I've used my iPhone as an alarm clock for as long as I can remember. Often, I open my phone to turn off the alarm and find myself still responding to texts, refreshing my emails, and reading the news 30 minutes later. Then, I scramble to get ready to catch the train to the office.
This isn’t a unique story: most of us are guilty of using our phones before getting out of bed. Though I’ve tried to quit the habit for years, I finally found relief in an unexpected source: a recommendation from Kylie Jenner. In a Poosh Gift guide, the businesswoman revealed that her morning routine involves the Loftie Alarm Clock. Jenner raved: 'I have been sleeping so much better since I started using this alarm clock.' The primary reason for this is that using an 'old-fashioned' alarm clock allows you to sleep with your phone outside of your bedroom. For me (and I assume for many others), my longest periods of interrupted phone time tend to be right after waking up and before going to sleep, so I knew that keeping my phone in a different room while I slept would be a game changer. I requested a sample, and Loftie sent me one of their classic clocks to try out.
After reading about 'Phone Free February' in The Washington Post, I figured that now was the perfect time to start. The initiative focuses on minimizing smartphone use during the month of February to promote physical health, better sleep, and boost mental health during a cold and gloomy time of year. According to The WP's neuropsychology expert from Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Jennifer Margaret Katzenstein, even reducing your screen time by an hour a day can greatly improve your mood and quality of life. Honestly, I couldn't have predicted how much using Jenner's clock would add to my daily routines.
From a clever two-phase alarm to a sound machine and a night light, the Loftie Clock is a every sleep appliance you could possibly need all in one. Kylie Jenner's endorsement is just a bonus. I got the 'denim' style, which has a bit of blue on top, but there are 7 other colors to complement any bedside table.
I immediately loved the way the sleek clock looked on my bedside table. It has a slight warm light emanating from underneath, and the time appears pleasingly discreetly on its smooth black surface. I also loved testing out all the fun features: I love playing white noise as I am falling asleep, and my partner and I have started doing Loftie's guided meditations together to fall asleep on stressful weeknights. It also has a Bluetooth speaker, if you like playing music in your bedroom.
The alarm wakes you up with a subtle first noise to rouse you, and then after a short snooze a longer alarm goes off. It has a similar ethos to popular sunrise alarms that aim to get you up the natural way. I've noticed that my mornings feel a bit slower and less jarring with the staggered alarm. I noticed that I felt more refreshed in the morning without looking at my phone for the first hour of the day, and my bedtime routine also felt more relaxing. Since I've stopped sleeping with my phone, I notice that I spend more time reading in the evenings which I've really loved. Overall, my weekly screentime reports are down by about 2 hours, which is a lot more than I would've predicted.
The only drawbacks I've noticed are that default settings are quieter and softer than I would hope. For a lighter sleeper, this might not be a problem, but I didn't wake up the first day I used the alarm because the default alarm noise wasn't loud enough. The inital settings also have a 9 minute break between the 'wake up' sound and the 'get up' sound, which felt too long for me. Luckily, this can easily be changed, so I set mine to 3 minutes. After adjusting the settings, everything went smoothly, and I've woken up to the alarm every day since.
Editor's Picks for Alarm Clocks
This clock may look retro, but an overview of its specifications reassures us that it’s up to the same capabilities as every contemporary alarm clock. It has a Bluetooth receiver, an aux-in jack, and a USB charging port, all packaged inside a rose-gold-hued shell.
Crafted by one of the original flip clock pioneers of the 1950s, this mid-century style clock runs with precise movement and adds minimalist beauty to any room.
This 'sunlight' alarm clock is one of the best-sellers on Amazon - it wakes you up in the most natural way possible, by filling the room with light that mimics natural sunlight. As a relatively heavy sleeper, I don't know that this would work for me, but it seems like a great option for lighter sleepers who prefer a healthier wake-up.
Turning a home into a sanctuary starts with habits that promote ultimate comfort and relaxation. For me, that involved lowering my screen-time with a Kylie-Jenner-approved piece of tech. No matter what works for you, prioritizing rest is essential to enjoying every element of your house, and your life.
