What Happens To Your Body When You Wake Up To An Alarm Every Day

For most of us, alarm clocks are inevitable. Few people have the option of waking up at whatever time they want, and most people aren't natural risers who get up at the same time every single day. But waking up to an alarm clock, especially a loud and aggressive one, can set you up for a more stressful start to your day.

"Sound alarm clocks shock our brain and bodies into waking," sleep expert Whitney Roban explained to Bustle. "If you are still in a deep stage of sleep, this will feel even more shocking to your system, to the point that it can increase heart rate and blood pressure, as well as cause your body to secrete adrenaline."

If you're familiar with that heart-pounding feeling every morning, it might be time to ditch the loud alarm clock. Funny enough, your body might be letting you know it wants you to make that change: If you notice yourself constantly waking up a minute or two ahead of your alarm, that's your body being smart and trying to avoid that abrupt wakeup (via Mental Floss). Listen to it.

If you can't avoid an alarm clock — like most of us — consider finding one that doesn't have your adrenaline pumping as soon as it goes off. Swap your foghorn noise for a gentler sound, or if possible, look for an alarm clock that uses light rather than noise as a wake up: We're more naturally suited to waking up to sunlight, so a light that mimics it, or blinds that automatically rise at a certain time, can be a great solution for stressed out sleepers. And if you wake up at the same time every day, your body will naturally start to wake up at that time, no clock required (via ABC News).

For those who prefer to turn their alarms off altogether on the weekend, beware: Shifting out of your sleeping rhythm can actually be detrimental to your health. It's fine to break from your normal schedule, but try for an earlier bedtime or a slightly extended sleep-in time in the morning. Don't stay in bed until noon on Sunday if you have to wake up at six in the morning every day during the week: your healthiest option is to find a sleep schedule that works for you every day, and stick to it as much as possible (via Health).