The sound of the alarm clock

     Everyone's familiar with alarm clocks, right? Alarm clocks are a great help in life; they remind us to get up on time and remember important days and things. But have you ever thought about how to choose the right alarm sound?

    In bustling cities, for us young working professionals with vibrant nightlife, alarm clocks are practically indispensable. We've become accustomed to relying on them to wake us up every day. If we didn't have an alarm clock, we simply couldn't believe we could get out of bed on time. What if we were late? That's equivalent to a day's pay for attendance—29 days of punctual attendance, ruined on the last day! That kind of frustration is infuriating!

    So, alarm clocks easily solve this problem! But when alarm clocks wake us up, they also bring other problems. In the morning or at noon, we're dreaming, but the alarm clock makes it impossible to sleep a little longer. The piercing sound can even suddenly wake us up, causing trembling, a racing heart, and irritability; turning it off is too much trouble, so what can we do?

    The main purpose of an alarm clock is simply to remind us to get up on time. We shouldn't be startled, annoyed, or resentful. Ideally, we should fall asleep peacefully at night and wake up calmly in the morning. So, choose a soft, soothing tune that you really love as your alarm! Just let it wake you slowly and gently, as long as you can hear it. When the alarm rings, it's like a lover whispering in your ear, gently waking you up—wouldn't you love that? But don't forget to ring it five minutes early while enjoying it!

    When I first started working, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get up in the morning, so I set a very jarring ringtone and turned the alarm very loud. Not only that, I also set my phone to vibrate and placed it on a hard surface. Every morning, my alarm would suddenly go off like an earthquake. As soon as it rang, I would be jolted awake and immediately jump up to turn it off. This made me very tense every day, with my heart racing. Over time, I became irritable and suffered from sleep deprivation.

    I tried many different alarm sounds, such as rooster crowing, insect chirping, ocean waves, flowing water, and wind, but none of them were satisfactory. Later, I found a song I liked, "Dear, Listen," and used it as my alarm. Now, I hear it every morning when it rings because the sound is so pleasant; it's like enjoying music. Even after it finishes ringing automatically, I feel like I haven't heard enough and want to hear more. So, when the alarm rings, I don't need to turn it off. I can just listen happily, continue sleeping in, and slowly get up when it's finished.

    Acoustic research has shown that while people are most attracted to color, sound has the deepest influence on them. Sound can sway a person's will and influence their emotions. Understanding the impact of sound on the mind and body is crucial for maintaining good health. Music is a sublimation of sound. When a person creates music, their emotions and consciousness correspond to the melody. Thus, even if the person performing the music no longer has the same emotions, the sound can still recreate those emotions, allowing the listener to feel the joy, sorrow, and happiness within. Each piece of music has its unique melody, therefore, each piece has a slightly different physiological and psychological impact.

    Harmless songs should have a regular rhythm, not be noisy; the sound should be gentle, not harsh; the melody should be light and airy, not stagnant. Furthermore, fast-paced dance music or marches with strong rhythms can cause tension and affect the digestive system. The ideal tempo for music is roughly equal to the human heart rate. Music that is too fast or too slow is detrimental to health. Too fast a tempo can cause tension, while too slow a tempo can create a sense of suspense.

    Generally, the most suitable alarm clock music should be predominantly mid-range. High (too high) and low (too low) tones represent the extremes of emotional fluctuation, so the changes in pitch should be gradual and natural, not abrupt, to align with the principles of health preservation. Ideally, the music should be instrumental—soothing, beautiful, pleasant, relaxing, and conducive to sleep. Most importantly, it should be music you enjoy. The alarm shouldn't be too loud, as that can be startling; avoid vibrating alarms, as the sound is harsh and unpleasant; and avoid sung music, as that can induce thinking and prevent complete relaxation.

    Of course, you may have better suggestions and choices; whatever you like is best! So, now, change it! Change the sound, change the mood!

    Editor's Note: Below are some piano pieces that I personally think are suitable as a wake-up alarm; you can refer to them!

    Autumn Whispers, Wedding in a Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Für Elise, My Dear, Listen,

    The Place of First Love, A Memorial of Love, Greeting Song, Homesick Song, Minuet, A Love Before Time,

    Anne's Wonderland, Lover's Scent, Rosemary Sea

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