Alarms are supposed to wake us right in time, but the snooze button paved the way to cheat on it.
Photos from Photl.com
The morning world is a problem for the night owls. They aren’t programmed to be awake early in the day so they rely on the blast of alarm clocks. But people hit snooze almost automatically as if the alarm has no use at all. They don’t wake up at the time they’re supposed to.
The snooze button may be the reason for our tardiness masked with drought excuses. There’s a way to fight against the malevolent yet mitigating button.
Set your alarm time further back. When you’re supposed to get up at 6:30, start the alarm at 6:10. With five minutes lapse time, you can hit snooze four times and still be on time.
But sometimes our brain gets wiser than we wanted it. In time, it would learn to disregard the alarm because it’s firing way too early. Snooze after snooze after snooze and then you’re late.
If you think this is you, invest in a flying alarm clock. After you hit the snooze once, the alarm will travel across the room so you won’t know where it is. In the next alarm cycle, you’ll have to stand up and find the alarm to disalarm it. Then you’re awake.
A cheaper alternative is lock the alarm in a box and throw the key across the room. You’d then have to search the key to stop the violating noise.
There are people who could stand up, slip their hands on every space to get the key, open the box but snooze it and still able to drool into sleep. Well, it’s good that they have patience and controlled temper but they’re still late. Supergluing the snooze button may work for them.
What about those that are not bothered by the noise? The sleepyheads who could still dream in the middle of a war?
If this is you, you need help. You could ask a friend to call you so you’ll have to open your phone and let the friend do the screaming (or cussing). Or have your brother wake you up in the morning by plunging boiling water on your face (us brothers will be happy to volunteer).
What helps you overcome the snooze button?
Moment Matters 
I like the flying alarm clock idea! That would be a good for me.
Last year for Christmas, I received an alarm clock from my mother. When it goes off. It sounds like an air raid siren. And it doesn’t gradually get louder, it starts out with shrieking. Not only that, there is a little helicopter type device on top, that starts spinning and flies off. You can not turn off the alarm until you go find the helicopter, which hides extremely well. I got to the point I was so annoyed by the sound, even for a few seconds, I’d wake up before it. The CLICK of the time changing and the alarm starting was enough to make me bolt out of bed to shut off the alarm before it went off. I now wake up at the same time every day, no alarm clock needed, because of playing “beat the alarm clock” so many mornings.
My daughter had to put her clock across the room to avoid being late for work. I hit it only once. The second time I turn the alarm off. Any more than that and it would be really unfair to my sleeping s/o.
Monday through Friday at least 3 times every morning. I need my snooze button.
I am a night owl and a snooze button hitter. I do as you suggested and set my alarm for 15 minutes earlier than I have to be awake. Then, I can hit the snooze button and not be late. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
That would be me…the flying alarm clock sounds good so I won’t need to hide 3 around the bedroom anymore 🙂
To this day, I haven’t found an alarm clock that works…I have three broken clocks and three holes in the wall to prove it. Although, I can pretty much count on my dog to run in around 7 and cover me with licks and drool. Not very dependable at times, but effective
I’ve never used it. I’m afraid that if I start, I’ll never stop. Self-control people!
I make my alarm clock shout two times, but everytime I just get out of bed, hit the damn off button and return to my bed. That’s my habit. Even if I’d let my alarm ring earlier, I would not rise. I know how much time I need to get ready, and I won’t rise before I actually have to, however much my alarm clock haunts me :).
Early to bed! Best health tip ever, and easier awakenings!
I find the best way to avoid the snooze button is to not set the alarm clock, but wake up on time by going to bed at a proper time for the day ahead. 🙂
I found that after years of working different shifts, I could use my own internal clock that helped me rise. I would awake within ten minutes, or so, of the appointed time. I would set the alarm; yet usually switch it off before it rang.
So, if that’s helpful to others? Even today, I can sleep or nap, without the use of an alarm or even a clock.
I would recommend to those who wish to start trying. As you lay down, or as going to sleep; just firmly fix the current time and then use your mind to tell yourself the time required to get up. It takes awhile, but it works for me. ….. cheers!
Oh and BTW …. Sweet Dreams!
I overcome the snooze button by not knowing where the snooze button is. I use my phone as an alarm, and as far as I can tell, there’s no snooze. Or maybe I just never turned it on. Either way, no snooze = I have to get up right away or else fall asleep and wake up two hours later.
Guilty!
My cell phone is my alarm, and I’ve taken to charging it on the other side of my room, far out of the reach of my snooze-surfing self. It’s made an incredible difference in my ability to wake up in the mornings. I’ve gotten my morning workouts back!
I also have a problem in this case. well, I usually set the alarm at 2 when I’m supposed to be waken up at 5. and…. sometimes it doesn’t work for me. am I that sleepyhead or what, I wake up lately when the alarm rang 3 hours before time. well, I guess snoozing the alarm is kinda bad thing to do, if you are the one who doesn’t want to be late.
I really need the flying alarm, seriously 😀
1. The snooze button Don’t EVER hit the snooze button. It really is much more beneficial to just get up on your first alarm. Think about it – the snooze button gives you an extra 10 minutes or so sleep. In the grand scheme of your day this really won’t provide you with any more energy. In-fact it does the opposite. Research has shown that ‘interrupted sleep’ can cause us to feel more tired.
Nothing helps. If I’m dreaming, the alarm often blends in. I’ve woken up, facing away from the alarm clock, and realize I’ve managed to hit the alarm in my sleep 5 times from the wrong direction. I even tried having three alarms set. I could hit them all in my sleep and never wake up. I tried putting it across the room. I swear, I don’t remember waking up and standing up and hitting the snooze. My I start my alarm early so I eventually get up on time.