Sunrise alarm clock

[Pottsy]

Has anyone (SAD sufferers?) tried one of these 'sunrise' alarm clocks? The ones that wake you up with an increasing sunlight type brightness over a period of 20 mins or so. Apparently they can also play birdsong, running water sounds etc. The latter sounds like a recipe for disaster

I can see models advertised by Lumie, Philips, Naf Naf and Sunrise varying from £20 to £120. Quite a price range so some advice or direct experience would be much appreciated.

The clocks are going back next weekend I believe!

Thanks in advance.

 

[cookiemonster]

I could do with one of those as well. I'm going to be here in Northern Finland until next Summer and it's already getting dark quickly. Dark by 6pm and not bright until 9am. I'm beginning to struggle in the mornings.

 

[Andy]

I've been thinking about these, or even just the lights that help to alleviate SAD for a couple of years but not got around to doing anything. I'm not a great morning person (in fact maybe I'm just not a great person full stop!) but I really begin to struggle about this time of the year to get moving in the mornings. And from here until the end of march just seems like a long, long time until half decent weather might start again.

 

[Andy]

Just re-read my post above and realised that it is badly puntuated. I don't want to alleviate SAD for two years, but meant to say that I have been thinking about the light things for two years or so. What am I like.

 

[Keith Oates]

Getting out of the bed is much easier if you have a nice commute ahead of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[abchandler]

I have a sunrise clock and a light box from lumie. I find both useful. I've never been one to jump out of bed when the alarm sounds, so the gradual increase in light is quite pleasant. The light box is on for the first and last hour of daylight at work, and also helps me feel more awake. Wouldn't want to be without either of them over the winter

 

[GilesM]

I could do with one of those as well. I'm going to be here in Northern Finland until next Summer and it's already getting dark quickly. Dark by 6pm and not bright until 9am. I'm beginning to struggle in the mornings.

That sounds sh!te, Scottish winter daylight hours upset me, I can't imagine how bad it must be further north

and a light box from lumie

I'm interested, what does the light box do?

 

[Greedo]

I've got one.



It's actually my wifes ar$e,

as I think the sun shines out of it!!

 

[abchandler]

I'm interested, what does the light box do?

It provides a light of 10,000 lux. For comparison,

Illuminance Example
<1 lux Moonlight
400 lux Sunrise or sunset on a clear day.
32000 lux Sunlight on an average day (min.)
100000 lux Sunlight on an average day (max.)

I find it gives the sensation of a sunny day throughout the day when I'm in the office and it's dark outside

 

[cookiemonster]

That sounds sh!te, Scottish winter daylight hours upset me, I can't imagine how bad it must be further north

I've been told that it gets better when it snows as it brightens the place up a lot. At the moment, it's like February in most of the UK, cold, damp, dark-ish and grey.

 

[Llama]

There's a Philips one on offer in Argos at the moment - £66
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4429845/Trail/searchtext>PHILIPS+CLOCK.htm

 

[Crackle]

Mrs Crackle's got one of those light things. F$ck!n awful. I absolutely hate artificial light when I wake up, in fact I'm not keen on bright artificial lights at the best of times. Amazingly it broke not long after purchase

 

[ianrauk]

Does SAD suffering actually exist? Is it a recognised medical condition or is it just all in the mind?

 

[Pottsy]

It's officially recognised.

Have a look here:

http://www.sad.org.uk/

 

[ianrauk]

It's officially recognised.

Have a look here:

http://www.sad.org.uk/

Well blow me down with a feather.. it is a recognised medical condition.
Though I still find that hard to believe.