We got from Philips a wake-up light (model HF3470) for to see, if it would make it easier to wake up in the mornings during the polar night. Now the dark time is over and we're going fast towards to the time of midnight sun.
When I got the light, I was hoping that it would help me to keep some kind of day rhythm over the dark period. As an addition for wake-up light I was using in the mornings a energy light. For me it's almost impossible to keep track of day and night when there is a dark time but also when we're having the midnight sun. I wasn't able to hold the reasonable day rhythm even in this winter...
It was cosy to wake up room which was lightened, but I wasn't feeling anyhow remarkable refreshed. Mornings are just difficult... At first I was using it with it's full power, but after a while I was only using light level 1, which lightened room up but didn't wake me up any earlier. I prefer slept so long as possible and woke up with alarm sound, not for light. I tried to use radio for to wake up but that wasn't working at all. I'm often listening radio programs from my iPod before I fall asleep and so I wasn't reacting for sounds from the radio. For me radio is more for to fall asleep... I was using the beeb as wake up call because fluting sounds of singing birds in an early morning isn't anyhow refreshing - instead it's irritates enormously.
When we got day light back, I stop using wake-up light but turned it off and used only the alarm function. Light was used as a night light, not for waking up. The yellowish tone of light was somehow unnatural and I was prefer waking up for light we got through the curtains.
For me the biggest trouble with the light was the control system. It's almost impossible to use buttons without seeing them. That means they are unusable if I wasn't wearing glasses on but also in darkness. They are logical enough but really difficult to use them just by feeling them.
One thing I was missing was a function for to set some preset profiles. In the evening I would have liked to listen some radio with low light and fall asleep with them on. But that wasn't possible, because you couldn't time the light or radio off for example after an hour or so. If that would have been possible, in the morning it's needed anyhow stronger light and louder wake up call. For that there would have been need for two profiles, one for evening and one for morning.
We're losing once in a while electricity in the town and then the wake-up light looses it's time and everything resets. That means that you can't trust it as an only alarm but you need to have always a back-up. It should have a back-up battery for to keep time even through a longer period of lack of electricity.
Now, when we're having again natural light, I'll be using the alarm function with light turned totally off. But I guess when we start with a new dark season in next autumn I'll have a new try with the light.
Showing posts with label Philips wake-up light. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philips wake-up light. Show all posts
Friday, 18 March 2011
Monday, 24 January 2011
Dragging myself up...
I have totally given up for trying to wake up refreshed on the mornings. I have tried again to have full power on my wake-up light, but results have been kind of variable. Some of the mornings I have been waking up some hours before I should have and then I just haven't been even able to think about to wake up with "refreshing light" - so I have turned it low that I don't need to wake up for it. I have prefer dragged myself to kitchen and tried to get refreshed there with a good cup of tea. Very practical...
That is just a normal situation for me whenever; I can't honestly say it's because of the dark time. I have kind of accepted I'm not anyhow an early bird. And as our society is made for mostly for them, I'll be struggling with that. So, I'm not bothering to get worried about that :)
That is just a normal situation for me whenever; I can't honestly say it's because of the dark time. I have kind of accepted I'm not anyhow an early bird. And as our society is made for mostly for them, I'll be struggling with that. So, I'm not bothering to get worried about that :)
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
To wake-up a cosy way instead of to be refreshed
Before Christmas I was using wake-up light on it's full efficacy with hope that I could wake up refreshed. That didn't actually happened... but I found out that it's really nice to wake up for lightened room.
I was using light seven weeks before Christmas. Then I had three weeks pause with some random use of wake-up light but now it's time to get on normal life again.
Now I'm not using light anymore on it's full efficacy, but last week I was using it only with the light-level 1. That's enough to lighten the room but doesn't wake me up before alarm. Now I'm feeling that it's nice to wake up for little bit lightened room without that light is trying to unnaturally push me up. Anyhow, I have given up for hope to wake up refreshed, for me it's enough to wake up on cosy way and slowly start the day with a cup of tea.
I was using light seven weeks before Christmas. Then I had three weeks pause with some random use of wake-up light but now it's time to get on normal life again.
Now I'm not using light anymore on it's full efficacy, but last week I was using it only with the light-level 1. That's enough to lighten the room but doesn't wake me up before alarm. Now I'm feeling that it's nice to wake up for little bit lightened room without that light is trying to unnaturally push me up. Anyhow, I have given up for hope to wake up refreshed, for me it's enough to wake up on cosy way and slowly start the day with a cup of tea.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Wake-up light got cast aside for three weeks

Yep, there were about three weeks break with using the wake-up light - in the darkest time of the year. First, I was almost one week in Tromsø. There it was actually pretty ok to wake up without wake-up light, because we got anyhow pretty good twilight during the day. And when I came back to Svalbard, it was Christmas time. When I was home, I used the light, but we also spend some time at a cabin. Over the Christmas time I just gave up all the requirements for a regular day rhythm: We went to sleep when we got tired and woke up so late as possible. And if I needed to wake up early, then I just did that and slept even longer day after. Exactly against all the rules for keeping regular sleeping manners ;) But I could just wish that it was possible to have life like that!
