If you’re skeptical that a light is enough to stir you, there are all sorts of additional features for many sunrise alarm clocks on the market. The use of a sunrise alarm clock could help you establish a regular rhythm of light exposure, which could impact your establishing more consistent wake-up and fall-asleep times, Phyllis Zee, chief of sleep medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, previously told The Washington Post: “That regularity is great for your circadian rhythms and for your overall sleep quality.” There are also potential benefits with morning-light exposure for anyone who has seasonal affective disorder or a delayed sleep-phase syndrome.

Studies have shown that simulating sunlight may help improve sleep quality overall. Instead of relying on a traditional alarm clock or phone to jolt you from sleep with a siren, beeping, or a song (therefore ruining that song for you), consider a wake-up light, which gently simulates the gradual glow of a sunrise over an extended period leading up to your set alarm time.

If you’re not a morning person or are a heavy sleeper, finding the best sunrise alarm clock can be a game-changer for calmly transitioning into your day.

White noise alarm clock