Zen Alarm Clock

Wake the natural way with Zen alarm clocks and progressive alarm clocks.

It seems rather foreboding that most Americans rely on an alarm to wake up in the morning when the commonest dictionary definition of alarm is "a warning of danger." No wonder the snooze bar is so popular. But now there's an alternative, and it's called a Zen alarm clock. If the Zen alarm clock had been invented by Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, it would probably be known as an unalarm clock.

How the Zen alarm clock works

Everyone likes smooth transitions. We ease our way into cold swimming pools during the summer, and enjoy the gradual autumnal changes that signal the onset of winter. The transition from sleeping to waking should be no different.

A Zen alarm clock eases you from sleep. Its sound is a soothing chime, and when the Zen alarm clock first chimes, it does so quietly and only once. Several minutes later the Zen alarm clock chimes again, slightly louder and longer, repeating this activity at shorter intervals over a period of ten minutes until it is chiming at full volume every few seconds.

Awakening from sleep is a gradual process, and the Zen alarm clock is perfectly suited for it. Standard alarm clocks will shock you from sleep every 9 minutes as you hit your snooze bar. Zen alarm clocks need no snooze bar, relying instead on the body's natural inclination to slowly wake from sleep.

Zen alarm clock features

For many Zen alarm clock users, eliminating the alarm bell is reason enough to own one. But Zen alarm clocks often come with many other helpful features.

Design is one consideration. Zen alarm clocks are often triangular in shape, and made from a natural wood finish. The modern and streamlined look of your Zen alarm clock will fit nicely into any home decor, whether you prefer a Japanese or Western style clock face. Digital Zen alarm clocks featuring a numeric time face are also available.

If you prefer waking to sounds other than a chime, there are also Zen alarm clocks available with a choice of several different nature sounds. Or if you enjoy the sound of your Zen alarm clock, some of them can even be plugged into the phone line to replace the annoying ring of your phone with a distinctive Tibetan-style ring.

Progressive alarm clock

If you secretly suspect that the sound of one hand clapping won't be able to wake you, considering trying a progressive alarm clock. Progressive alarm clocks operate on the same principle as Zen alarm clocks, but also incorporate unique features of their own.

For example, the Hammacher Schlemmer progressive alarm clock features not only gradually increasing nature sounds, but also ambient light and aromas to make your waking as pleasant as possible. The progressive alarm clock light begins to glow thirty minutes before your set time, and its warmth releases the scent of such aroma beads as Energy, Morning Caf, Stress Relief, and Lavender.

Even better, the Hammacher Schlemmer progressive alarm clock typically retails for half the cost of most Zen alarm clocks.

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