# When do you use an alarm? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239 "2011-01-11T18:08:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/1 "2011-01-11T18:08:10Z")
That’s it. Please wait for the poll to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/2 "2011-01-11T18:16:33Z")
We set ours when we leave the house and when we go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/3 "2011-01-11T18:29:42Z")
I use one every weekday morning to wake up for work. On days off, I set a morning alarm if I need to up before 9-10am. I also set calendar reminders for appointments, etc. Some are alarms that ring on the computer, others are automated emails. And, last but not least, I set an alarm when I’m doing laundry to remind me to put the clothes in the dryer. I _love_ that the note app I use on my Droid has an alarm feature. I will sometimes set an alarm if I’m going to take a nap, to make sure I don’t sleep for too long, but since I got a dog that doesn’t seem to be necessary: she never lets me nap for more than an hour or so without waking me up to ask to go outside. 🙂 In short, I am a big fan of alarms and reminders! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/4 "2011-01-11T18:32:32Z")
Never. I have the uncanny ability to know what time it is and when to get up without relying on an alarm clock. I suppose I’ll set one if I have some groundbreakingly important appointment the next day, but I’ll wake up before the alarm anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/5 "2011-01-11T18:33:33Z")
On weekdays for work and on days off if I am doing something at at a set and fairly early time. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/6 "2011-01-11T18:34:06Z")
The alarm clock is set to wake me every morning, but I am invariably awake and up before it goes off. I also use an alarm on the timer in the kitchen, but I suppose that’s not what you meant. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/7 "2011-01-11T18:38:19Z")
I use an alarm almost every day, but, as a rule, I’m up a few minutes before the alarm is set to go off. But I can’t eliminate that crutch. I mean, WHAT IF that one day, I DON’T wake up on time? Joe ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/8 "2011-01-11T18:42:02Z")
“Every day, to wake up AND for appointments/daily activities” Have a wake-up alarm in the morning and have reminders set on my computer at work for scheduled tasks. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/9 "2011-01-11T18:47:55Z")
Other - every day to wake me up, occasionally for reminders. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/10 "2011-01-11T18:48:42Z")
Alarm clock: almost never (the biggest joy of retirement, IMO). House alarm: every time we leave the house. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/11 "2011-01-11T18:53:53Z")
I wake up at around 5 AM every day whether I need to or not, and pretty much without regard to what time I went to sleep. I also have flexible hours at work, and work from home a couple of days a week. All of this means that I never need an alarm to get me started in the morning. I do use the alarm feature on my cell phone if I have to do something for work in the middle of the night, which is a rare event. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/12 "2011-01-11T18:54:51Z")
I set mine every evening before a workday to ensure I don’t oversleep. But I get up 20 minutes before it goes off. I have not been woken up by my alarm in well over a year. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/13 "2011-01-11T19:07:09Z")
When my sleep schedule is normal I wake up on time without an alarm. I’m battling some disruptions in my sleep right now. If I’m still awake at 4:00am I will set a wake up alarm in the (often vain) hopes that I will fall soundly asleep before 6:00. I didn’t start setting a an alarm for tasks and appointments until I got my current phone. It makes it particularly easy and I find it quite helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/14 "2011-01-11T19:46:01Z")
Alarm clock: yes, every work day. I usually wake up 15-30 minutes before it goes off, though. Alarm for work calendar: constantly. It’s the only way I can keep all my meetings and appointments straight. Plus, if I hear a call where a CSR is supposed to call a customer back, and it’s a fairly recent call (same day), I’ll set an alarm for that afternoon to go back and see if the customer got a callback. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/15 "2011-01-11T20:05:39Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > Alarm clock: yes, every work day. I usually wake up 15-30 minutes before it goes off, though. > > Alarm for work calendar: constantly. It’s the only way I can keep all my meetings and appointments straight. Plus, if I hear a call where a CSR is supposed to call a customer back, and it’s a fairly recent call (same day), I’ll set an alarm for that afternoon to go back and see if the customer got a callback. This, except for the waking up before it goes off part 🙂 Outlook reminders are required to keep me where I’m supposed to be when I’m supposed to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/16 "2011-01-11T20:06:12Z")
You forgot: “When I’m grilling pork and have forgotten to shut the kitchen door”. But I don’t know that that counts as “using” an alarm, and it turned out to be a single-choice poll anyway. I had to go for “other”, because I use an alarm every weekday to wake up (and sometimes at weekends), and very occasionally to remind myself of an appointment. I also set reminders in Outlook to remind me to do stuff/go to meetings at work, but my computer has no sound so I don’t know if that counts as an “alarm”. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/17 "2011-01-11T22:26:58Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Other - every day to wake me up, occasionally for reminders. This is me as well, although I voted everyday just to wake up. If I’m really into something and watching the clock will take away from my enjoyment of it or I may forget to watch the clock I’ll set an alarm but it’s been months since I’ve used an alrm for anything besides waking up. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/18 "2011-01-11T22:34:40Z")
I only use the alarm to wake up when I have an insanely early flight. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/19 "2011-01-11T23:49:54Z")
I set my alarm every school night, though I’m almost always up before it goes off. If I didn’t set it, I’d lay awake worrying that I was going to over-sleep. 😉 But I see I use my microwave timer the way some of you use the alarm function on your cell phones. I don’t even _have_ a cell phone right now! (Mine died, need to get a new one). If I put something in the oven and need to check it in half an hour, I’ll set my microwave timer for 30 minutes. If I put clothes in the washer and don’t want to forget and leave them there, I’ll set my microwave timer for 60 minutes, etc. If there’s a household chore I’m _dreading_, I’ll tell myself “OK, I’ll work on it for 15 minutes, then I can stop” and set my microwave timer. (It’s amazing how much _less_ time most things take me than I think they’re going to!) So I guess if I used a cell phone for this function instead of my microwave, I’d have made a different choice. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239/20 "2011-01-11T23:58:23Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > “Every day, to wake up AND for appointments/daily activities” > > Have a wake-up alarm in the morning and have reminders set on my computer at work for scheduled tasks. [QUOTE=Ann Ominus] Alarm for work calendar: constantly. It’s the only way I can keep all my meetings and appointments straight. [/quote] May I ask how many reminders you typically have in a day? I’ve got so much stuff going on with my work and all that sometimes I’ll have over fifteen (15) reminders a day going off. I synch them to my phone from the computer the night before and–realistically–usually about half of those reminders are necessary to keep me on track with-- oh, sorry, it just went off. Gotta go… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-use-an-alarm/567239.md?page=2)