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A desk clock is, as the name implies, a timepiece that is placed on a desk or table to keep track of the time without having to turn around to see the wall. If you have recently set up your home office or have shifted to remote working due to a pandemic, you might know the importance of having a desk clock.  Wall clocks are both utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing wall accents. Giant wall clocks do more than only display the time; they also add to the aesthetics of plain walls. Whatever your interior design and color scheme is, there will always be a clock to complement your décor. Perks of Having a Desk Clock Helps you to keep track of time quickly  The top advantage of using a desk clock is that it allows you to keep track of the passing time. Since they are bigger than wristwatches, it’s easy to know the time with just a quick look. They are also more affordable than wall clocks.  With technological advancements throughout the years, an enormous number of innovative and distinctive desk clocks have entered the market. So, you should be able to pick one that matches your own style, personality, choice, and requirements. Serves different purposes The desk clock market is flooded with models that provide a diverse range of functions and features. Some are more traditional in nature, while others have more complex and useful features like power cords, alarms, LED lights, and date and day settings. Identifying your requirements will assist you in narrowing down the options and purchasing the most appropriate desk clocks for your needs. Works as a décor item  When considering the aesthetics of your desk clock, it is important to consider how well it complements the rest of your home office. If your office is decorated in a traditional look with antique furniture, it would probably make more sense to choose a desk clock that is more traditional in design.  A sleek contemporary desk clock, on the other hand, would likely fit in well with the overall appearance of your house if you have chosen a minimal, contemporary look for your interior design.  Benefits of Wall Clocks Available in different styles and colors  A wall clock is available in about any color you could imagine. Determine the need or the area that requires a burst of color, and then start a search for the appropriate clock.  Putting a brightly colored clock in a dreary or neutral area brightens the space and helps to define its tone. When you start with the theme as your foundation, it is much simpler to work your way over it to make the space even better. Accentuate your space  If you want to create a distinct environment for your home but you are on a budget, a stylish wall clock can be the best option. No matter if your house has a conventional theme or you have just renovated your home to a contemporary setting, a door clock can effortlessly accentuate the overall look of your space. Even with small-sized timepieces, the wall becomes a focal point of attention. Can be customized  A conventional wall clock may be transformed into something special by adding a personal touch that represents your personality, temperament, or significant dates and milestones in your life. You can put images of your family on it, or be imaginative and get a customized wall clock designed just for you. The Verdict! Purchasing a clock is a wise investment, not only as a timer but also for its aesthetic value. There are a plethora of patterns, sizes, textures, and styles to pick from, based on your preferences and requirements. The arguments listed above will offer you a better understanding of why clocks are significant and will assist you in making your decision to purchase one.

Are bedside clocks a necessity for your child’s room, or are they just another gadget to clutter up their space? Join us as we explore the impact of introducing a clock to your child’s bedside table, and check out our EasyRead alarm clock range that has been specially designed to foster time-telling and time management skills without disrupting sleep. Children’s bedside clocks Introducing a bedside clock into your child’s nighttime routine might seem like a simple decision, and it is a great idea to give your child the tools to tell the time themselves as soon as they wake up. However, it can also seem obsolete in a society that has mobile phones within arm’s reach at all times, so if you’re still on the fence about investing in a bedside or alarm clock, let’s weigh up the pros and cons of these time-telling tools. 1. Time-telling These clocks are fundamentally educational resources, and their usefulness comes from their clear and engaging design that supports children’s learning. Being able to tell time is a fundamental skill for all primary school aged children, and having an analogue clock readily available as soon as they wake up helps to facilitate this learning process. This hands-on practice every morning helps children to take responsibility for their own learning, as they can check the time on their own without relying on their parents to tell them the time or even wake them up. This eventually develops into a deeper understanding of the concept of time and its passing, as they will also be able to see the amount of time that they have slept for on the clock or how much time they have to get ready for school, as they become more independent and familiar with the clock. 