Help there isn’t an alarm clock in the world that suits my needs!!

[Citygirlrurallife]

I think I’ve hunted for years at this point and just can’t find the perfect alarm clock so I can leave my goddamn phone downstairs! Help me MN

must haves:

• goes totally, completely dark at night - no display, no nothing. A small bright light keeps me up and wakes me up all night
• gentle wake up sounds or tuneable to radio (pref DAB), I currently use “early riser” on iphone
• SAD or similar slow light up effect with alarm, the winter was brutal this year after a decade closer to the equator so I’m hoping this will help

would be great if it also wasn’t ugly as fuck. Have looked at the Lumie’s (holy shit they’re expensive) but reviews say the display is bright. To be honest this is the hardest thing to find, a clock that goes totally dark…..I will forgoe the SAD light bit for total nighttime darkened (ironically)

I have a Lumie and the display can be dimmed and never wakes me up at all in the night.! I love it, it’s a great way to wake up.

Does it have to be a clock? DS uses Google Nest - his plays "obnoxious music" as he struggles to get up but I don't think this is compulsory! Obviously doesn't have the SAD light though.

get a smart watch and use the vibrate alarm on that.

get a pillow speaker and listen to stuff on that.

you’re welcome.

yours faithfully
life changing suggestions R US

ps I have pillow speaker recommendations if required

Lumie all the way. Mine has sunrise and sunset functions - wake up and fall asleep gently. No display at night.

Well worth the money.

@EVHead@GraysPapaya which one do you have? The reviews I read were for the cheaper one

@SoupDragon @BitOutOfPractice thanks for suggestions but I also like to be able to see the time if I wake in the night (but on a display that is TOTALLY DARK unless I press something to illuminate long enough just to check the time) as I’m sometimes insomniac

basically my phone is perfect except it’s my phone and I need it out of my bedroom

I have a Lumie with the sunrise/ sunset features. When you set the alarm the display goes completely dark. You can make it come on momentarily by pressing the button. I think there is an option to keep the display on when the alarm is set, if you want to, but like you I want the bedroom completely dark at night.
It’s the Lumie Bodyclock Starter 30, don’t know if it’s still available though.

You can get clocks that will project the time onto a wall or ceiling but the display remains blank.

@FictionalCharacter thankyou - that’s the one I read the reviews on so maybe some people just haven’t figured out how to turn off the display? I’ll give it a go

I have a lumie shine 300. Absolutely no light at all once the light is off in the room. I bought mine with an unexpected voucher as had fancied one but thought were too pricey. I love it and would replace it immediately if it went wrong. Have had it a few years now. Very impressed.

Get a lumie and if that doesn't work for seeing the time then get a separate little watch. Lumie is worth it IMO. Love mine.

Can prob find second hand on ebay too.

Do you have an old phone that you could adapt to be an alarm clock only? Without a sim and in aeroplane mode so you're not tempted to browse, uninstall all apps except the ones you need for the alarm clock. Basically strip it back to the essential features and still get all the benefits of leaving your phone downstairs. NB as I understand it the advice is not to check the time if you wake up during the night as it can make insomnia worse.

Is the reason you want your phone out of the bedroom because you want to remove the temptation to use it? If so, then could you keep an old phone with no apps installed on it to use purely as an alarm?

Ideas for old phones are good ones - I’ll see how I get on with the Lumie. Thanks all!

Have you ever seen these? They have no display unless you ‘wake it’.