Try This At Home: Set An Alarm
How often do you set an alarm?
Today’s try this at home tip is to set an alarm. However, I encourage you to think about the nontraditional ways setting an alarm can be a benefit. Many only rely upon alarms for getting up in the morning. However, if you are hoping to establish new habits and rituals, an alarm can be the reminder of what you need to be prepared to do or currently doing.
- If you are trying to improve your diet, a phone reminder or alarm can assist in remembering the mid morning or afternoon snack. Many benefit from a reminder of eatting lunch so that they don’t work through the lunch hour.
- Are you hoping to establish a self care routine? As self care is a struggle, it can be a benefit to have a reminder to step away from the computer/project. Use this time to take a walk, stretch or practice deep breathing.
- For someone who struggles with going to bed at an appropriate time, setting an alarm to get ready for bed can be the catalyst to finish up activities for the night.
Several years ago, after realizing I needed to improve my diet, I began to utilize an alarm as a reminder to have snacks throughout the day. Although I often didn’t feel hungry, the establishment of this new routine helped me to develop a healthier lifestyle where I was fueling my body. I owe the establishment of a new habit to setting an alarm.
Are there ways your life could benefit from setting an alarm ?
Great tip. I need to set an alarm for work. I could give myself a set amount of time to blog to motivate myself, and then get off the computer.
I haven’t started using an alarm yet for my writing time but I really do believe I need to. I hope you will try it and let me know how it goes.
It’s so funny that you bring this up today because lately I have been thinking about setting an alarm for myself at work…to give myself a break or go for a walk. My thought being I’ll be more productive during the time leading up to the alarm as I’ll have something to look forward to vs. sitting at my desk and feeling like I only have lunch and 5pm to look forward to.
Katie, you and I both know it’s so unhealthy to just sit all day. It is nice to have a treat to look forward to and a short walk really does help change everything. I hope you will try this. Let me know how it goes.
This is such a great tip. An alarm can help with so many things. I use mine whenever I’m not being good about drinking water – helps remind me!
That’s a great idea! So glad you are doing it.
Thanks for the tip. I never thought about using the alarm for a reminder for snack time. I keep working until I am starving which I know is not good. I am trying to lose weight and need to eat my healthy snacks. I love Christine’s idea below about the water because I am bad at remembering to drink that too. Thank you for this I am gonna be setting my alarm to help remind me.
Christine, I would love to know how this works out for you. I think the reminders could really help with snacks and water – I know they did for me.
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Back when I would eat a bunch of small meals a day, I would set an alarm to remember to eat and then to work out. I’ve found that having a fun alarm ringtone works better for these types of things 🙂
I like the idea of a fun alarm. That way it makes you feel different and catches your attention. The alarms truly helped me in regards to adding in snacks and remembering to eat lunch.
Yes! I’ve started setting alarms to stop me from sitting down for too long because it’s ruining my posture. I try to get up at least once an hour and without an alarm there’s no way this would happen.
That’s a great idea Becky. We can sit in one position way too long if we aren’t aware of it. That’s good self care.
I set an alarm or timer a lot when I’m cleaning the house. If I know I’m only going to clean for 30 minutes, I tend to stay more focused and get more done. Many times when the alarm goes off I’m motivated enough to keep cleaning!
Penny, I have tried the exact same thing and find that motivation often extends beyond the time.
These are all great reasons for setting an alarm. I usually just use one for getting up in the morning. But, I think that I could really benefit to use one for lunch when I’m working at home. Also, it’s genius to use one for when you need to stop and get ready for bed. All too often I would work too late and not realize the time. I’ll have to start trying this.
I’m the same way as you in regards to bedtime. I just keep doing what I am doing, look up and realize I really needed to be in bed at that time (but had to actually get ready for bed). It may be helpful to you. Let me know if you try it.
Interesting! I set a lot of reminders and then ignore them–I wonder if alarms would help…
I think alarms may make a difference Jess. Reminders just sit there but an alarm grabs your attention. Give it a try.
Great post – I have alarms set all the time – they are brilliant! I do have a habit of snoozing them for longer than I should though!
Snoozing through is something so many people struggle with. Try moving your alarm farther away so that you have to get up. Sometimes that helps!
I definitely use alarms. I started using them for homeschooling, but now I use them for anything I want to remember. So many things to remember, I decided remembering when to do something is not something I needed to do. Love your suggestions. #TheWednesdayShowcase
Thanks Karen. I’m like you and use them for many different purposes.
I love this idea. I actually live by my Reminders on my iPhone…it goes off several times during the day to remind me of things and to keep me on track.
I do the same thing with my alarm. I just have to be careful to not ignore it (which can be easy to do).
I love to use alarms. I use an app called H20 Tracker, which sends an alert to remind me to drink more water. Being a busy teacher, I’ve gotten used to the pinging sound and know it’s time to take a sip between lessons. I also use an app with an alarm that calculates your ideal bedtime depending on your alarm setting so I don’t compromise a good night’s sleep.
Those are both great apps. So glad you are already benefitting from setting an alarm.