Unfortunate news for those of you who believe in the safety net of setting multiple alarms in the morning.
If you’re anything like me, you probably plug your phone in each night and set about five different alarms out of fear of oversleeping, being late to work, or simply needing a gradual wake-up process. However, it appears that this habit may be more harmful than beneficial.
Nurse Jordan recently shared on her TikTok page why setting ‘multiple’ alarms can actually be detrimental to your health.
In her video, she explains: “Waking to multiple alarms every morning really disrupts your REM cycle frequently.
“This actually causes sleep inertia, increased drowsiness, fatigue, mood swings and it also raises your cortisol levels.”
“Every time your alarm goes off, you’re in that fight or flight response, so waking up like that multiple times in the morning is very stressful.”
The solution is quite straightforward, according to Jordan.
She advises: “So when your alarm goes off in the morning, get up! Don’t keep traumatizing yourself.”
Her video didn’t take long to generate a flood of comments.
https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/7395543280852667690
One TikToker remarked: “Jokes on you, I sleep through the alarms and that’s why I need several. can’t have sleep inertia if you don’t wake up.”
Another added: “If I COULD wake up with just one alarm DO YOU THINK I WOULD USE SO MANY?”
However, a third person suggested: “A sunrise alarm clock changed my life! It works and it’s the most peaceful way to wake up. The first day I woke up I literally woke up with a smile on my face.”
In a follow-up video, Jordan addressed the numerous comments on her original post, tackling common concerns and offering advice on how to break the habit of using multiple alarms.
Jordan suggests: “The first step is to maintain a regular circadian rhythm – this will help your body naturally regulate a sleep cycle.”
She emphasizes the importance of going to bed and waking up at roughly ‘the same time every day even on your days off’.
“That way, when that first alarm goes off, you’ll be ready to go,” she adds, mentioning that occasional late nights out won’t be damaging.
Jordan also highlights that ‘your brain is malleable,’ meaning you have the power to form new habits and ensure your brain adheres to them.
While ‘rewiring’ your brain takes effort and ‘a lot of consistency’—and kids and partners can complicate the process—she assures that ‘you will get there’ and the benefits of feeling better rested are well worth it.
If you’re still finding it difficult, one effective strategy might be placing your alarm device on the other side of the room, forcing you to get up and out of bed.