I don’t quite remember how the conversation started, but I was talking to a coworker about the changes we had made in our lives to make it better. I told him about how I got rid of my dependence on a watch and how I hadn’t ever regretted the decision.
“Try waking up without an alarm,” he said. “You’ll feel so much more refreshed.”
So I did. I’ve been going to bed at a reasonable hour, and waking up every morning at around six or so to get ready for work. All without the annoying buzz of the alarm to jolt me up from the sleep.
My coworker was absolutely right. I don’t wake up feeling groggy and tired like I used to. I suspect the key in all of this is that I go to bed earlier, which means I sleep more overall. With an alarm, you can stay up later knowing that you’ll wake up on time regardless. When that option goes away, earlier bed times become essential.
I’ve also been going to work earlier, catching the 6:40am bus. This means that should I wake up “late”, I’ll still show up on time. There’s no stress; I get there when I get there.
I’ve been doing this for a few months now and I don’t regret it one bit. If I have a late night, then of course I’ll set the alarm, but I try to avoid it as much as possible.