Getting a good amount of sleep is important for providing you with the energy and cognitive function needed to get things done each day. But while the amount of hours you get is important, you should also focus on ensuring that your sleep is of a higher quality.

To wake up better, you should consider getting a sunrise alarm clock. These devices can help you spend less time on screens, and you won't need to check your phone first thing in the morning. You can enjoy other benefits, too, and we'll go over five of the best in this article.

What Is a Sunrise Alarm Clock?

Sunrise alarm clocks are typically digital and sit on your bedside table. Besides having a clock for telling the time, you'll notice that these devices usually have a light. When you set the alarm, the light will slowly increase in strength as you near your wake-up time.

Besides using sunrise alarm clock lights to wake up, you can also use the light for other activities—such as reading. You can decide on the maximum strength you want your sunrise alarm clock light to have, which is ideal for numerous light sensitivity levels.

A selection of brands make sunrise alarm clocks, with Philips having a broad range. Lumie is another brand that offers a selection of these devices.

Why You Should Consider Buying a Sunrise Alarm Clock

Now that you know a bit more about what sunrise alarm clocks are, let's look at why you should think about purchasing one. Here are some benefits of owning an alarm clock of this kind.

1. Set Better Boundaries With Your Screens

Modern technology has many benefits, such as allowing us to work from wherever we want and having entertainment on demand. However, many users struggle to set boundaries with their screens—especially their smartphones.

Spending too much time on your screen can cause several adverse effects. For example, research by Elsevier found that excessive technology use can negatively impact a person's vision. The study also found that the poor quality of sleep often associated with too much screen time can worsen stress regulation and cause numerous other issues.

A sunrise alarm clock might help you set better boundaries with your screens. You can put your phone in another room when winding down before bed, for example. And if you struggle to limit your social media use, you might find that not checking your phone first thing in the morning makes you less likely to mindlessly scroll just after waking up.

2. Enjoy a Better Evening Routine

If you're interested in self-improvement, you might have noticed many people online talking about the importance of a morning routine. And you definitely should consider adopting one; starting your day right can set the right tone and help enhance your productivity.

But at the same time, how you end your day is also important. Let's say you want to start reading to wind down before bed, but you need to check your phone for the time. Constantly stopping your book to glance at your screen can result in you getting through fewer pages than you might like.

Having a sunrise alarm clock can stop you from needing to constantly check your phone, allowing you to focus on being more mindful at the end of the day. Besides reading, you might incorporate other good habits—such as gratitude journaling.

3. Wake Up Easier

Each of us has an internal body clock, and choosing the same sleep and wake-up times each day is a good idea. Ideally, the hours you're awake will align with when the sun is up.

Unfortunately, having sleep hours that are consistent with how long it's dark outside isn't always possible. You might work night shifts, or you could live somewhere with extreme changes in daylight hours—depending on the season. In either case, you'll need to think more strategically about keeping your body clock in order.

Getting real sunlight in the morning is a good idea, but having a sunrise alarm clock can help you feel more energized in the morning. You'll also begin seeing the light through your eyes as your wake-up time approaches, meaning you know when it's time to soon start your day.

4. A Nicer Alarm Tone Than Your Phone

If you've decided against getting a physical alarm clock because of the sound, that's understandable. But as you'll know if you use your smartphone to wake you up in the morning, the alarm tones you can choose from are often not the greatest.

When thinking about getting a sunrise alarm clock, you'll notice that many of them feature a softer sound to wake you up. This often gets progressively louder, but you'll often wake up within more than enough time to switch it off.

If you get one of the more expensive sunrise alarm clocks, you'll typically have a selection of sounds to choose from. But for those at the other end of the price spectrum, you may have to deal with having just one wake-up noise available.

5. Sunrise Alarm Clocks Are Relatively Affordable

When trying a new piece of technology you haven't had prior experience with, you might feel a little skeptical about paying a lot of money. This is especially true if you don't know whether you'll continue using it in the long run. But you don't need to be if you're worried about a sunrise alarm clock costing you a lot.

You will find some sunrise alarm clocks at the higher end of the pricing scale, with many costing over $150. However, you can also find some that cost less than $100.

Many budget sunrise alarm clocks will do a similar job to those that you can get for more money. You might miss out on some specs, like not having built-in sensors—but if you're a beginner user, you probably won't care too much about these.

Buying a Sunrise Alarm Clock Can Have a Big Impact on Your Life

Getting a good night of sleep is crucial if you want to perform at your best in your job, at the gym, and in numerous other settings. High-quality sleep is also important for maintaining good health, but it's sometimes tricky to wake up and feel energized.

You can use several tools to improve your sleep quality, and a sunrise alarm clock is one of them. These devices slowly brighten your room as your wake-up time approaches, and they can also help you set stricter boundaries with your screens.

If you're looking to improve your sleep, consider purchasing a sunrise alarm clock and trying it for an extended period.