Look, I'm just not a morning person. I never have been. I thought I'd grow out of it but I haven't. This changes slightly in the summer when I regularly get up before 7 am but, in the dark, cold, damp days of British winter, I'm having none of it. I used to sleep through my alarm all the time, it happens less so now but, every now and then, I'll wake up late to discover that like my somnambulant alter ego has turned the beeping off, preventing me from getting up when I need to.
I wish I could replicate my summer morning energy all year round. I want to have more hours in my day. I want to wake up feeling rested, not groggy. I want to be excited about the day, not grumpy. I want to have time to go for a run, have a bath or, even, meditate before I go to work all year round. Because of this, I relish having jet lag that gets me up at 5 am, I actually want to be awake. I get a thrill from being up when everyone else is asleep, moving quietly through my house as the world wakes up.
So, when I heard that there was a 'wake-up light' which is 'clinically proven to work' I had to try it because I'm a sucker for science. Was there really a device that could slowly rouse me, as opposed to jerking me out of peaceful sleep as my iPhone alarm does?
Philips say their wake-up light is 'inspired by nature's sunrise'. How poetic. This is how it's supposed to work according to their website: 'light gradually increases within 30 minutes until your room is filled with bright yellow light. This process of changing an increasing light stimulates your body to wake up naturally. By the time light has filled your room your chosen natural sound completes the wake up experience, leaving you ready for the day ahead.' I mean, this sounds like being at a spa. So, does the reality come anywhere close?
I set up the light by my bed side. I don't trust it to wake me up so I set it on a fairly bright setting and opt for a traditional beeping noise as opposed to a natural sound.
Next thing I know, I'm awake. And I'm awake on time. Could this really be happening?
The alarm hasn't actually gone off yet but the gradually increasing light has done the trick, like warm summer rays creeping through my curtains.
By the time the alarm itself goes off I am indeed semi-conscious and reasonably sharp as opposed to my normal groggy gremlin vibe.
When I get up I don't exactly bounce around, but I'd say I am more prepared for the day than usual. I don't stumble around in the bathroom or bash into the door, I'm kind of ready to start the day.
Look, I won't lie. I was sceptical. But this is nothing short of a miracle.
My only question is whether, like the alarm on my phone, I would eventually become immune to it and start turning it off in my sleep? Only time will tell.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.