Do SAD/ daylight lamps & alarm clocks work and can anybody recommend one?

[MyNewBearTotoro]

I have noticed a general decline in my mood since the winter has started to set in, and particularly that I am finding it almost impossible to get up in the mornings. My DC usually don’t wake until at least 7:30 in the mornings so my alarm wakes me and I’m finding I can snooze it for almost an hour and then getting everybody out of the house feels like a mad rush. In summer I always wake naturally with daylight and get out of bed much earlier than I’m managing now. And I know the mornings are only going to get darker over the next few weeks.

So I’ve been looking at daylight/ SAD alarm clocks in the hope that maybe one would help me to wake naturally and maybe also lift my mood a bit, but there seems to be a huge range available from about £30 to £300+ and I’ve no idea which kind to get. Anything over £50 wouldn’t usually be within my budget for a lamp, but if a cheap one will be useless and a more expensive one really will help I could consider one at the middle end of the spectrum at least.

Does anybody use a daylight alarm clock? Can anybody make any recommendations? Do they help with natural waking and do they help with winter depression?

I've got this Lumie clock.
Got it for £64 in Amazon one day sale three weeks ago and I love it.
If you wait till Black Friday there are bound to be some bargains.
I've set the sunrise for 30 mins and wake up very gradually after about 20 mins. There are also sound alarms if you need them.

Have you tried taking Vitamin D tablets? I noticed a huge improvement in my mood and motivation, particularly in the mornings. I'd realised I just wasn't out in daylight unless it was the weekend.

I don't know about sad lights but taking vitamin d helps...

Thanks for the lumie recommendation - I will keep a look out during the upcoming Black Friday sales!

I will also start taking vitamin D - I used to take a daily multivitamin but have fallen out of the habit a bit. Hopefully they can help lighten my mood and a clock will help with actually waking up.

I have SAD and have used a light box and Lumie alarm clock for nearly 10 years. I honestly couldn't be without the Lumie now. I now use it with the light only for an alarm, so I wake up each morning to a light room, naturally. No high pitched jolt to shock me awake in the dark! Always found a traditional alarm triggers almost a stress response, not good first thing in morning.
The Lumie may seem expensive but for me it's been worth its weight; it's lasted 8/9 years so far with only a bulb change.

I tried a lumie but it only worked if I was facing it and hadn't snuggled too far under the duvet.

We all have Lumie clocks, including the DC. DS1 has ASD and it's revolutionised his mornings; I no longer have to go in to wake him 57 times each morning and he wakes more softly than any way I could wake him so is less grumpy despite being 14.