Waking Up “Without an Alarm”: Why Does It Make You Feel Refreshed?

We often feel that being suddenly woken up by an alarm is like losing something precious: a dream is cut short, or a comforting moment of rest is abruptly ended. But why do so many people, both young and old, feel more alert and energized when they wake up naturally compared to being jolted awake by an alarm?

The answer lies in understanding how the sleep cycle works, as explained by a Study Finds report.

The sleep cycle consists of four main stages, including the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, where most dreaming occurs. The cycle begins with light sleep, which gradually deepens through three stages, eventually reaching the REM stage about 90 minutes after falling asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night, with individuals going through 4 to 6 sleep cycles.
Researchers note that sleep can be categorized into two types: non-rapid eye movement (Non-REM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

During REM sleep, the brain is more active, while in Non-REM sleep, it slows down and becomes deeper.

When a person wakes up during the REM stage or at the end of a sleep cycle, they feel more refreshed because the body is in a relaxed state close to natural wakefulness.

A sleep specialist suggests that quality sleep requires enough time to go through all the stages, especially REM sleep. When a person is abruptly awakened by an alarm, they may disrupt a critical phase, making the wake-up process feel sudden and uncomfortable. Conversely, waking up naturally allows the body to complete all the necessary sleep phases, leading to a feeling of rest and alertness.

Experts agree that waking up without an alarm acts as a moment of balance restoration for an exhausted body and mind, enabling natural awareness to take over and start the day with energy and vitality.