Buzz
I share my space with four others, including three young kids who tend to be grumpy. When I need to wake up early, I aim to sneak out quietly without disturbing anyone. But if I set a soft, subtle alarm, I’ll probably sleep through it too.
If you live with roommates or a partner who has a different sleep routine than yours, you’re likely familiar with this issue. The best solution I’ve found involves using a smartwatch or fitness tracker. These devices can be set to a silent alarm that vibrates to wake you up. But that’s just part of the solution. Here’s the ultimate trick to get you up without disturbing anyone else:
Step #1: Set a loud, obnoxious alarm on your phone
Make sure your phone is far enough from your bed (you should already be avoiding this). Position it somewhere where it’ll definitely wake up your roommate, partner, or even your baby. Maybe in the next room or down the hall. At this point, you’ll be extra motivated to turn off that alarm before it gets too loud.
Step #2: Set a silent alarm on your watch for five minutes before the loud one goes off
If you need to wake up at 6, set the silent alarm for 5:55. When it buzzes, you’ll need to grab your phone. You can either turn off the alarm before it sounds or tuck it in your pocket and take it with you to the bathroom while brushing your teeth. (Or hide it under a pillow, whatever works.)
With the Apple Watch, an iPhone alarm also triggers a buzz on your watch. So, if you’re both clever and a bit lazy, you may realize you can silence the loud alarm directly from your watch. If you're fast enough, you might not disturb anyone. Once you've mastered this level of snooze strategy, your next purchase should be a classic, noisy, heart-stopping alarm clock. Or, in a pinch, a cute little travel alarm clock with a painfully loud digital beep. Just ensure it's loud, obnoxious, and placed far from your bed.
