My Alarm Clock Hates Me — How Much of It Is Reality?

 

 

My alarm clock hates me,
I'm sure that it's true,
It waits till I'm dreaming
Then yells, "TIME FOR YOU!"

I press it once, twice,
Maybe seven times more,
But it keeps coming back
Like it's done this before.

I sit up too fast,
Now the room starts to spin,
My body's awake,
But my brain's not checked in.

I walk into walls,
I forget how to dress,
Is this my shirt backwards?
Yes. Yes, it is.

I argue with toothpaste,
I lose my own shoe,
I pour juice in my cereal
And milk in it too.

The mirror looks shocked,
Like, "Wow... is that you?"
I nod very slowly,
Like, "Honestly? Same."

So if I look grumpy
Before half past nine,
Blame that loud little box—
This morning was NOT
My design.

Every morning, millions of people begin their day with an argument. No, it is not an argument with a family member, a colleague, or a neighbour. It is an argument with a small device sitting beside the bed — the alarm clock!

The poem My Alarm Clock Hates Me, by an unknown author, brings out this everyday struggle in a humorous way. The alarm rings just when we are enjoying a beautiful dream. We press snooze, turn to the other side, and promise ourselves that we will get up in another five minutes. Before we realise it, the alarm rings again. The cycle continues until we finally decide that enough is enough!

But is this merely a funny poem, or does it reflect the reality of our mornings?

1. When the alarm rings, but the brain refuses to cooperate

Have you ever woken up, switched off the alarm, and gone back to sleep without even remembering doing so? Have you ever opened your eyes but felt that your mind was still somewhere between a dream and reality?

There is actually a scientific explanation for this. It is called sleep inertia — the temporary grogginess, confusion and sluggishness experienced after waking up. Our brains do not always switch instantly from sleep mode to full alertness. We may take some time to think clearly, remember things and get moving. This feeling can last from several minutes to an hour or longer, particularly when we have not slept enough.

So, when the poet says, "My body's awake, but my brain's not checked in," it is funny because it is so familiar!

2. The snooze button: our best friend or worst enemy?

The snooze button offers a tempting bargain. Just five more minutes of sleep! But those five minutes often lead to another five, and then another.

Repeatedly postponing the alarm can make us rush through our morning routine. However, the science is more nuanced than the poem suggests: research on habitual snoozing has found mixed effects, and a short snooze is not necessarily harmful for everyone. The more important questions are whether we are getting adequate sleep and whether we can wake up in time without feeling exhausted.

 

A practical solution: Instead of setting an alarm much earlier than necessary and repeatedly snoozing it, try setting a realistic wake-up time. Keep the alarm far enough from the bed that you must get up to switch it off, if that helps you. Most importantly, go to bed early enough to allow adequate rest.

3. Why do we feel like strangers to ourselves in the morning?

The poem describes walking into walls, wearing a shirt backwards, losing a shoe and pouring juice into cereal. The exaggeration makes us laugh, but it also highlights how difficult ordinary tasks can feel when we are sleepy.

When we are not fully alert, our attention, reaction time, coordination and decision-making may be temporarily impaired. This is one reason not to rush straight into demanding activities immediately after waking.

In practical terms, we can make our mornings easier by keeping our clothes ready the previous night, placing essential items in their usual locations, preparing the breakfast ingredients in advance and allowing ourselves a little extra time.

These small arrangements reduce morning confusion. We do not have to make every decision when our brains are still warming up!

4. From a grumpy morning to a good day

The final lines of the poem blame the alarm clock for a grumpy morning. But the alarm clock is only the messenger. Our sleep habits, daily schedule and quality of rest may have more to do with how we feel when we wake up.

Here are a few simple habits that can make a difference:

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day.
• Get enough sleep. Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep a night, although individual needs vary.
• Let the light in. Open the curtains and allow natural daylight into the room after waking.
• Get up gradually. Sit up, take a moment to orient yourself and stand slowly rather than jumping out of bed.
• Give yourself breathing space. Avoid scheduling every morning task so tightly that a small delay creates stress.
• Notice persistent tiredness. If you regularly struggle to wake up despite getting sufficient sleep, or remain excessively sleepy during the day, discuss it with a healthcare professional.

5. Is the alarm clock really our enemy?

Perhaps not! An alarm clock is simply a tool that reminds us when to wake up. The real conflict is often between the body's need for rest and the day's demands.

For students, it may mean getting ready for school or college. For working professionals, it may mean reaching the office on time. For homemakers, it may mean preparing breakfast, packing lunch boxes and attending to family responsibilities. For older adults, a comfortable, unhurried start may be particularly valuable.

Our mornings differ, but the need for adequate rest is universal.

I particularly like the humour in this poem because it does not lecture us about discipline or productivity. Instead, it makes us smile at our own little weaknesses. Sometimes, laughing at ourselves is a gentle reminder that we can improve our habits without being too hard on ourselves.

