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Morning Routine - Alarm Clock?
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This app was mentioned in 71 comments, with an average of 3.27 upvotes
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None of this consistently worked for me, until I found this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2&hl=en
Now I have to scan 2 QR codes around my apartment in 10 minute intervals to shut my alarm up. Never fails!
> I find myself tapping an album and waiting like 3 seconds before it jankily opens in an animation.
The animation itself probably performed smoothly. The delay isn't a consequence of an intensive animation, that is just a delay for I/O, be it network or disk.
Try Morning Routine a clock app with many over-the-top animations which are not hard to handle for most phones.
Yup, as someone who had the exact same problem as OP and now usually gets up without snoozing at all, how I felt about my day made all the difference. If you're depressed and not looking forward to your day, of course laying unconscious in a cozy bed is going to be more appealing than getting up. But if you wake up, immediately start thinking about everything you're looking forward to, and have a morning routine you look forward to it's going to be relatively easy.
Also some other recommendations that have helped me:
- The Morning Routine Alarm is fantastic. You can set it to make you scan a specific bar code in another room (for me, my bathroom) so you have to get up to turn it off. Of course you can still go back to sleep, which I used to do anyways...
- Having a glass of water next to your bed and chugging it right away is very useful, even if by itself it probably won't fix everything.
- Set your intentions the night before. Imaging with as much detail as possible how you're going to get up right away the next day and start on your routine. A lot of the time I find my last thoughts at night have a huge affect on how my next day starts.
- Purposefully try to think of all the things you're grateful for and looking forward to that day RIGHT once you wake up. Doesn't have to be anything big. Seeing friends, going for a walk, drinking coffee etc.
- Find a routine you like. Meditation, some coffee and a good breakfast, a good walk or some exercise, showering/washing up, playing with a pet, make your bed and clean up a bit, put on a cozy robe right out of bed and get well dressed early on to feel put together etc. I've found however you begin your day tends to carry on through the rest of the day.
My personal favorite is Morning Routine. Not only does it have the whole puzzle/math thing, but it can also demand that you scan a certain barcode to stop the alarm, and you can set it up to be as annoying as you require it to be.
I used to have it set to require me to scan the barcode of my toothpaste, wait fifteen minutes after the first alarm was disabled, then ask for a scan of the milk carton and, finally, the code beneath my mouse.
Also, please note that your liberal use of the word "literally" is cringe-inducing.
Hope it helps!
I doubted that it was only for Apple products and found several apps that do the same thing since it wouldn't be hard to replicate on Android.
There's also some other clock apps that can use a Tasker plugin, so you can create Tasks to complete to turn off your clock.
Here's one that sort of fits your description. It's coincidentally also called Morning Routine.
You can set the usual alarms on it that can be disabled in different ways (barcode,button,etc.) and you can also chain together a series of tasks with alarms for each one. Seems like the perfect fit for you, no?
P.S. I'm not affiliated with the app, I just like how it looks and functions. :)
Two apps to recommend here:
Morning Routine (free, for Android)
Kiwake (2 or 3 bucks, iphone)
Both alarm clocks that require you to walk across the house and scan a barcode to deactivate the alarm. Morning Routine allows you to set multiple alarms around the house (say, your peanut butter, your toothpaste tube, etc) to guide you through the getting-ready process. Kiwake has you first scan a barcode, then play a little brain game to wake you up a little more, then finally look at your list of daily goals.
I'd been a chronic unstoppable sleep-in force until I started using these apps and my mornings are much better for it.
They're also both really well-designed, which is a nice little bonus.
Morning Routine is another good one. I have it set to go off, let me snooze it for 1 minute so I can sit up, drink some water, and collect myself before it goes off again and I have to scan something in my bathroom.
The app that got me out of bed was one where you have to scan a QR code to turn it off. Put the code in your bathroom or somewhere not close to the bed.
- Compose email
- Open draft on phone ready to go
- Set alarm for 8am on Morning Routine to open Gmail
- Once alarm goes off and Gmail is open, press send.
- Go back to sleep
Morning Routine lets you set it to turn off when you scan a specific UPC code. It lets you do multiple stages too if you want. I do one swipe to turn it off initially near my bed, a 1 minute break to drink water/wake up a bit/start moving around, then I gotta get to my bathroom to scan some vaseline to turn it off (which I've chosen because I've had it for probably a decade).
I have slept through everything. The only alarm I have found so far that works is Morning Routine. It will go off until I go into my bathroom and scan a bar code on the mirror. It will also slowly turn up the volume over the course of minutes or hours, which works really well for me.
I think you can accomplish this with Morning Routine.
