[thehammer]

I stopped using an alarm clock about a year ago, and it's been one of the most positive, life-altering changes I've experienced. I'm not tired when I wake up, and I have consistent energy through the day. It was a surprisingly easy transition after doing two things: leaving the blinds open so I get lots of natural sunlight in the morning, and eating breakfast within half an hour of waking up.

It's somewhat scary at first, going without an alarm, but I discovered after doing the above two things that I was tending to wake up before my alarm, and ready to start my day. After a few weeks, I decided to give it a go, and have been off the alarm for a year. In fact, I think now that having an alarm was much more stressful and got in the way of getting a good night's rest, despite the fact that I now wake up earlier.

Getting to sleep at a decent hour helps, and waking up early leaves me tired at night. I avoid caffeine after noon and tried to avoid sitting in front of a computer screen during the last half hour before sleep. But I credit the early meal and sunlight most.

[T-hawk]

Heartily second everything there. I stopped using an alarm clock for workdays many years ago. Waking up naturally is the best ending to sleep. The time is pretty stable, except roughly once a week, I'll remain asleep 30 to 60 minutes longer. If that happens, it was necessary, and waking up earlier to a blaring alarm would have left me zombied for the day. I do have a job where the arrival time is flexible; anytime up to about 10:30 is okay and my boss does the same. That is by design not luck, I wouldn't take a job where that was not true.

So yes, kill the alarm. (I will use it for an early flight or medical appointment, things that can't give way by an hour, but absolutely not for the daily commute.) It really does create stress.

[noarchy]

Eating after waking up is a key for me. I have colleagues who have company breakfasts when I'm already thinking about lunch...I don't see how they can wait until 3 or 4 hours after waking up before they eat.