How a £10 Alarm Clock Helped Me Start My Day Right (Without Screens)

I was invited to share my ‘One Good Thing’ for Stylist Magazine—one small strategy that could help someone else start their day on the right foot. I went round and round, but I kept landing on the same thought. We should pay attention to the very first thing that we do when we wake up. It matters. And for many of us, the best change we can make to our morning? Start your day without looking at a screen. Even just five screen-free minutes in the morning can set the tone for your whole day.

Why Go Screen-Free in the Morning?

It’s a simple, free, and surprisingly powerful way to set the tone for each and every day. Putting our devices on flight mode - or better yet, keeping them out of the bedroom entirely - means we wake up without feeling overwhelmed by a flood of notifications, emails, messages, and news alerts.

That space gives our minds time to wake up naturally. To process our dreams and get ready for the day. It breaks the cycle of anxious thoughts that might get triggered by our devices. Without the overwhelming stimulation of our phones, we feel more in control of our thoughts.

The Unexpected Tool That Changed Everything

The biggest sticking point is the fact that we are so reliant on our devices. So I needed to find an analogue solution for my digital problem. The answer? A cheap and simple alarm clock. It cost me less than £10. And it has transformed my mornings. And my evenings too - no excuses for lying in bed and scrolling before I go to sleep.

My 'One Good Thing' recommendation

Benefits I’ve noticed

Since making the switch:

• I wake up calmer.

• I fall back to sleep more easily if I wake up too early.

• I spend less time scrolling before bed, or diving into things that can wait until the morning.

• I feel more present.

It's not a perfect solution, as our phones are such an integral part of our everyday life. So I've also invested in another cheap and simple device - an old-school notepad and pen. I keep these by my bed so that I don't need to grab my phone to make notes or add to my to-do list.

What might get in your way?

You might tell yourself:

• “But I need my phone for my alarm.” ➤ Buy a cheap clock.

• “I need to jot things down.” ➤ Use a notepad.

• “I don’t have five minutes.” ➤ Set your alarm five minutes earlier.

And if you're still not keen? Be curious about why. What fears lie beneath this resistance. Don't like the idea of sitting with your own thoughts? Scared of missing out on something on social media? Feel guilty if you're not plugged into the latest news? These thoughts are all worth exploring further.

Keen to explore more? In counselling we can take a deeper look at how you feel about yourself, and how you look after yourself. Click here to contact me, or click here to book a 30-minute introductory call.