The main shtick of the app is to give yourself a task that the phone can only verify you've completed if you actually got up (e.g. scan the barcode on your toothpaste), but you can set a geofencing condition so that it won't be a hassle to disable if you leave early or aren't at home, etc.
Well, I'm not saying that everything should look exactly the same, but I think you would agree that one of the purposes of MD is to make a smooth transition between the UX on different devices and web/apps. And the new design of YouTube (if it will be made official or not) is much more KitKat or earlier than Lollipop or M. I'm not an expert in design or UX, but as a user I see that quite clearly.
BTW, as you said, guidelines are not forcing anybody. E.g. I adore how morning routine have adopted the MD ideas. But that's different developers, whereas Google can't be consistent even with their own apps. And I am convinced they should.
I strongly recommend Morning Routine if you use Android. The gimmick is scanning bar codes (QR codes work too IIRC) to turn off the alarm. My sequence is:
- Caffeine (my energy drink)
- 10 minute pause (I snooze to let the caffeine do its thing)
- Bed (an extension cord by my bed)
- 1 minute pause
- Toothpaste
- 5 minute pause (more than enough most days, but sometimes I'm just slow)
- Kitchen (some aluminium foil that's always out)
- 5 minute pause (enough for me to inhale some small snack if I want, and get dressed)
- Mailbox (I keep a junk mail envelope with a bar code in the mailbox)
Yes I really do have to be out the door to be 100% sure I won't "jump into bed for just 1 minute".
Heads up - the barcode scanner is one of the worst I've seen and gives you no way to verify or see the code scanned. To counter this, attempting an incorrect code 6 times it a way to bypass a code scan. Just re-scan any codes that got messed up and after a day or two you'll be set.
Also it didn't work with my first Android (from 2010) - it's kinda bloated for my taste, but probably fine for 99% of people.
I use Morning Routine as an alarm clock. It only shuts up when I go to the bathroom and scan a code right next to my shower. You can even program it to a sequence of scans, e.g. another alarm would go off after your shower until you scan a code on your sports bag or whatever, to remind you to pack your sports bag on certain days.
The visual design is a little over the top but it works very reliably.
App name or story is fake. Also there is lots that sound the same: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2&hl=en
Also OP should read this:
Review from Athar Muzaffar
Disappointed Used it twice and when the alarm work me up the scanner didn't work so had to Un install the app so the alarm stopped giving it another go see how it goes
My alarm app... Morning Routine Link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2&hl=en This app is beautiful. Seriously... The animations are fluid and actually react to where you touch accodingly.
ITT: gente comentando "yo me despierto solo" en vez de darle tips reales a OP.
Yo uso esta app que se llama <strong>Morning Routine</strong>, seguro hay otras que hacen lo mismo, el chiste es que la alarma no se apaga con un botón, sino que tienes que ir a escanear un código de barras (puede ser uno cualquiera o uno predefinido). Puedes sacudirlo y se le baja el volumen tantito, pero no se apaga; en un ratito se vuelve a subir.
Yo lo tengo configurado para el código de barras del enjuague bucal que tengo en el baño... entonces tengo que pararme, ir al baño, y prender la luz para que se pueda escanear. Ya una vez ahí pues normalmente ya me quedo a hacer del baño en lo que me espabilo.
Le puedes poner también que una vez que apagues la alarma, se abra alguna otra app. Puede ser alguna de noticias o podcasts o youtube o algo que capture tu atención para que ya no te vuelvas a dormir.
I use Morning Routine
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2
Which also lets you configure barcode scan, but you can also set up a whole sequence so that x minutes later it rings again and you have to scan another code.
In my case, having to go to the bathroom and turn the lights on is enough.
I agree with the others, maybe your problem is not the app you use, but rather your sleep habits. Give it an honest thought. Try going to sleep one hour earlier.
The time is always on the status bar. Not sure why you'd need to check an app for that. World clock displays the time if you really need it.
I use morning routine for my alarm clock. It's the best alarm app out there.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2
There was this app that only turns off the alarm if you scan a QR code. Works great if you put it in the bathroom! Morning Routine.
Ok, here is what i do:
I have a MiBand, it's a fitness tracker, but one of it's feature is alarm clock. If will vibrate on your wrist, and one of the way to turn it off, is that you have to get out of the bed, and walk around, otherwise the snooze will activate in 5min.
At the same time, i have really nice alarm sound with, this app: Morning Routine. The only way i'm able to turn off the alarm, to read a barcode, which is in my kitchen.
So:
it's 6:45, near to each other Phone+Miband goes off, i have to wake up, otherwise they not gonna leave me alone. I have to go to the kitchen to read the barcode, and that walking will turn off the Miband's alarm.
