better to take the plunge than in the dark, miserable depths of January? Plus there’s the whole health kick thing too. So I’ll take any help to get up early in the morning while it’s still dark. I’ve seen the Insta-worthy Lumie products everywhere so was excited to try one out. Despite the steep price tag and overwhelming techy look of it, the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe is surprisingly easy to use, and comes in a new pleasing sage green — chic! The different buttons are self-explanatory (although a complete guide comes with it) and I had my whole morning wake-up routine sorted within about five minutes. The price is easier to swallow, as it’s complete with DAB radio, Bluetooth and alarm settings galore. There are multiple light settings — blue for alertness and warm (sunset) glows for going to sleep. This product looks great and is definitely worth the investment. It is your much-needed beauty sleep, after all . . . Sidonie Wilson
The Beurer WL50 Wake Up to Daylight Table Lamp
Beurer WL50 Wake Up to Daylight Table Lamp
£90, Beurer at amazon.co.uk
They say: Gone are the days of a noisy alarm abruptly tearing you from your sleep. The WL50 from Beurer allows you to fall asleep naturally and wake up gently with simulations of sunrise and sunset. Its slimline design, thanks to LED technology, is equipped with various light and sound settings that support the sleep rhythm.
We say: This Beurer Wake Up to Daylight lamp has been a lifesaver for me. As a serial alarm snoozer, coupled with being an Australian living in London, it’s safe to say that the morning darkness at this time of year is a real struggle. Enter the WL50. Long gone are the days of being startled by my hideous iPhone alarm. Instead, I wake up to a warm pink sunrise glow (you can also choose from blue, green and white light). And because I can’t be trusted to wake up to just the light, I also choose a very pleasant and gentle chime noise to accompany my wake-up. If that’s not for you, you can also choose from bird sounds and radio. I rise more energised and ready to tackle the day ahead — which is massive for me. Another one of my favourite features is the built-in Bluetooth speaker which is great to blast some feel-good tunes from throughout the day. And lastly, unlike many techy alarm clocks, this one is super minimalistic and compact, and sits nicely on my small bedside table. Emily Powick
The Lexon Miami Sunrise Dawn simulator alarm clock
Lexon Miami Sunrise Dawn simulator alarm clock
£70, Lexon at madeindesign.co.uk
They say: This alarm clock gradually simulates the light of dawn to gently wake you up with a natural, pleasant light. This model with its modern design also offers a choice of more than six natural tones, as well as a touch control to adjust the alarm’s lighting and snooze feature.
We say: Designed by Manuela Simonelli and Andrea Quaglio, the elegant, sculptural Lexon lamp is one of the most aesthetically pleasing sunrise simulator alarm clocks that I have seen — and, handily, it doesn’t take up much room on your bedside table. The Miami Sunrise name seems naff to me, but the simulation itself is fantastic. The light gradually increases over 30 minutes to the set level, going from darkness to sunrise with optional nature-inspired alarm sounds. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it from a stylistic point of view — the cool LED clock disguised with a metal grill is one of my favourite features. And I rate the back-up battery function, which ensures your alarm will still go off even if the power fails. You can’t go wrong. HS
Groov-e Light Curve Wake Up Radio Alarm Clock
Groov-e Light Curve Wake Up Radio Alarm Clock
£34.99, robertdyas.co.uk
They say: Features sunrise and sunset simulation for an easy natural wake-up or alternatively use one of the eight different alarm sounds or FM radio to get you out of bed when you need to. The 12/24-hour clock makes for an easy-to-read digital display, perfect for anyone and the multicolour light choice creates the perfect mood ambience for your room setting.
We say: I love sleep and I was very sceptical about whether light could actually wake me up each morning. This is the first time that I’ve ever tried being woken up without noise, even as a kid it was my Bart Simpson alarm clock shouting me awake, ‘Hey dude, wake up and get out of bed!’ But I’m pleased to say this has worked brilliantly: I’ve not slept through and I’ve woken up on time in a wonderfully calm atmosphere each morning. The Groov-e was a little tricky to set up, the instructions could be clearer, but I got there in the end and it looks good next to my bed. I particularly like the sunset feature that eases you into sleep for 10, 20 or 30 minutes, slowly dimming the light — it makes for a very peaceful end to the day. If you’re curious about light alarms, I would really recommend giving them a go. The Groov-e is so reasonably-priced — and you can feel safe in the knowledge that it has the back-up function of alarm sounds, just in case.
