It is clear, that there is a massive industry behind this scam. Those who provide the little torturing devices that we blindly set up next to our bed, only to be ripped out of our well earned slumber. The ghoulish, diabolical, piercing shrill that rips your nerves as you regain conciousness. Then we turn to shut it off, only to realize how cozy and warm it is underneath the blanket and how the cold and vast world outside does not even bat an eye whether we get up to brave the day or stay lying in forever. Some even take this method of torture to the extreme. Enabled by a sinister innvention named "the snooze". Giving themselves five minutes to forget, only to go through the agony one more time.

This morning ritual of torture is in fact wholly unecessary. Humans are goverened by a circadian rythmn which quite accurately tells us how much time has passed. Even in our sleep. There is no fancy trick, no miracle device, just some practice. It all starts with a healthy consistency. The chemical cycles taking place within our bodies also govern the sleep and wake cycles. Changing this too abruptly makes it more difficult to adjust. However, with mantaining a healthy sleep cycle, even the odd 4 hour nights with an early rise can be handled.

I speak from experience. For over a year I have not set an alarm. Not for a 7a.m. Job interview, not for a flight to catch. It all started with the realisation: so many times I've woken up just before the alarm, why not forgo it all together? Indeed it turned out to be possible. Almost easy in fact. Of course the precision is not perfect, but for waking up it is all the precision I need. It started with a concious effort to check the time when going to bed and deciding the wakeup time. Internalizing how much sleep that equates to gives a good feel for how much is left. Get up for the gym at 6 am, no alarm, no problem, just do it. It is very liberating.

Getting rid of a nasty wakeup really improves ones quality of life. Sure the big alarm business who rely on selling the torture devices may suffer, but we will be happier!