2. Time management skills Once a child is able to wake up and immediately recognise a certain time on the clock, they will also be able to understand that times’ placement within the day – whether that is before their alarm goes off, as their alarm goes off, or after. This subtly shifts the beginning of the child’s day from whenever an adult comes to wake them, to a more fixed, tangible time that can be read on a clock. Owning a clock therefore encourages children to become active participants in keeping track of their daily routines, such as knowing when to wake up, start getting ready, or prepare for bed, and even managing these important tasks in some cases. These regular interactions with a clock, and this early introduction to scheduling and maintaining a routine, not only prepares them for school but also lays the foundation for successful time management in their future. 3. Improved sleep Unlike smartphones or tablets, which emit disruptive blue light, our silent glow in the dark bedside clock provides a way of checking the time at any point throughout the night without needing to look at a screen. Opting for analogue, silent bedside clocks continues to reduce the amount of screen time our children have and helps encourage better sleep habits. This in turn helps to establish and maintain a natural sleep-wake cycle that does not rely on digital screens, which not only aids their mental and emotional wellbeing, but also helps maintain their daily energy levels and performance at school. Potential drawbacks When exploring the impact of these time telling tools on a child’s development and daily schedule, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks of opting for the wrong clock. From the potential disruption to sleep patterns, to the risk of creating an anxious association with time-keeping, let’s explore why parents need to carefully choose the type of clock they opt for. 1. Sleep disruption On the cons side, some might argue that introducing a clock into a child’s room can inadvertently lead to sleep disruptions. Bedside clocks with light features, such as glowing numbers or backlit displays, can affect a child’s natural sleep cycle, whilst the ticking sounds may be distracting and keep your child awake at night. To make sure that every child has access to a clock without disrupting their sleep, we have designed our clocks to address these negative effects. Our EasyRead clocks come with an LED night light and a built-in sensor to control the brightness of the clock face and minimise light interference; or if your child prefers, this light can be turned off completely. Our silent glow in the dark bedside clock is also designed to operate silently, with a silent sweeping movement that eliminates the distracting ticking noise that is common in most other designs. 2. Sleep anxiety It’s important to consider your child’s personality and sleep habits when deciding whether or not to give them a clock, as some children can become fixated with its display. Constant exposure to the time can lead to anxiety in sensitive children, particularly if they obsess over time during the night or worry about waking up on time. This can affect their ability to relax and fall asleep if they are worried about waking up late for school, or cause them anxiety if they are scared of the loud alarm that has replaced their parents’ voices in the morning. The child-friendly features of our clocks are designed to reduce these anxieties, and we have replaced the usual alarm sounds with a gentle crescendo alarm, a glowing clock face, and a snooze option for a natural and gentle awakening. With this knowledge, children can fall asleep confident that they will be gradually woken up by a system that aligns with the body’s internal clock and won’t alarm them. Similarly, if you find your child obsessing over the time or have noticed that they are becoming anxious about oversleeping, you can turn off the clocks’ internal night light and minimise the temptation to constantly check the time. This, combined with a clear demonstration of the clocks’ alarm system to set their mind at rest, reduces their focus on the passing hours and encourages a more restful night’s sleep, safe in the knowledge that they will be woken up when the time is right. Children’s alarm clocks Our clocks are thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of children and parents, and to address the common concerns around sleep quality and anxiety with adjustable brightness, quiet operation, and gentle alarms. Whatever the specific needs of your family, our clocks nurture a good sleeping environment that aligns with your child’s wellbeing and daily routines.

