Wellness
Rise and Shine
Not a morning person? Not a problem.
Yawn. Getting up is hard to do. And to celebrate Sleep Awareness Week, we present two new gizmos that promise to help you bound out of bed in the morning.
Splurge
The Philips Wake-Up Light ($169.99; pictured) is a cutting-edge alarm clock that simulates a sunrise. Your bedroom will gradually fill with light and you'll wake to soft nature sounds. (No crowing roosters, promise!) According to sleep experts, waking up gently from a light sleep helps with symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Even if you don't suffer from SAD, the gradual light increases serotonin, the brain chemical that boosts feelings of happiness.
vs. Save
The Sleep Cycle iPhone app ($0.99) uses your iPhone's accelerometer to keep tabs on your sleep patterns. Just place your iPhone under your bottom sheet before bed. While you snooze, the Sleep Cycle monitors when you're in your lightest sleep phase--and wakes you up at that moment (within a 30-minute window of your alarm's set wake-up time). The result? You'll feel like you've had a long, restful nap. (And not like someone hit you on the head.) Download it from iTunes.
Good morning, sunshine.

