A shocking way to wake up
Alarm clocks used to be simple. You set them to make a loud noise at a specific time. That's it.
But while many of us just use our phones these days, modern clocks offer a bevy of features — e.g., charging stations, lights that mimic sunrise, etc.
And then there are some that punish you.
Like how?
In a variety of alarming ways, including siphoning from your bank account and issuing a 300-volt jolt.
Michelle Rodriguez, a regular user of the Pavlok Shock Clock, told The Wall Street Journal that the device, which she wears on her wrist, gives her a shock that rates a "six or seven on the pain scale" each morning.
The company crowdfunded a decade ago on Indiegogo, and has since released multiple iterations, its latest retailing for ~$175.
Another app, Nuj, makes users who fail to meet morning goals pay a fee. Some, like Alarmy, will simply not stop making noise until users complete a series of morning tasks.
Why would anyone want this?
Some people are heavy sleepers — Rodriguez adopted the shock device after snoozing through a meeting — or need an extra oomph to wake up on time or establish a new, earlier routine.
You may know someone who has left their alarm clock a short distance from their bed so they have to get up to shut it off — and for those people, there are alarms with wheels or propellers that literally make you chase them.
But is any of this the ideal way to wake up? Actually, no.
- Loud, sudden noises release adrenaline, leading to a spike in blood pressure, which can activate the "fight or flight" response — so not very chill.
- One study found that people who use harsh alarm tones reported greater grogginess in the morning than those who used melodic ones.
- Another found that people who wake up naturally are more likely to feel well-rested and fully wake up faster than those who don't.
Experts instead suggest waking up with sunrise clocks, which use gradual light to rouse us naturally and often result in improved mood, wakefulness, and less sleep inertia.
Other startups in the gentle waking space include:
- OneClock, a minimalist, low-tech alarm with a curated selection of music designed to reduce reliance on screens.
- Loftie is one of the buzzier companies, offering a clock with a two-phase alarm (gentle, then louder) and a sunrise lamp.
But if that fails, well… there's always the shock.
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