Children waking too early in the morning is a problem for the whole family. When children don’t get enough sleep overnight, they will be grumpy during the day. And when parents get woken up too early....it is harder to cope with grizzly children! Unless you take action to teach your children to sleep in later in the morning, this vicious cycle can become a very firm habit.   Reasons for early waking & what to do about it They have been asleep for long enough - for example their bedtime is 5-6pm, so they are ready to get up by 5-6am - Move their bedtime later, 7pm is perfect. They are cold - Use a winter weight sleeping bag, add merino clothing or use a sleepsuit. They are disturbed by inside or outside noises such as birds, dogs, traffic, parent getting up for work - Use white noise on repeat all night. ALL children wake at around 5-5.30am as they move into the last sleep cycle of the night. They ‘sleep through’ till 7am when they have learned to go back to sleep at this time. Parental behaviour is usually what tells a child if it is morning or not (e.g. letting child in your bed) - Be consistent with your behaviour and use a sleep trainer clock!   How does a sleep trainer clock help? Children don't know that time it is...they can’t tell the time from a regular clock and their body clock could be telling them it's morning at 5am! A sleep trainer clock uses a simple visual change to show when it is ‘morning’ and therefore when your child is allowed out of bed. Before this change happens, the clock shows it is still night time and therefore your child should be in bed asleep (or at least quiet and not disturbing the rest of the family) The clock is objective and can’t be argued with...it is either 'morning' or it is not. Using a sleep trainer clock becomes an essential part of your bedtime routine – putting the clock ‘to sleep’ and saying you will see it wake up in the morning reinforces the message about staying in bed both at night time and in the morning.   How can the child tell it is morning? It depends on the clock. With the Gro Clock, the stars display on the screen countdown and change the moon's face on a blue coloured screen to a smiling sun on a yellow background. For the Yogasleep Light to Rise, the colour changes and dims before sleep and colour cues for wake-up time. The chart below has details of how each clock "wakes up" with more detail on each product page. What age can I introduce a Sleep Trainer clock? It depends a lot on the child but generally from about 2 years old. The key is when your child is able to understand what the clock means - for example, if the moon is out or the stars are showing on the clock's display, that means stay in bed. Or when your child can tell the clock being green or the sun coming up means the day has started. These clocks can be used as a nightlight from newborn so you'll have a trainer clock ready for when your little one is old enough to understand it.  

Waking up early in the morning can be a real struggle for many people. It's often difficult to rise from a cozy bed, especially during the darker winter months when the days are shorter. The traditional method of using an alarm clock can often lead to feelings of grogginess, and irritability and can make it difficult to start the day off on the right foot. However, there is a solution to this problem: the sunrise-simulating wake-up light. A sunrise-simulating wake-up light is a unique device that simulates a natural sunrise, gradually increasing light in the room to mimic the sun rising in the morning. This method of waking up is much gentler on the body and helps to regulate the circadian rhythm, making it easier to wake up feeling refreshed and alert. In this blog post, we will discuss the many benefits of using a sunrise-simulating wake-up light and how it can help you start your day off on the right foot. We will also provide tips for using the device and factors to consider when choosing the right model for your needs. So, let's explore the benefits of using a sunrise-simulating wake-up light and how it can revolutionize the way you wake up in the morning.   What is a Sunrise Simulating Wake-Up Light?   A sunrise-simulating wake-up light is a device that mimics a natural sunrise by gradually increasing the amount of light in the room. The device usually includes a lamp that emits a soft light, which becomes brighter and brighter over a predetermined period of time, usually around 30 minutes. The light intensity gradually reaches its peak, simulating the sun rising and providing the body with the signal to start waking up. Sunrise-simulating wake-up lights often include sound options such as nature sounds, birdsong or gentle music, which also gradually increase in volume over the same period of time. This creates a gentle and natural wake-up experience that is much less jarring than traditional alarm clocks, which can wake you up suddenly and forcefully. The concept of the sunrise simulating wake-up light is based on the natural circadian rhythm of the body. The circadian rhythm is the body's internal biological clock that regulates various bodily functions, including sleep-wake cycles. Exposure to natural light, particularly in the morning, helps to regulate the circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep quality and improved overall well-being. Using a sunrise-simulating wake-up light can help you wake up feeling more refreshed and alert, with less grogginess and irritability. Additionally, studies have shown that sunrise-simulating wake-up lights can be particularly beneficial for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the darker winter months when there is less natural light.   