I don't use an alarm clock to wake up. I have more energy and lost weight since I stopped using it.

"I have rarely used an alarm clock in the last eight years, and I'd argue that it takes time and energy, and even discipline and dedication, to throw away your alarm clock and train your brain to wake up when you need it to. I recognize that not everyone has the flexibility to live this way, but sleep scientists I've spoken to tend to not only approve of my alarm-clock-free lifestyle, but some of them also practice some version of it themselves."

"Each morning, as sunlight streams through my bedroom skylight, I wake up slowly, walk outside with a cup of green tea to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, and get a dose of daylight in my eyes before starting my workday in my home office. Harnessing the power of the sun, I would say, is my most important tool for adjusting my sleep-wake cycle. I spend at least 15 minutes soaking up some sunlight each morning."

Ditching an alarm boosted energy, focus, and helped achieve a 20-pound weight loss. Light exposure, not alarms, is the most effective way to train the body clock according to sleep scientists. Rarely using an alarm over eight years trained the brain to wake consistently around 9 a.m. without buzzing. Morning routine includes sunlight through a skylight, walking outside with green tea, and getting at least 15 minutes of daylight. Daytime "circadian snacks" of sun exposure are used and evenings protect darkness by using night mode and warm-toned smart bulbs. Some sleep scientists approve and practice versions of waking with natural light.

Read at Business Insider