But now, Christmas is over and we're again alone at the house after our visitor left. I will have a new try for getting proper sleeping manners again...
Monday, 13 December 2010
Seven weeks under fluorescenst lamps
We had a busy week and far too late nights. On some mornings I set the wake up time one hour later than usually. One morning I woke up, went to living room and continued sleeping at the sofa one hour extra. On the other morning I just turn light down when light woke me up little bit earlier and continued sleeping until I really needed wake up after three snooze. Even thought it's not easy to leave the bed in the mornings, I still think it's cosy to wake up when there is light in the room :)
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Six weeks with wake-up light
My sixth week with the wake-up light was pretty variable. Twice I woke about five minutes before planned times. Once I managed somehow (don't ask how!) to take sound so low that I didn't wake up for that at all and because I didn't have my back-up alarm I woke one hour later. Twice I decided to give me half an hour extra time - and I got pretty irritated, because to bottoms are really tricky to handle without seeing them :/
And question about to being refreshed when waken up... I don't know if the point for me is to wake up refreshed, but it's nice to wake up for room where is light. To turn light on in mornings is always so painful for eyes, so it' just nice to avoid that. Already because of that reason I like my wake-up light really much.
I wonder if that light is waking me up only, if I happen to be on a light sleep phase. If I'm in deep sleep, it's not just catching me from there. If one sleep cycle is around 90 minutes, then it's just little bit with luck if I happen to be on so light sleep that I can be woken by light. Maybe that light should be connected with sleep phase wake-up clock so that it starts to light within that half an hour window which is given. Mhhh, maybe that's getting little bit too advanced...
And question about to being refreshed when waken up... I don't know if the point for me is to wake up refreshed, but it's nice to wake up for room where is light. To turn light on in mornings is always so painful for eyes, so it' just nice to avoid that. Already because of that reason I like my wake-up light really much.
I wonder if that light is waking me up only, if I happen to be on a light sleep phase. If I'm in deep sleep, it's not just catching me from there. If one sleep cycle is around 90 minutes, then it's just little bit with luck if I happen to be on so light sleep that I can be woken by light. Maybe that light should be connected with sleep phase wake-up clock so that it starts to light within that half an hour window which is given. Mhhh, maybe that's getting little bit too advanced...
Monday, 29 November 2010
Sixth week of the dark season
Can't believe it's already the six weeks since we said goodbye for the sun. Time has got so incredibly fast! I can't say that I'm specially tired or lacking energy because of the dark season. The difficulties I'm having on the mornings with to get out of the bed are just normal for me - I'm absolutely not a morning person!
My sixth week with Philips wake-up light started with little problems: I didn't wake up at all for the light or beeb-sound, but for back-up alarm on my mobil. Mhhh... but that has an explanation: We were having a weekend in a cabin and forgot totally to follow day rhythm. After that kind of weekend it can't be expected to be fresh... But - it's worth of it :D
My sixth week with Philips wake-up light started with little problems: I didn't wake up at all for the light or beeb-sound, but for back-up alarm on my mobil. Mhhh... but that has an explanation: We were having a weekend in a cabin and forgot totally to follow day rhythm. After that kind of weekend it can't be expected to be fresh... But - it's worth of it :D
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Gave up for light...
The first time I gave up for light. Since I got the light, I have been (at least aimed) to wake up latest 9 am. No exceptions, not even in weekends, despite when I have got to the bed. Until now... It's Saturday and I was planning to wake up as usually. But somehow I woke up couple of hours before I should have and I was deadly tired. I remembered how difficult it was change the time without seeing properly buttons, so I just switched all the thing off. And were happily sleeping until 12 pm. Ah, that was so good!
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
An early bird
In this month I'm having only one early shift at work. As normally, I didn't manage to go to the bed early enough, so I got about five hours sleep before I needed to wake up. But - I woke up five minutes before alarm got off! Not bad :D That was good, because my partner was still sleeping, so then I was able to sneak me out of bed without disturbing him. And now, when I actually needed to get right away out of bed, it was working very fine :)
Taking out a dog at 6 am -28 Celcius degrees effective temperature and with strong breeze isn't the best thing I know, but that's a part of life when having a dog. And worth of it :)
Taking out a dog at 6 am -28 Celcius degrees effective temperature and with strong breeze isn't the best thing I know, but that's a part of life when having a dog. And worth of it :)
Monday, 22 November 2010
Fifth week with the light
How to say that... Light is working fine, it's cosy to wake up for it. But I'm not giving good change for it - I was up until 3 am again. How I could be then fresh on next morning? I guess I would need "Go to bed - NOW" -service more than wake-up light ;)
But I love my energy light. That rescues my mornings :) With help of good cup of tea :D
But I love my energy light. That rescues my mornings :) With help of good cup of tea :D
Friday, 19 November 2010
Cosy mornings = difficult mornings?