Benefits of Using a Sunrise Simulating Wake-Up Light   Improved Mood: Waking up to a sunrise simulating wake-up light can help improve your mood and energy levels, as it provides a natural and gentle way to start your day. The gradual increase in light intensity helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, which in turn, can help regulate your mood. Better Sleep Quality: The gentle wake-up experience provided by a sunrise-simulating wake-up light can also help improve your sleep quality. By waking up more naturally, your body is less likely to be jolted awake, which can disrupt your sleep cycle and lead to feeling groggy throughout the day. Increased Productivity: Studies have shown that people who wake up feeling rested and alert are more productive throughout the day. Using a sunrise-simulating wake-up light can help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day ahead. Beneficial for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): As mentioned earlier, sunrise-simulating wake-up lights can be particularly beneficial for people with SAD, a type of depression that occurs during the darker winter months when there is less natural light. Using a sunrise-simulating wake-up light can help regulate the body's circadian rhythm and improve mood, reducing the symptoms of SAD. Natural Wake-Up Experience: A sunrise-simulating wake-up light provides a natural and gentle wake-up experience, which is much less jarring than traditional alarm clocks. By gradually increasing light and sound, the body is able to wake up more naturally, resulting in feeling more refreshed and alert throughout the day.   How to Use a Sunrise-Simulating Wake-Up Light   Select the Best Model: Choosing the best model for your needs is the first step in employing a sunrise-imitating wake-up light. Think about things like the device's size, light brightness, and any other features like sound selections. Set the Time: After deciding on your device, adjust the time to the appropriate time zone. By doing this, the sunrise simulation will start at the appropriate hour in the morning. Set the Alarm: Next, set the alarm for the time you want to wake up. Multiple alarm settings are available on many models, which is helpful if you have varying wake-up times throughout the week. Choose Sound Options: Some models include sound options such as nature sounds, birdsong, or gentle music. Choose the sound option that works best for you. Adjust the Light Intensity: Most models allow you to adjust the intensity of the light. Start with a lower intensity and gradually increase the brightness over a period of 30 minutes. Use Consistently: To get the most out of your sunrise-simulating wake-up light, use it consistently. Set a routine and use the device every day, even on weekends.   Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sunrise Simulating Wake-Up Light   Size and Design: The size and design of the sunrise-simulating wake-up light are important factors to consider. The device should be small enough to fit on your bedside table, but large enough to provide adequate light. Additionally, choose a design that suits your personal style and fits in with your bedroom decor. Light Intensity: Different models of sunrise-simulating wake-up lights offer different levels of light intensity. Consider how much light you need to wake up comfortably and choose a device that offers adjustable brightness levels. Sound Options: Some models come with built-in sound options, such as nature sounds or gentle music. If you prefer to wake up to sound rather than light, choose a model with sound options that suit your preferences. Additional Features: Some models offer additional features such as a snooze button, FM radio, or USB charging port. Consider which additional features are important to you and choose a model that offers those features. Price: Sunrise-simulating wake-up lights can vary in price depending on their features and quality. Consider your budget and choose a device that offers the features you need at a price point that works for you. Brand Reputation: Finally, consider the brand reputation of the sunrise-simulating wake-up light you are considering. Read reviews and do research to ensure that the device is reliable and will last for a long time.   In conclusion, a sunrise-simulating wake-up light is a fantastic tool to improve the quality of your sleep and wake-up routine. By simulating a natural sunrise, these devices provide a gentle and gradual wake-up experience that helps regulate your circadian rhythm and improve your overall mood and energy levels throughout the day. When choosing a sunrise-simulating wake-up light, consider factors such as the size and design of the device, light intensity, sound options, additional features, price, and brand reputation. By carefully considering these factors, you can select a device that meets your specific needs and preferences. Remember to use your sunrise-simulating wake-up light consistently and in conjunction with a regular sleep schedule for the best results. With the right device and routine, you can transform your mornings into a refreshing and revitalizing experience.

