Morning Melodies
Life is better when you wake up to music
May 12, 2021
“I tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen / Pour myself a cup of ambition /
Yawn and stretch and try to come to life.” The opening lyrics from this iconic Dolly Parton song “9 to 5” accompany me as I myself tumble out of bed each morning.
For as long as I can remember, waking up has been difficult and dreaded. The alarm would go off at 6:30 a.m., and I would, half-awake, begin to get dressed and eat breakfast. Little did I know, I could be having a much better start to my mornings, if only a song had pulled me out of my slumber.
As we come up on almost a year of quarantine, we all need a little morning boost to get us out of bed. A simple way to start off your day right is to wake up to music. It is scientifically proven to be a better wake up call than the average beeping alarm.
An Australian research study released early in 2020 reveals that waking up to melodic songs, rather than to an alarm beep, helps to reduce sleep inertia, which experts define as “a transitional wake-sleep phenomenon characterized by low arousal and reduced cognition.” In simple terms, waking to music reduces the dreaded morning grogginess and jump starts brain activity. While waking up to a melody might raise your morning energy and promote productivity, a “monotonous “beep beep beep” alarm might raise anxiety and promote confusion,” writes Nancy Schimelpfening from Healthline.
As a non-morning person, a scientifically proven better wake up call is a game changer. I began setting musical alarms as a way of bringing some happiness to my dreaded early wake up call. The melodic start to my day has allowed me to have more productive mornings that start earlier.
Early wake up calls are extremely common among highly successful people, as found by Benjamin Spall, author of a book on their morning routines. Spall has interviewed over 300 accomplished people, and found, “the average wake-up time for everyone I’ve talked to is 6:27 a.m.” This may seem unfeasible to teens, but with a melodic alarm the early rising time is within reach and may even bring you joy on your road to success.
I truly recommend that if you want a more productive and energized morning, you let Dolly Parton, or your favorite artist, be the first voice you hear as you “yawn and stretch and try to come to life.”
Sierra Witte is a junior at Rio Americano High School.
GraceAnn Lesser • Jun 8, 2021 at 6:49 PM
Music definitely helps me get up in the morning, as well as to go about my day.
Taylor W • May 31, 2021 at 11:07 PM
I agree as well. I enjoy listening to music in the morning and it makes my days a lot better.
Nora • May 31, 2021 at 7:31 PM
I’ve noticed that waking up to music helps me a lot in the mornings too. It’s crazy what such a small thing can have such a big impact on your day.
Ajeeth Iyer • May 30, 2021 at 5:29 PM
This was a fantastic, thoughtful essay that incorporated strong evidence and personal anecdotes. I have tried waking up to music before, and it actually really helps. I definitely feel inspired to wake up early, as I now know that waking up is associated with highly-successful people.
Abby Armstrong • May 29, 2021 at 5:37 PM
I love this idea. I will set my alarm to a song, sounds like so much fun.
Aminah Davis-Macias • May 23, 2021 at 6:35 PM
I think it is interesting the topic you chose. Energy is important, and mood. If music being played when you wake up is said to have a great impact on your mind, mood, and energy so you can be more productive in the day it sounds like a great thing to take up. I liked how you used your own personal experience and quoted scientific evidence.
Mika Edwards • May 23, 2021 at 6:23 PM
Mornings are difficult for me, I’ll have to try this sometime! I think everyone could use the extra boost right now.
Natalia • May 22, 2021 at 10:33 PM
This was very interesting! I will definitely be trying this.
Alyssa Newberry • May 22, 2021 at 5:27 PM
I also created a music alarm for the mornings a few months ago, and I can say, it has made waking up SO much easier than it was with the boring old default alarm!
Ruth-Mary Shackelford • May 20, 2021 at 2:07 PM
That is a very interesting point! I never thought bout setting my alarm to a song, I just clicked on the first tone in my phone so I could wake up. I definitely want to try this and see how it goes!
Sumaya Albadani • May 20, 2021 at 1:58 PM
I didn’t realize that something as small as waking up to music could make my morning routine a lot less dreadful. I’m definitely going to try this!
Angie Stevens • May 20, 2021 at 11:49 AM
I agree that hearing uplifting music as one first wakes up can easily switch the dreads of waking up early into something more positive. Personally, music can easily uplift my moods throughout the day, and it is playing while I do most of my daily tasks. I think it’s important to implement music into the early morning wake ups as well!!