When i'm done, i drink a good glass of water, take a piss, brush my teeth! and most of the time i go back to the bed, and start reading something.
When i'm back in the bed, i'm fully awake, i never fell back to sleep, and this process works for me really well.
I do exactly that minus traffic alerts (my route is very predictable). Mine also turns on my lights though too. I use Morning Routine which triggers a Tasker task.
If you're interested I can share more details.
I've been trying out Morning Routine. I've set it to first give me a 10 minute snooze and then on the second alarm I have to scan a barcode in the kitchen to turn it off.
...kinda works, somtimes I just go back to bed after scanning. Other times I just lay there listening to the alarm, not caring.
Yup, plus there are some great phone alarm apps (like Morning Routine for Android... the only alarm that I have ever really had success with).
Hey, this might not fit your criteria but I believe it's still definitely worth checking out.
Morning Routine is an absolutely gorgeous material design alarm clock. It has smooth animations and you can program it to do things such as scanning a QR code to stop an alarm and setting what app to open when you turn off the alarm. Never seen such a pretty app before.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2&hl=en
Easy. Put it out of reach so you have to stand up. Another tip: Use the app Morning Routine. You can set it that your alarm only deactivates if you scan a certain bar code (like your shampoo bottle).
Looks like there have been some good suggestions for alarms with Tasker integration. I wanted to also suggest Morning Routine. Most of the tasker-aware alarm apps I've seen are ugly and cumbersome, but Morning Routine is really gorgeous. I don't believe you can trigger anything at the start of the alarm, but when you dismiss the alarm you can trigger different tasks. I use it to kick off my own morning tasks which turn on my lights (Insteon lights), read me the weather, etc.
I'm pretty sure you and I are the same person. I can painfully relate to every detail you've described, including all the internal dialog, job history, and even calling in to a conference call while commuting to work.
I've been trying to get this under control for a few weeks and feel like I'm finally making some progress. I'll share my strategy with you (I'm assuming you have a smartphone).
I downloaded an alarm clock app called Morning Routine. This alarm clock requires that you scan a QR/bar code to shut it off. I previously used Sleep as Android for this, but Morning Routine takes this feature to the next level. You can set it up so you have to scan multiple QR codes at set time intervals, or scan just one if you prefer. You can also set it up to launch an app at certain stages.
Here's what my setup looks like:
7:00 Alarm goes off -> Open blinds to reveal QR code taped to window frame -> Scan code, alarm turns off
7:00 (0 minute delay) Alarm goes off again -> Scan code on medication bottle -> Take medication -> Lay back in bed to wake up (snooze)
7:10 (10 minute delay) Alarm goes off -> Next QR code is downstairs next to coffee maker, conveniently programmed the night before to brew coffee at 7:08 -> Scan code and enjoy Fresh. Hot. Coffee.
- During this time I empty my bladder, make and eat some oatmeal or toast, and browse Reddit on my phone. I like to take my time and relax, as it makes for a waayyyy less stressful start to the day.
7:45 (35 minute delay) Alarm goes off -> Next QR code is back upstairs in the bathroom medicine cabinet -> Scanning the code opens my music app -> proceed to brush teeth, shower, get dressed, etc. while listening to an invigorating playlist.
Usually by this time I have enough momentum to easily leave the house by 8:00ish and get to work at 8:30ish
As you can see I have 4 codes to scan which force me to move from the bedroom to the kitchen to the bathroom at set times without having to think about it. With enough repetitions you start to develop a strong behavior chain, which is essentially an ingrained routine. When possible, I've tried to put the QR code directly on the object that I'm supposed to be using, making it practically impossible to skip a step or get side tracked. You could even put a QR code on your vehicle (or bus stop sign) to insure that you leave home by a certain time, effectively "anchoring" your behavior chain.
I'm trying to keep my morning routine as minimal as possible. I try to do this by packing lunch, laying out clothes, and showering the night before. I struggle with this (just like you, OP!) as I am usually exhausted when I get home. That's a whole other chain of behaviors that I'm trying to establish, starting right when I get home.
Over the course of 2-3 weeks I've experimented with different steps and tweaked the timing. I found that opening the blinds to let the sunlight in and having coffee ready to drink every morning has made the biggest impact. I've also set a bedtime routine QR code for 9:00 pm, which has helped a lot too.
Morning Routine has been an extremely useful tool in helping me get my life in control. I've never been able to get up this easily before. I almost feel like I'm cheating!
god I sound like an advertisement. I promise I'm not affiliate with this app!
It takes a bit of work to set up (generating/printing QR codes, programming the alarm) but it's well worth the effort. Once my mornings are more solidified I plan on using the app to help me establish additional habits that will make life less stressful and more enjoyable, such as meditation (Headspace) and exercise.