Light plays a key role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle and can help ease you into waking up. Most of us know it all too well -- that painful feeling when the alarm goes off long before you're ready to wake up. No matter how many times you hit snooze, it jars you half-awake again -- no less groggy and just a little more irritated.  This harsh routine never gets any easier because it works against the human body's natural way of waking up. Our lifestyles may be less reliant on natural light than at any other time in history, but our bodies are still stubbornly dependent on it.  Since the time chance, have you noticed yourself feeling ready for bed earlier? There's a reason for that. Like it or not, light and darkness play an important role in our sleep-wake cycles. This means you can use light in the morning to help you wake up more easily. Let's look at how light interacts with your body (it can even be therapeutic!) and how you can use real and simulated natural light to ease into your day.   How to wake up to light Before you use the sun for morning light therapy, you can take a few steps to use sunlight (and some artificial help) to boost your chances of waking up naturally without a normal alarm. Here are a few steps you can take to rely on light in the morning: Leave your curtains open to let light in as the sun rises. As tempting as those blackout curtains may be, they can interfere with your body's natural rhythms. Unless you need them so you can work the night shift, leave your curtains open and let the rising sun work its magic on your brain.   Use a sunrise alarm clock to mimic natural light. Not all alarm clocks rely on the traditional loud, irritating sounds to get you out of bed. Sunrise alarms simulate natural daylight, give you a similar effect to sunlight in the morning and stir up that morning serotonin boost. These can be especially helpful if you have to wake up before sunrise. theLumie Bodyclock Shine 300, the Casper Glow Light and the Phillips Smartsleep Wakeup Light are a few great options.   Go outside in the early morning sun for 30-45 minutes within an hour of waking up. We covered this point above, but we'll reemphasize it here. Remember, no sunglasses, no windows and no visors. Just unfiltered sunlight. Even when it's cloudy, you'll still get the benefits of morning sunlight. How to get more light exposure during your day Daylight is so important for your body's internal sleep clock, not to mention your mental health. That's why it's important to find ways to make sure it's part of your routine. Plan for those morning walks or a quiet morning on the patio. Open the shades and let plenty of natural light into the home in the morning. If it's difficult to do this or you rise well before the sun, you can try a light box. These are most effective for 20-30 minutes and with around 10,000 lux of bright light. Before you use a light box, however, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. A good night's rest will always make it easier to wake up, but that good rest starts long before you hit the pillow at night. Exposure to sunlight and artificial forms of daylight, especially in the morning, can establish healthy rhythms and set your body up to wake up naturally and gently each day. The link between light and your circadian rhythm Like most other living creatures, we humans have a built-in clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. This biological clock is tied to circadian rhythms, which are various physical, mental and behavioral changes that occur based on the cycle of night and day. That means your body responds differently depending on the time of day, particularly after you wake up and before you usually go to bed. Studies show that our brains are most sensitive to light from about 2 hours before we usually go to sleep until about an hour after we wake. Later in the day, when it's dark outside, your body produces more melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycles. When melatonin production increases, your body naturally transitions into a resting state. During the day, your body suppresses melatonin production. Overnight, when light exposure is minimal, melatonin production can increase by as much as three to 10 times its daytime amount. Exposure to light during the nighttime, especially when you normally sleep, can block melatonin production and make it more difficult for you to fall or stay asleep. It can also disrupt your sleep cycles, limiting your time in deep sleep, which is critical for restoring your body and mind.   How sunlight affects your brain Although these circadian rhythms are affected by various aspects of our daily behavior and patterns, nothing is more important than light. For most of human history, our bodies have relied on the simple rhythm of waking up to sunlight and sleeping in the dark. Even when your eyes are closed, the photoreceptors in your retina can sense the presence of sunlight, which triggers your brain to begin waking up. Melatonin production decreases, and your body begins boosting its production of other hormones, particularly serotonin and cortisol. These hormones are linked to important aspects of our waking routines, such as mood and alertness. Our brains are so dependent on sunlight that a lack of exposure can disrupt our sleep cycles and cause mental health problems such as depression and other mood disorders. During winter, about 5% of adults in the US experience increases in these problems, an issue known as seasonal affective disorder.   The benefits of light therapy Because of the important relationship between light and our brains, scientists have experimented with various ways to use sunlight and artificial light to treat certain mental health conditions. This practice, known as light therapy, is still relatively new, and many of its benefits are still being studied. Treatment times vary based on the person and condition, but light therapy sessions usually consist of around 30 minutes of direct light exposure. Depending on the issue, some people may benefit from full-spectrum sunlight (or an artificial equivalent) or targeted exposure to certain parts of the light spectrum. For instance, green light may help treat migraines, while some evidence shows that red light might be useful for treating wounds.  Broadly speaking, light therapy may help patients who suffer from: Seasonal affective disorder Depression Sleep disorders Jet lag Dementia These benefits of light therapy are promising. However, as with any type of treatment, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor before you begin. Light therapy may not work well if you have vision-related conditions, suffer from light sensitivity or bipolar disorder or take certain medications.   Morning light therapy As mentioned above, our bodies are most sensitive to light from about 2 hours before bedtime until about an hour after we wake up. Because of this natural cycle, light therapy is generally most effective when it occurs early in the morning, within that first hour after waking. Although you can use a light box to do this (more on those below), your best option for light in the morning is direct exposure to sunlight, particularly through your eyes and not through a window or sunglasses. No, this doesn't mean you should stare at the sun. Simply go for a walk or sit on your porch to soak up the sun's rays. Going outside for 30 to 45 minutes to take in some unfiltered sunlight in the morning can help your body wake up and establish better, more consistent sleep-wake cycles.  

