On test: Lumie dawn-simulating alarm clock

What is it?

It's a bedside alarm clock/light that wakes you by simulating a sunrise by increasing the intensity of the light over a period of 30 minutes. It also has a 30-minute 'sunset' setting to help you fall asleep.

How does it work?

The sunrise is our regular natural alarm by which we set our body clock, aligning our daily rhythms with day and night. However, with modern life comes an erratic sleep pattern influenced by late nights and early starts, with bright bedside lighting and 'light pollution' from inside and outside the home, street lights for example. A 'dawn simulator', which wakes you with light, just like a sunrise, can help reset your body clock in time with your day.

Lumie, who were pioneers of the dawn simulator alarm clock, say that the brightening light is a natural cue for your body to reduce the production of sleep hormones (eg melatonin) and gradually increase the levels of those that help you get up and go (eg cortisol). Waking with light every day will help to keep your sleep/wake cycle on track and has been shown to boost your mood, productivity and energy levels for the rest of the day.

What are the best things about it?

I've never been good at getting up in the mornings - and that's much worse in winter when it's still dark outside at my normal rising time. Being jolted awake by loud noises is a bit of a shock to the system, but this is simply the best way to wake up! There is a back-up alarm built in - but I've only heard it once as I am fully awakened by the light.

My favourite aspect of using this light - apart from relaxed, gentle awakening - is the 30-minute sunset cycle when I go to bed. I almost always read in bed and this way I don't have to remember to switch the light off, or worry about it disturbing my partner, because we both know it will be dimming gradually to darkness within 30 minutes. In fact, I have never seen the light go off, as I've drifted off long before it goes dark!

What's the worst thing about it?
Forgetting to reset the alarm time at weekends, so I'm woken by 7am and have to turn it off and go back to sleep!

Anything else?

It's a neat, attractive design, and the sun-ray design that's projected on the wall by slots in the back of the shade is an extra touch of the sunrise. I also appreciate how you can set the brightness to your taste when you're using it as a bedside light.

If you suffer from SAD, a dawn simulator alarm is a useful addition to a lightbox. You'll find a range of these (as well as dawn simulators) at www.lumie.com.The newest model, the Arabica, is the cheapest on the market, priced at £99.99. It emits 10,000lux at a distance of around 20cm, the same intensity of light as a bright spring morning.

Lumie is launching a weekly online SAD clinic, Blue Monday, on Monday November 16 at 7.30pm with experts on hand to answer your questions and offer advice. The clinic will run every Monday evening through the winter. Click here to take part in Blue Monday

How much does it cost?