Not sure if this next article made this Top 10 list due to the subject matter or the humor, but searching for that perfect alarm clock ended up being time well spent. Having used the chosen alarm clock since August, I have been very pleased. The #9 most viewed article of Using Time Wisely was originally posted on August 29. Enjoy!
My Alarm Clock Mission
In college, I had a roommate who never used an alarm clock. She always awoke at the same time each morning without anyone or anything waking her up. It was amazing to me because I would sleep until noon each day without an alarm clock rudely interrupting my beauty rest.
Since I cannot sleep until noon each day, I must use an alarm clock to jar me awake in the mornings. For me, an alarm clock is a necessity!
My Status Quo Change
When my 18-month-old daughter decided to pound my alarm clock with a toy and jammed the “set alarm” button, I tossed my broken alarm clock and used a backup. I quickly found that the backup clock works, but the snooze button sticks.
Upon hearing the alarm, I pressed the snooze button only to find that the alarm did not go back off. I ended up sleeping in until my daughter began calling me from her crib. Though I was not late in any of my responsibilities, my day was off schedule.
My Search Options
Battery-operated
Realizing that I needed a new alarm clock, I checked at Wal-mart on my next shopping trip. I found a battery-operated clock for $5.97 and purchased it.
(This clock is a similar battery-operated clock since I failed to take a picture of the one I purchased.) I brought it home, set the time, and scheduled the alarm for the next morning.
When the alarm awakened me, I pressed the snooze button. Then 3-minutes later the alarm sounded again. As I repeated this scenario looking for 10 more minutes of rest, I finally got up frustrated with the 3-minute snooze interval.
Corded with battery-backup from Wal-mart
Deciding that this clock did not meet my alarm clock requirements (which I did not know I had), I returned the clock on my next visit to Wal-mart. With a little better understanding of the type of alarm clock I needed, I continued my alarm clock mission searching for a clock with 9-minute snooze intervals.
Having found one that fit the bill, I added this $5.97 corded with battery-backup clock to my purchases. I again came home, set the time, and scheduled the alarm for the next morning.
At the appointment time, I was startled awake by a very loud, high-pitched beeping sound. Thankfully, I had 9 minutes to recover before that noise repeated itself. Though the snooze worked perfectly, the volume and pitch level could not continue. I didn’t like it, so I needed to shape it up!
Corded with battery-backup from Target
Since neither Paul nor I could stand the sound of the new alarm clock, Paul graciously offered to purchase another one on his trip to Target. The $6.95 clock he brought home had the 9-minute snooze interval with multi-colored neon numbers.
I was not sure if I liked it, but I was willing to try. This time I set the clock and then set the alarm for a minute later. My waiting ended with a normal beeping sound that was not high-pitched or loud. Mission complete!
My Learned Lessons
My thinking that “choosing an alarm clock involved just picking one” has changed. Since I have not purchased an alarm clock in years, I needed to read the options more carefully. Through this process, I have discovered my favorite options for an alarm clock.
- 9-minute snooze
- Snooze button on top of the alarm clock
- Tolerable pitch level
- Volume control (which none of these clocks had), but a minimum expectation of a medium range alarm sound
- Numbers stay lit, so a corded with battery-backup option
When my status quo changed, I searched my options and learned some lessons. Though I still need to return a clock to Wal-mart, I will keep the alarm clock Paul chose from Target. It has all the options I deem necessary to my morning jolt without irritating me in the process. Completing my alarm clock mission took time (and help from hubby ), but in using time wisely, I discovered my favorite options resulting in a pleasant interruption of my beauty rest.
Question: What preferences do you have with regards to an alarm clock (assuming you use one)? Please share your answer in the comments.