  If you struggle to stay alert throughout the day, you might wake yourself up with a cup of coffee or a walk around the block. However, many people don’t know that the right scents can be just as effective for getting over the afternoon slump.  Using scents to improve your health or mood is known as aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the practice of smelling essential oils derived from plants. In aromatherapy, the scents are typically sprayed on a pillow, added to a diffuser, placed in a bath or shower, or sprayed around the room. Which Scents Should You Try? If you’re looking to use aromatherapy in your routine, it’s important to know that not all scents will boost your energy or improve your mood. For example, lavender is well known for its calming effects. If you’re looking for a new way to wake up, the best scents for alertness include:‌ Citrus: Beyond their appealing fragrance, citrus scents can fight sleepiness. While there are many citrus essential oils, the most effective scents for waking up are lemon and sweet orange.‌ Studies show that sweet orange scents can help lower stress and improve mood when inhaled. Similarly, lemon scent was shown to enhance creativity. Ways to enjoy these refreshing scents include diffusing it into the room or using oil designed to be rolled onto the wrist or neck.‌ Coffee. While it may seem obvious, coffee is one of the most potent scents for waking up. The health benefits of drinking coffee are promising, but studies show that smelling coffee’s fragrance might offer the same lift in energy without the crash many feel after drinking a cup of coffee. ‌ Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is a popular scent in aromatherapy practice. Eucalyptus has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-bacterial properties, and studies also show that eucalyptus may help get rid of headaches while helping you wake up. Ginger. Used traditionally throughout the generations, ginger has been shown to help soothe nausea. Combined with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, ginger is often used as a remedy for people who are recovering from surgery or chemotherapy. Ginger also has a refreshing scent that works well for many people, whether they’re healthy or recovering. When used as part of daily aromatherapy, ginger may help encourage a positive mood and raise your energy levels. ‌ Peppermint. Peppermint is another popular aromatherapy scent with a long history of traditional use. Mint is well-known for soothing upset stomachs and clearing congestion. Studies also show that peppermint oil can settle nausea and vomiting when the fragrance is inhaled. Beyond this, promising research shows that peppermint oil may improve alertness and memory.  Rosemary. You may be familiar with rosemary as a fragrant addition to your meal, but rosemary’s benefits reach beyond the kitchen. Studies show that rosemary can leave you feeling refreshed, providing a pick-me-up for your mood, brain activity, and nervous system. Sage. Like mint, sage is popular for its positive effects as an essential oil. Studies show that inhaling sage can create a sensation of peace and focus, making it easier to take on more tasks throughout the day with less stress. What You Should Know Before Trying New Scents Scents and essential oils used in aromatherapy may offer health benefits, but before you try new scents, note that every person has a unique reaction to essential oils. Studies have shown that some scents can lead to negative reactions in some individuals.‌ Before you introduce new scents into your routine, always start by talking to your doctor about any possible allergies.