Phones call time on alarm clocks

18 May 2008 11:16am

Mobile phones have replaced the traditional alarm clock in the British bedroom, a survey has found.

More than a third (36%) of respondents said they relied on their phone to wake them up in the morning, with 71% claiming alarm clocks were now obsolete.

Other gadgets have also moved in to bedrooms and taken the place of bedside clocks, budget hotel chain Travelodge found.

Popular methods of waking the nation's sleepers included setting the body clock to wake up naturally (17%); relying on their partner to wake up (7%); and listening to favourite tunes on the Ipod (1%). A total of 3,000 people were asked what method of wake-up call they used.

Leigh McCarron, Travelodge sleep director, said: "We used to get lots of requests for alarm clocks and wake-up calls but now customers seem content with using their mobile phones.

"Our business customers are always travelling light so why bring yet another gadget to add to the phone, laptop and ipod?"

Sleep expert Chris Idzikowski, from Edinburgh Sleep Centre, added: "Alarm clocks have been shown to cause heart rhythm irregularities which might cause a heart attack.

"The alarm clock's strident ringing tone can be a shock to the body and mind.

"My recommendation is to wake up naturally as the awakening is part of a natural sleep-wake cycle and it can help you feel less groggy.

"Sleep tends to run on a 90 minute cycle - try to sleep in multiples of 90 minutes."

© The Press Association