Usually I'm going to work little bit later in day time, so I'm having good time in mornings. If I would be smart, I would wake up in good time and do lot of things before I go to work. Yep, I would... But it's not that easy! I know that I'm having good time. Bed is nice and soft, there is warm. And I'm tired... and that wake-up light is having a well working snooze function... And again it took far too long time before I was out of bed. I'm having really cosy mornings - but should I also say then, that it's difficult to get out of bed. I will try better... maybe later...
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
The fourth week
The fourth week didn't start easy. I woke up for alarm, but was far too tired to get up. No worries, I was having good time... Snooze, twice... Then new waking time by telephone... Finally one hour later I needed to force me up. Light all the time at the level 20 - and I still managed to sleep. And to say honestly, I couldn't say I was refreshed when I finally pulled me out of bed. Arrgh!!!
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Tired on the third week
I like to wake up with my wake-up light, but to being totally honest, waking up is still difficult. This week I made one extra step on the way up: first to the sofa, where I cuddle a little stunt with my dog, and when he gets enough of that, to the kitchen beside the energy light. Even though, I wouldn't like to stop using my wake-up light, I think it's so cosy to wake up for it :) And it's nicer to wake up in the light room than in a dark one.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
The third week starting
It's still some hours twilight at midday and if it's anyhow possible, we spend that time outside. Mountains looks so beautiful with that indirect light, they are somehow like glowing. This is fantastic beautiful time here :) I'm start to get ready to wake up at 9 am, despite which time I have got to bed. That would be really nice, if I could keep somehow that sleeping rhythm over the dark season as well.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Sleep so good
Very normal morning... Woke up for beeb-beeb at 9 am. It was so nice and warm in the bed. I was thinking that I will listen little bit radio before I get up. There were some nice music, and started to listen it. And then music was over and I looked at time. It was 10 am!!!! Ok, anyhow, it's a day off, so I wasn't any hurry anywhere. And it was so nice and warm in the bed...
Friday, 5 November 2010
"Go-to-sleep-light" wanted
I guess I might need more "go-to-sleep-light" than wake-up light. This time I was "only" up until 2:30 am. I think it can't be expected then that I would be kind of fresh when I wake up on the morning. I lose really easily day rhythm, especially in dark time, so this winter I try to keep me waking up every morning at 9 am, also on weekends. We'll see how long time this promise is holding... Last year it really didn't work.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Nightbird
I went to sleep at 3 am... How smart was that? Very little, found I out on the morning... But, surprisingly enough I woke up anyhow about five minutes before alarm, just for light. Not bad :)
Monday, 1 November 2010
The second week is starting
The second week is starting with Philips Wake-up light. I had a weekend "break" of it, because we were out of the town in a cabin trip. But now I'm back in normal routines :) It was pretty easy to back in town life - I woke up seven minutes before alarm got off. It was nice to be laying in the bed, when you knew that you're having good time before you need to get up. And when alarm went off, I took myself beside the kitchen table and continued wake-up process with energy-light and cup of tea. After a little while my partner got up as well and made for us some freshly baked doughnuts. That's the way to get up :)
Friday, 29 October 2010
The first week is over

The biggest point for me seems to be, that I'm getting ready for a new day quicker than I'm doing that normally. Often my mornings are kind of survival battles, whereafter I'm still half sleeping when I go to work. Now, on this week, I have had really cosy mornings. I have been waking up - or at least having alarm on - every morning about the same time, at nine o´clock. I have been having my breakfast in the kitchen, enjoying a beautiful view to Sukkertoppen. Now on one weeks time I can see already difference in light intensity: a week ago it was kind of light, when I was having my breakfast, now it just a twilight. But it looks beatiful with pale blue sky behind the mountain and a half moon over the Platå mountain. I'm counting for, that this dark season will be a nice one :)
The sixth morning
The alarm sound seems to be working on me. I think I will forget the radio now for a while, even though it might be cosy to be waking up on it. So, I'm now using that "traditional" sound. I saw an advertisement where you were able to dock an iPod on a wake-up light. That sounds actually a really nice idea. I would like to have that :)
It has been still a kind of process to get out of bed. I can't say that I'm full of energy when I wake up. But, when I get out of bed, and have a cup of tea with my energy-light, I get on normal day-modus really quickly. That is actually really nice :) I remember last year, that I was having days, where I was feeling that I actually never woke up properly. So, I'm hoping really much, that Philips wake-up light will help me to wake up for a day.
It has been still a kind of process to get out of bed. I can't say that I'm full of energy when I wake up. But, when I get out of bed, and have a cup of tea with my energy-light, I get on normal day-modus really quickly. That is actually really nice :) I remember last year, that I was having days, where I was feeling that I actually never woke up properly. So, I'm hoping really much, that Philips wake-up light will help me to wake up for a day.
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