Let me know if you have any questions about this method! It's been working great for me and I'm super excited to share it!
It's called Morning Routine (Play Store Link) It doesn't appear to be on the App Store, sorry if you have an iPhone.
One piece of advice I haven't seen here yet: break this habit before you leave home. I was in the same boat for a long time, and it cost me a lot. I lost side jobs all through university because I couldn't get moving before I was completely awake, just like you. Stop depending on your parents as soon as you can. They mean well, but by helping you, they're fucking up your ability to be independent.
It took me years to figure out how to get up well (seriously, I'm now 32) but this is how I finally did it:
Note: This is not a routine to stop being tired in the morning. It's unrealistic to expect to feel awesome when you wake up. This is a routine to get used to new habits despite feeling tired.
Get an alarm app that has no snooze and forces you to get up and walk across the house. Kiwake for iphone or Morning Routine for android are great.
Choose a time that's 7-8 hours from the earliest bedtime you can imagine. Early enough that you'll feel like the walking dead. This is important. You want to feel like total shit for this step.
If possible, find a non-negotiable quiet routine where you don't have to talk to anyone but you're accomplishing something. You can't just wake up and go on reddit, it has to be something you'll feel bad for skipping. I get up, make coffee, and look at some photoshop tutorials on Lynda.com, but maybe you play around on duolingo or sketch or just read the newspaper. Something quiet and productive that you can praise yourself for. Not homework unless you're excited about it.
Stick to this routine for minimum 21 days. Be insanely strict. Wake up feeling like shit every day for a week, go to bed earlier and earlier out of sheer exhaustion. Exercise to tire yourself out.
After a week or two, you won't feel awful. You'll feel tired, but feeling tired won't be terrible. You're getting used to moving on with your routine despite your feelings. This is important. You're not necessarily ever going to stop feeling tired in the morning, but you're learning to adjust your expectations around what you can accomplish while tired. You're teaching yourself that tired isn't an excuse.
Another option - Morning Routine https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2
You've already gotten some great advice here! I have a few more things that have helped me immensely (basically taking me from someone who had huge issues falling asleep and getting up into someone who falls asleep almost right away and can generally get up right away [as long as I actually want to]):
1) Someone else already mentioned melatonin. For me it's helped immensely. I take 1mg half an hour before going to sleep. I have noticed absolutely NO negative effects from this, and it makes it incredibly easy for me to fall asleep. Especially if I look at screens late at night, which used to keep me up for hours.
2) Time your sleep cycles. For me the generic rule of 1.5 hour increments plus a bit of time to fall asleep (15-30 minutes) seems to work well, so I usually shoot for ~7 hours 45 minutes of sleep.
3) I use the Morning Routine app for my alarm. I have it set to go off, give me a minute to drink some water/get myself psyched up for the day, and then it turns on again to make me go to my bathroom to scan something so I can proceed to get ready (wash my face, brush my teeth, use the bathroom etc.).
4) This is the most recent change and it's really been by FAR the biggest help for getting up in the morning: I set my intentions for the next morning the night before. RIGHT before I lay down and close my eyes, I spend a few minutes thinking about (and visualizing) how I'm going to immediately get up the next day, throw the covers off, and start my routine. I also think how great it'll feel to get up right away, all the things I'm looking forward to that day, all the things I'll be able to accomplish etc. When your desire to get out of bed in the morning is lower than your desire to stay cozy in bed and avoid confronting your day (which can be a serious problem when you're depressed, I would know), it shouldn't really be a surprise that you end up going back to sleep again.
Other than that I would just do things to improve your life in general. It sounds like you already eat well and exercise, which is a good start. I also think meditating, socializing, having a creative outlet (I play guitar), spending a lot of time outdoors and in nature, keeping a clean living area, and having an enjoyable job that makes you feel like you are contributing to society are important too. Of course there are about a million other things you can do, too, but it's tough to give any specific advice when I don't know you.
On my phone, stand out apps the use material design well or function reliably are:
Morning Routine
Edit: Now that I'm not on mobile:
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2
Morning Routine I used this long ago. At that time, the transitions were quite delightful.
There is an app that does just that, it is called "Morning Routine".
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2
"Agens AS"
Here's the android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2&hl=en
Morning Routine always worked with my 5/5x.
Have you checked out Morning Routine?
I'm not sure if you're still looking, but Morning Routine does exactly this, I believe.
This is not exactly the app you're describing but it's pretty close: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.havchr.mr2&hl=fr
On Android, try the Morning Routine app. It changed my life.
I would assume this Morning Routine has been done mostly in OpenGL.
There's also morning routine, it has some real slick animations.