How to Set Your
Internal Alarm Clock

in just 30 seconds

So, what's an internal alarm clock?

Well, have you ever woken up just a couple of minutes before your alarm? Why do you think that was? Did you just get lucky / unlucky?

Have you ever considered that you might already have a wonderfully accurate internal alarm clock already built in, and all you have to do is learn how to set it?

Let's face it: alarm clocks are the work of the devil. There are few things worse than the impersonal screaming of an electronic beep interrupting your dreams, particularly when you have the fortune of dreaming about something / someone spectacular.

Now, whilst getting up at a certain time is an unfortunate inevitability of life, there are some simple ways to make waking up a whole lot less painful.

It might not feel like it sometimes – and certainly not during the cold, dark mornings of a gloomy UK winter – but we all come equipped with a natural internal alarm clock, that can do a far greater job of rousing us than an electronic equivalent could ever hope to.

I've been experimenting with my own internal alarm clock for the last few days, and have been a bit astonished by the results. My initial findings suggest that our body DOES have a built-in alarm, and that it's not that hard to set it. This backs up a study by Jan Born at the University of Lubeck in Germany, which found that our body knows when it is due to wake up and starts releasing “wake up” chemicals a full 90 minutes before the scheduled wake-up – without a clock in sight!

Whilst problems for serial-snoozers will not vanish overnight, I would recommend learning how to set your internal alarm. Not only do you awaken much more naturally, but it is a LITTLE BIT easier to get up without snoozing for another half hour. I've also found myself more alert after getting up (although I haven't given up the strong Columbian Coffee yet!)

If you struggle to get up in the morning, try one of these techniques. It could be the difference between starting the day with a buzz, and running around in a blind panic trying to get out of the door in time.

Internal Alarm - Exercise 1

This is the technique I've been using, and it's gloriously simple:

When in bed tonight, just before you fall to sleep, simply try to convince yourself that you will awaken at your chosen time.

Create a clear picture in your mind of you waking up – fully alert and fresh – at whichever time you choose. In the picture notice yourself rolling over to check your clock, and see that you've awoken at the perfect time. Watch yourself jumping out of bed.

Just be sure to imagine a picture of the clock – I've found that this works best as our unconscious minds tend to respond better to pictures and symbols. Make the picture of the time as clear as possible. Scream at your subconscious if you have to: “This is the time I will wake up!”

Er... that's it. That's all I've been doing – and it works. Rather well, actually.

All I do is believe that I will be woken up at that time, and typically I wake up two to three minutes before. Simple!

If it doesn't work for you (and I bet it does!), try this:

Internal Alarm - Exercise 2

I call this "the pillow smash!" I've heard of some people using this technique, although I haven't needed to. If the first exercise doesn't work, try adding this to it:

Tap your pillow the same number of times as the hour you want to wake up!

So, for example, if you want to get up at seven, hit your pillow seven times just before you go to sleep. See the picture in your head again of waking up at seven. Really try to communicate to your subconscious mind that this is the time you will be getting up!

Er... that's it too.

Give it a go tonight and see what happens.

Final Thoughts

First of all, don't be discouraged by how simple these instructions are! When you think about it, you'll realise that it's common sense that your unconscious would work in this uber-effective way. Just trust yourself enough to give this internal alarm clock idea a go.

If you really want to get great results, allow me to suggest using Isochronic Tones to help you visualise. These MP3s are scientifically proven to lower your brain activity, helping you to relax deeply before bed, and are great at quieting down "mind chatter" so you can communicate with your subconscious more effectively. Downloads start at around $10, providing awesome value for money.

I'd recommend setting your “real” alarm clock for a few minutes after your internal alarm (just in case you run into any initial problems) but I honestly reckon that if you give this a go, you'll amaze yourself with just how spookily accurate your subconscious can be.

All that's left to do is question your unconscious as to why it's been letting you get up late all these years...!

So, have fun playing with your internal alarm clock – and if it makes getting up even 1% easier, you're surely onto a winner here...

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