The poem may exaggerate the morning struggle, but its central experience is real. Sleep inertia, insufficient sleep and rushed routines can make waking up difficult. A few practical changes can help us move from a reluctant awakening to a more pleasant start.

Tomorrow morning, when the alarm rings, resist the temptation to declare war on it. Get up gently, let the daylight in, drink some water and give yourself time to become fully awake.

And if you still feel like blaming someone for your grumpy morning, remember the poet's amusing excuse: This morning was NOT my design!

Perhaps the better question is not whether our alarm clock hates us, but whether we are giving ourselves the rest we need.

What about you? Are you an early riser who wakes up before the alarm, someone who jumps out of bed at the first ring, or a habitual snooze-button presser? Share your morning experiences in the comments!

Naidu Hall Shopping Experience: Two Sarees and One Oversized Bag

 

When Shopping for Sarees Feels Like Sending Them to the Laundry!

Shopping for sarees is usually a pleasure. We look forward to choosing colours, checking the fabric, examining the design, and bringing home something new. But sometimes, a shopping experience leaves us disappointed rather than happy.

On Friday, October 23, 2026, I went shopping at Naidu Hall , Shanthi colony, Anna Nagar Chennai and bought two sarees: a cotton saree costing ₹1,005 and a synthetic saree costing ₹609.

Before making the purchase, I asked a salesgirl nearby to open the sarees fully and show them to me. I wanted to ensure that there was no damage and that the sarees were of the proper length. She did as I requested, and I appreciate that. However, when it came to folding them again, she did not seem to know how to follow the original folds of a new saree.

Instead, she folded them like sarees that had already been washed, dried and used. She rolled them up, accompanied us to the billing counter, and left.

After paying the bill by debit card, we were given a plastic carry bag. I was told that it was biodegradable, but I will leave that discussion for another day.

The real problem was the size of the bag!

It was so large that it could easily have accommodated ten sarees, whereas I had purchased only two. Once the sarees were placed inside, they collapsed into one another and became a rolled-up bundle. They looked more like clothes ready to be sent to the laundry than newly purchased sarees!

I asked the staff for a paper bag or, at the very least, a smaller bag suitable for carrying just two sarees. My request was declined. Finally, I returned the oversized plastic bag and carried my purchases home in the cloth bag I had brought with me.

I felt disappointed. A shopping experience should leave customers happy with their purchases, not wondering why a simple request for suitable packaging could not be accommodated.

What can shops learn from this experience?

I have had better experiences at shops such as Nalli and Ramraj. They provide cloth bags in different sizes according to the purchase. Even when I buy just two or three blouse pieces at Nalli, I receive a small bag that suits the purchase. When I buy a saree, the bag is appropriately sized for it.

Why can't other shops follow similar practices?

There are two simple things that retailers can improve:

• Train the staff properly. Opening a saree for inspection is important, but folding it neatly along its original creases is equally important. Customers should receive their purchases in a presentable condition.
• Provide appropriate packaging. A bag should suit the size and quantity of the items purchased. An oversized bag is inconvenient, wastes space and may cause delicate purchases to become crumpled.

Of course, customers can carry their own bags, and I was glad I had mine. But that does not mean a store should overlook the basics of good customer service.

A shop's responsibility does not end when the bill is generated and payment is received. The way a purchase is packed and handed over also contributes to the shopping experience.

Dear retailers, customers remember not only what they buy but also how they are treated. A neatly folded saree, a suitably sized bag and a well-trained sales assistant may seem like small things, but together they make a big difference.

I went to Naidu Hall to buy two sarees and came home with them. But the experience left me with a question: Are shops paying enough attention to the little things that make customers feel valued?

Sometimes, it is these little things that determine whether we want to return to a shop.

Birdwatching from My Kitchen Window

 

 

Birdwatching, or birding, does not always require us to visit a park, a bird sanctuary, or a forest for a safari. Sometimes, nature brings the birds right to our doorstep! All we need to do is pause, observe, listen, and enjoy the beauty around us.

Our house is close to the Cooum River in Chennai. Though the river is now filled with dark, polluted water, trees and plants grow along its banks. Their branches provide resting places for birds, whose chirping we can hear during the day and sometimes at night, whenever they choose to make their presence felt.

Some of these birds fly to nearby places, including our apartment complex. They perch on rooftops, water pipes, water tanks, parapet walls, cable wires, and Wi-Fi or DTH antennas. Sometimes, they sit in a row, as though they are attending a meeting of their own! They seem to do whatever they please, entertaining us with their movements and calls.

With the Maduravoyal Expressway work progressing and cleaning activities taking place along the Cooum River, the birds seem to be moving around and looking for temporary resting places. Our apartment has become one such spot where we can observe them closely.

During July and August 2026, we could hear the calls of several birds . Cuckoos, parrots, sparrows, mynas, pigeons, and crows added their voices to the natural chorus. Squirrels, too, made their presence felt with their quick movements and occasional sounds.

