Daily writing prompt

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

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My Daily Game-Changer: How Alarms Went From Nuisance to Lifesaver

For years, I had a love-hate relationship with my alarm clock. Mostly hate. It was a single, jarring sound. It meant one thing: the peaceful rest of the night was over. It was time to face the day (I love to sleep). It was a necessary evil. I truly resented the loud beep. It forced me to wake up and get moving. That’s all it was—a wake-up call, and a reminder that I was now on the clock for the day.

But then, a funny thing happened. The first thing I did was change my alarm from an annoying, awful sound to a gentler one. It gradually increased in volume and featured nature sounds or soft music. It worked, as I started hating it less.

Nevertheless, my mornings were a chaotic rush while my nights were a frantic scramble. I’d stay up late feeling exhausted. I wasn’t quite ready for bed. Then I would realize I had a whole routine to get through before I could actually lie down. I’d wash my face, brush my teeth, and do my skincare routine. By the time I hit the pillow, I was wide awake again.

This cycle was draining. So, I decided to try something different. I set a new alarm—not to wake up, but to get ready for bed. This alarm, which I now call my “bedtime alarm,” goes off about an hour and a half before I want to be asleep. When it rings, I start my nightly routine.

This simple shift has been a game-changer. I’m truly ready for sleep when I need to. Interestingly enough, this small change completely transformed my relationship with alarms. They were no longer the enemy. I had turned them from a nuisance into a helpful tool.

From there, it all evolved. I applied the same logic to my work schedule. I started setting alarms not just for the start time of a meeting, but for 10 minutes before meetings. This has been a true lifesaver. It gives me a buffer to stop what I’m doing and prepare for the meeting. I can test my camera and microphone. I can even rehearse what I need to say. I’m no longer rushing, stressed, or showing up late because I’m prepared and ready to go!

Alarms are no longer just for waking up; they help me manage my entire day and feel more in control of my time.

Posts to Check Out for More Help

For more on using alarms as a productivity tool, check out these articles:

• 5 Time Management Tips and Tricks for a More Productive You by Calendar App: This article discusses how to use reminder alarms. It also covers other time management techniques like time blocking. These methods help you stay on track and reduce stress.
• A working To-Do system for the distracted minds and lazy souls by Ahmed Hassanein: This post from Freedium shares a personal system. It is designed for using alarms and to-do lists. This helps manage tasks and avoid distraction. It offers practical tips on how to make your alarm system work for you.
• Morning Habits for Success: Mastering Alarms, Focus, and Productivity by Attorney Aaron Hall: This article focuses on how to use alarms effectively. These tips can improve your morning routine. They help you start your day on a productive note. It includes strategies for avoiding the snooze button and simplifying your mornings.

As a final thought, when I first read this writing prompt, I thought immediately of writing about how much I love my morning coffee. However, I’m not drinking it every day anymore. My week without coffee taught me that I was… dependent on it. Then I realize that my alarms are part of my life practically every day of the year (with counted exceptions).

What about you? What’s your daily helpful habit? Let me know in the comments.

About the Author:
I’m Astrid, a biologist who made a career shift to become a virtual assistant and an accountability partner. My journey from the world of science to customer service and freelancing has given me a unique perspective on life, and I sometimes share it here on WordPress.

Do you need a capable and reliable accountability partner? Contact me on Fiverr or LinkedIn.