How to Gently Wake Someone Up

To wake someone up softly, consider creating a peaceful environment. Start by gradually increasing the natural light in the room or using a gentle sunrise alarm. Calming sounds like nature or instrumental music can also help ease them out of slumber. A light touch on the shoulder or speaking quietly can signal it’s time to wake up. Another effective method is introducing a pleasant aroma, like fresh coffee or breakfast, stimulating their senses and encouraging them to wake naturally.

Below, we discuss in more detail ways to help wake both deep sleepers and light sleepers.

Dr. Jeff Rodgers, DMD, D-ABDSM, D-ASBA, a sleep expert, says, “When you wake up due to sunlight, your body will naturally be alert.” As the day passes and the light gets dimmer, you’ll naturally feel sleepy again. Gradually opening someone’s curtains in the morning while they’re sleeping or leaving them open overnight will help them wake up naturally. That’s why waking up to sunlight makes it easier to get out of bed.”

Smelling essential oils naturally found in plants is known as aromatherapy. Spraying scents on a pillow or around the bedroom, adding them to a diffuser or placing them in a bath can help wake someone up in the morning. Amy Galper, an aromatherapist and educator at the New York Institute of Aromatherapy, recommends that “energising rosemary, uplifting grapefruit, and clarifying pine needle oils are best for an early morning”.

Your sense of smell is strongly tied to your memory. Galper says:

If you diffuse the same scent day after day, you will learn and eventually associate that particular aroma with waking up or going to sleep.

Waking up feeling refreshed and ready for the day is down to whether or not you’ve had a refreshing night’s rest. Not sleeping enough, not sleeping deep enough, or sleep that is continually interrupted, often means that you’re less likely to wake up gently.

The key to ensuring a good night’s sleep is to keep your bedroom calm, cool, and relaxing. Avoid bright lights, either at night or early in the morning, and ensure that you leave a window open to avoid it getting too warm. Everyone is different regarding the light and sound level in their bedroom. Some of us prefer a pitch-black room, while others can’t sleep without the ticking of a clock. Try different sleeping environment combinations until you find the perfect one.

If you and your partner continue to struggle with sleeping, consider changing your mattress. Over time, your mattress will lose support in certain areas, so investing in a new one may be the answer. Waking up gently can be difficult. But ensuring you get a good night’s sleep and keeping your morning routine as calm as possible could guarantee a nicely refreshed start to the day.

As mentioned, approaches including soothing sounds, natural lighting, and aromatherapy may gradually help someone wake up from a snooze. Others may need a little more help to get out of bed and start their day. Therefore, it’s important to test a few different methods to find the best way to wake someone up in the morning.