Fun and Amusing Ways to Help Someone Wake Up in the Morning

Using Alarm Clocks in Creative Ways

One of the classic tricks for waking someone up is to set multiple alarm clocks to go off in sequence. This barrage of alarms can confuse someone and make it nearly impossible to stay asleep. You can line up clocks on a bedside table or hide alarms around the room so the person has to actually get up to turn them off. Just be careful not to set too many alarms if the person needs to wake up at a certain time for work or other obligations. A few creative alarms should do the trick to rouse them from their slumber.

Alarm Clock Pranks

If you want to get really creative, try rigging up contraptions that go off when the alarm sounds. Attach bells or noisemakers that will create a ruckus. Just don't make it so noisy that you wake the whole household! You can also hide the clock under pillows or mattresses so the vibrations transfer but the person can't find where the sound is coming from right away.

Scavenger Hunt Alarms

For a fun twist, set alarms or timers in different rooms of the house so the person has to actually get up and hunt around to turn them off. Make sure they are loud enough to hear from the bedroom. To add incentive, attach a small treat or prize to each clock. By the time the person deactivates all of them, they should be wide awake!

Physical Pranks and Surprises

Sometimes nothing can jolt someone awake as effectively as good old-fashioned physical sensations. These should only be done with the consent of the other person - surprises work best on people who enjoy and appreciate them.

Shake the Bed

Simply shaking, rocking, or bouncing the bed or furniture can stir someone from sleep. Obviously be gentle and make sure not to startle them too violently. Try pushing rhythmically on the mattress or frame or gently shaking their shoulder. The sensation should be enough to rouse them without making them upset.

Tickling Toes

Light touches like tickling feet or toes can have someone awake and giggling. This tends to work best on people who are only lightly sleeping to begin with. Try gently running fingers along the bottom of their feet or between their toes. Just be prepared to get kicked or socked in the process!

Cold Sensations

Applying something cold against someone's warm skin first thing in the morning will quickly get their attention. Ice cubes on the back of the neck or feet, very cold fingertips pressed against their arm or side, or a cold washcloth are often effective. The key is making it surprising but not outright unpleasant or uncomfortable.

A Splash of Water

As long as the person doesn't mind and it doesn't damage phones or electronics, flicking a little bit of water on their face can serve as an abrupt wake-up call. Again, moderation is important here - just a splash, not a whole glass. And know your audience - some folks do not appreciate an impromptu cold splash!

Making Annoying Noises

Sometimes sound itself can be the best tactic for puncturing the veil of sleep. Be creative and avoid anything painful of course. Consider how light of a sleeper the person is too - heavy sleepers may need louder noises to wake.

Buzzers and Horns

Handheld noisemakers like colorful horns, kazoos or buzzers can supply sudden silly sounds to awaken someone. For safety, give any blasts a few feet back from their head. Multi-sound makers that combine noises work well too. The barrage of sound is hard for many people to remain sleeping through.

Make Some Music

Bringing upbeat tunes into the room, especially with flashing fun lights, can lift someone gently out of their dreams. Portable speakers make this easy. Create fun playlists tailored to their musical tastes - just keep the volume reasonable. The element of surprise when the music kicks on can help stir them awake.

Sing or Yell

Your own voice can work wonders too for rising someone. Singing loudly and ridiculously tends to prompt laughter and smiles in the waking person. Or get close and whisper loudly into their ear. For heavy sleepers, shouting names or short silly phrases with enthusiasm and silliness helps shake them into consciousness.

Making Breakfast Together

Food-related tactics appeal to multiple senses at once. Teaming up to prepare breakfast can serve as both method and reward for getting a sleepyhead on their feet.

Cooking Up Aroma

Simply the smell of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, baking cakes, or bread in the morning can stir someone before they even get out of bed. Open the door so tempting scents can waft in from the kitchen. It's a pleasant sensory nudge to join the land of the living.

Breakfast in Bed

If appealing smells don't do the trick alone, bringing items like warm rolls, coffee, or orange juice into the room offers double temptation. Set up a little breakfast tray by the bed or offer tasty morsels from your hand to awaken their appetite and their consciousness at the same time.

Create Together

Making a meal collectively first thing really brings the focus on re-engaging. Chat while chopping fruit,sing while scrambling eggs and sway together making pancakes or waffles. Not only does it firmly pull someone into wakefulness, it bonds you to start the day on an enjoyable note.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.