Mac/iOS: Setting an alert on your iOS device or Mac computer can be done in a variety of ways. You can ask Siri, use your Clock app, set up a reminder, or make an alarm. Unfortunately, these all come with a few caveats that may leave you confused as to why your phone is buzzing at 3AM - or end up with you rushing out the door thanks to a missed reminder you thought your HomePod would share with you. Engineer Dr Drang took a look at how it all worked and found that, well, it was pretty confusing.

When you use your phone as your alarm clock, you might think that you want to wake up to your favourite song. You do not. The first couple of days you'll enjoy it, but then the effect will reverse itself. It won't be "I wake up to my favourite song", it will be "sometimes iTunes plays my alarm". Every time your old favourite song comes on, you'll feel antsy or anxious.

If you have trouble waking up in the morning, annoying alarms are a tried and true way to force yourself up and out of bed. YouTuber Normal Universe's method for dealing with this was to make an alarm clock that requires a shot from a Nerf gun to turn off.

There are few things dorkier than using the bell on your bicycle. Once you do that, it can only lead downhill into a world of helmet mirrors, handlebar tassels and high visibility ankle bands. But you should do it anyway. Using the bike bell makes life easier for you and everyone around you.

As handy as it is to use your phone as your alarm clock, you may want to buy a real alarm clock and keep your phone away from your bed, especially if you can't resist using it before sleeping. You'll be much better rested in the morning.

Web: Mobile-friendly webapp Sleeptime uses your wake up time to calculate when you should go to bed. The goal is for you to wake up at the right part of your sleep cycle so you're well-rested for the morning.

Video: If you ever feel the need to make your own salvaged part trip wire alarm, it turns out it's a pretty easy process. Over on YouTube, Node walks you through it.

iOS: iOS 10's packed with a ton of features, but one of the unsung heroes is the new Bedtime reminders. How-To Geek walks you through setting it up and getting the most out of it.

iOS: Regardless of whether or not your iPhone is muted, if you have an alarm set, it will make a sound. How-To Geek points out that a silent ringtone can solve this potential problem so you'll still get the vibration without the ringing.

I am very much not a morning person, and am always looking for ways to make the A.M. just a little more bearable. This adorable suggestion of setting a "cuddle alarm" from The Kitchn is almost too cute.

Android: Alarm Clock Xtreme was in the running for our top Android alarm app. Now, it's added a sweet new feature that allows you to track your sleep habits over time, on top of the usual alarm features.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the pro wrestler turned actor, released a motivational alarm clock app on iOS and Android yesterday. Do you smell what The Rock is clockin'?

Android: Any alarm can wake you up. Mimicker, a free alarm app for Android from the Microsoft Garage, can help make sure you stay awake.

Dear Lifehacker, I find it difficult to wake up in the morning and rely heavily on phone alarms. However, I find myself semi-consciously turning them off. I've been known to hit the snooze button without even realising it. Is there something (say an app or service) that can help me "train" myself to pay more attention to the alarms? Hell, I'd even consider something akin to GymPact which took money off me for not waking up!

If you're looking for a way to keep tabs on what's happening around you, this battery-powered, GPS-enabled motion detector alerts you of a breach via SMS text message.

Video: Alarm systems are complicated affairs. However, if you're just looking to catch a sandwich thief at work or a cat spilling over all you water bottles, then Make shows you how to build an alarm system with an Arduino and a USB camera.

If you're trying to come up with the perfect song for your wake-up alarm, Spotify's data experts, along with the help of a music psychologist, have a few suggestions.

Hi Lifehacker, Sometimes I wake up earlier than my morning alarm. This can be as little as five minutes but sometime as much as an hour. I don't feel like I get enough sleep on the whole but once I'm awake I can't help checking the clock. My question is: at what point is it no longer worth me trying to get back to sleep? Is there a point that I might as well just get out of bed?

We've all been late to something thanks to Daylight Saving Time, and the spring forward can also mess with your sleep. This year, prepare yourself now to make up for that lost hour.