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GETTING UP EARLY is always a difficult task, especially if you are returning to work after a long break (if you were already back this week, you have our sympathy).
While a different phone alarm isn’t going to solve all your sleeping problems – doing that would require more fundamental changes - their approach to getting you out of bed may help. Here are a few to get you started.
The all-rounder
Gentle Alarm
For: Android
Cost: €2.45
It can look a bit dated in comparison to other apps but the core of Gentle Alarm and the many features included is worth the price.
The level of customisation for alarms, the ability to play music playlists (your own, a radio stream or Spotify music) and solving challenges or simple maths problems to deactivate your alarm makes it one of the best apps of its kind out there.
Pick the best time to wake up
Sleep Cycle
For: iOS
Cost: Free (€1.99 for premium)
It’s been around a while but Sleep Cycle continues to be one of the best out there. Set your time, allow it to track your sleeping patterns, and it will pick the best time to wake you. The alarm wakes you up within a 30-minute window before your alarm time so you won’t have to worry about oversleeping.
Wake up to Spotify
Alarmify (iOS) or Alarm Clock Xtreme and Timer (Android)
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free (Alarmify), €1.50 (Alarm Clock Xtreme)
Which one you opt for will depend on the type of smartphone you have but while Alarmify has one main feature (it wakes you up with music from Spotify), Alarm Clock Xtreme has that and many other features worth considering.
It’s quite similar to Gentle Alarm but has other features like increasing your alarm’s volume the longer you leave it on.
Wake up by shaking
Wake Alarm Clock
For: iOS
Cost: Free
If the standard methods don’t work, then how about adding a physical action to things? In the case of Wake, you must shake your phone until the metre is filled up if you want to turn off the alarm. If you don’t, the alarm will continue playing.
There are two other methods for waking up which are slap and flip (a large snooze button before turning it around) and a basic swipe for those wanting to keep it simple.
This is a case of try before you apply as you want to make sure you can deactivate it correctly first before you make it your default alarm.
Wake up with a puzzle
Puzzle Alarm Clock
For: Android
Cost: Free
A straightforward name and a straightforward purpose, this app asks you to solve different types of puzzles (maths, memory, captcha and patterns) and puts five in a row so you have to engage.
Simple and to the point but again, it’s worth trying out first so you know what you’re letting yourself in for.
Wake up by spinning
SpinMe Alarm Clock
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €1.99 (iOS), Free (Android)
An alarm clock that wakes you up just by making you spin around sounds like the stuff of nightmares (and in some ways it is), but those who just need to move around before they feel awake might find this useful.
Place both thumbs on the screen and spin around a few times to turn it off. This requires a greater degree of caution as spinning around can be disorientating and it’s the only way to turn the alarm off.
No mention of middle lane hoggers? Merge onto motorway, move straight to middle lane, stay there. ( I know it’s probably just m50 with 3 lanes).
@Niall Dunleavy: The article does mention middle lane Hoggeston Niall. It’s rampant!
And than there are: fog lights on a sunny day, no lights on a overcast, rainy or even foggy day or after sundown.
Correct use of the motorway requires knowledge of the rules of the road in the first place and in second place some road engineering expertise. The most blatant and stupid violations of the rules of the road are: the right of way rules which absolutely no-one and that includes the poor excuses for rule enforcers ( the guards), parking on zebra crossings, parking on corners, bullying with the car as a weapon, ridiculously engineered round about a an junctions, and last but by no means least the absolute ignorance and sheer bad attitude and lack of consideration for other road users especially cyclists and pedestrians.
And where in the rule book does it say that putting on your hazard lights gives you the god given right to double park, illegally park or just block the road?
If people were to drive correctly there would be very traffic issues on the M50.
Putting on your indicator by the way, does not give you the right of way. If you hit another vehicle already in that lane you are cutting into, you are at fault.
@mr non snowflake: snowflake
@mr non snowflake: you are at fault? According to whom the guy with the biggest mouth? The best lier, the cutest solicitor? When no one knows the rules including the so called law enforcers than the one at fault is always the one with the who is the least assertive.
Overtaking on the Motorway, then pulling right in front of you as they lose their nerve, forcing you to drop back to safe distance. Happens constantly ;-(
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