You can never underestimate the positive effects of a good night’s sleep. Plenty of studies have shown how it can contribute to mental and physical health, as well as overall well-being. But even reaching a calm, restful sleep state can be a mighty challenge, given our stressful daily lives. From specialized mattresses to white noise apps, plenty of sleep aids have been touted as the solution for those searching for sweet dreams. But how about an alarm clock? Specifically, the Loftie Smart Alarm Clock, which is a New York Times Wirecuttter pick and one of the best inventions of the year, according to TIME Magazine?
We know what you’re thinking — how revolutionary can an alarm clock be, and how does it help improve sleep? We’re here to answer that question with a deeper look at how this clock works, and why it should be a prime addition to your bedside table.
Loftie Smart Alarm Clock, $159.99
Let’s face it: You can find tons of meditation, white noise and sleep apps on your smartphone. But smartphone screens are known to mess with your sleep rhythms, especially if you’re up late and getting held up by the latest video or social media post. In contrast, the Loftie Smart Alarm Clock is all about creating a restful environment that encourages sleep rather than delays it.
It all starts with the clock’s smooth, all-black, curved design, which is meant to blend in with the night rather than stand out. It’s equipped with 100 free sound tracks, from guided meditations to white noise to nature sounds, that lull you into a state of calm. And you don’t even need to use an app to access them all; after an initial setup with the clock and the Loftie app, you can switch between sounds (or turn them off) with the press of a button. And if you or your kids like drifting off during the reading of a bedtime story, you’ll love the clock’s Magic Storymaker mode, which creates AI-generated stories on demand to read you into dreamland.
Let’s not forget that how you wake up is just as important as how well you sleep. The Loftie Smart Alarm Clock uses a two-phase alarm system that first gives you a gentle wake-up call using sounds you would naturally associate with early morning, such as bird sounds, ambient noises or temple bells, followed by a still-gentle but more insistent alarm after nine minutes. (Think of it as a built-in snooze function, but with pleasant sounds instead of annoying rings or beeps.)
We also like the clock’s night light, which gives off a soft, unobtrusive glow on its underside, as well as its Blackout mode, which dims everything on the clock and gives you a true lights-out sleeping experience. Finally, the clock serves as a Bluetooth speaker if you want to run relaxation apps from your phone.
It’s hard to think about alarm clocks without thinking about how annoying they are when they wake you up in the morning. When we say that we look forward to the Loftie Smart Alarm Clock putting us to sleep and rousing us from our slumbers, it’s about the highest praise we can give. Give yourself or a loved one the gift of good sleep with this clock!