The most delightful sight is watching rows of parrots perched together in the early morning, usually between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. From our kitchen window, we can enjoy this wonderful visual treat without stepping outside. Their green feathers, lively movements, and cheerful calls make an ordinary morning feel special.

Birdwatching from our kitchen window has taught me that we do not always need to travel far to experience nature. Even while carrying out our everyday activities, we can take a few minutes to observe the birds around us. Their calls become a melody, their movements a performance, and their presence a reminder that nature continues to thrive amidst our busy urban lives.

When we listen to this chorus of birds, the morning feels calmer, and the day begins on a peaceful note.

Sometimes, the best bird sanctuary is right outside our window. All we need is a little time, patience, and curiosity to appreciate it.

A Little Ruskin Bond Moment

Ruskin Bond's writings have often reminded us that we need not travel far to experience the beauty of nature. As he writes, “Live close to nature and you'll never feel lonely.”

My kitchen window proves this true every morning. The parrots, mynas, sparrows, pigeons, crows, and squirrels provide their own little nature show. Their cheerful chorus makes me pause, listen, and appreciate the simple joys of everyday life.

After all, sometimes a window is enough to open up an entire world!

Beyond Tools by Amit Das

 

 Author ; Amit Das

Genre : Non -fiction

Publisher : Nu Voice press 

Book buy link : @Amazon

Beyond Tools by Amit Das is a book rooted in practicality, offering valuable insights into building a strong portfolio, improving professional skills, and navigating the competitive job market. The author is also the cover designer, making the book a reflection of his understanding of both design and presentation.

A book of thorough practicality, it provides a straightforward approach to earning the appreciation of honest critics and the respect of intelligent professionals. It guides readers towards presenting their work effectively, standing out in the market, and building a successful career.

Though the book primarily focuses on designers, the author draws examples, lessons, and references from people across the world and professionals in varied fields. These insights are not restricted to designers alone. Readers are encouraged to learn from different professions, consider suggestions, and apply the lessons wisely to their own areas of work.

From freshers to experienced professionals, and from younger aspirants to senior designers, there is something valuable for everyone. The author presents approximately 93 tips across 12 chapters in 145 pages. Diagrams make the content easier to understand, offering an attractive and different way of learning.

The language is simple, the explanations are concise, and the presentation is professional. Rather than overwhelming readers with lengthy descriptions, the author gets straight to the point. This clarity encourages readers to progress from the initial stages of their careers towards greater professional achievements.

What do hiring managers look for? What does a team expect from a designer? How does a company assess a candidate? How can a portfolio influence career opportunities? What changes should designers make to their portfolios, what should they highlight, and how should they present their work?

The book addresses these questions with practical guidance. It also explains how freshers can present themselves when entering an organisation, gain experience, and make the most of opportunities to learn and improve.

One of the valuable lessons is about receiving feedback. When someone offers suggestions for improvement, do not become defensive; instead, work on the feedback and improve yourself. This is a simple yet powerful reminder that professional growth requires openness, patience, and a willingness to learn.

The way the author deals with such subjects, bringing clarity to challenges that professionals’ face repeatedly, is what makes this book stand out. Every field has its ups and downs, its challenges, and tasks that require us to prove ourselves time and again. The practical suggestions in Beyond Tools can help readers approach these situations with greater confidence and a clearer perspective.

The chapter titles communicate their contents effectively, while the numbered tips, presented sequentially up to 93, make it easy to locate and revisit specific ideas. The clean font, thoughtful layout, continuity, and connection between topics contribute to a smooth reading experience.  The book feels less like a mere collection of tips and more like an interactive session that clarifies doubts and guides readers towards practical solutions.

With its concise writing and purposeful presentation, the book respects the reader's time. There is no unnecessary use of words or wastage of paper; the focus remains on delivering useful information in an accessible format.

Once you have read Beyond Tools, it can become a guiding light to return to whenever you need direction, reassurance, or a fresh perspective on your professional journey.

Beyond Tools is a useful read for designers, aspiring professionals, freshers, and experienced individuals who want to strengthen their portfolios, learn from feedback, and improve their career prospects. Amit Das has brought together practical lessons in a compact, well-organised format, encouraging readers to look beyond their tools and focus on the thinking, presentation, and professional attitude that help them grow.

A book worth reading, reflecting on, and keeping within reach for future reference.

(Received a copy of the book from reviewmybooks in return of an honest review)

Bollywood, where is our Nora Ephron? by Mohar Basu

   

 

India makes films about love like Musafir Cafe and Love. So why does it struggle to make romantic comedies that see the world through a woman's eyes?

I think it is not fair that a woman can watch You've Got Mail for the fifteenth time and still get butterflies when Meg Ryan walks into that bookshop, but Bollywood, an industry that has practically built its empire on people falling in love, has so few films that make women feel this way. You can come up with the old examples of DDLJ and Dil Toh Pagal Hai and Hum Tum but how many shows or movies in the past 5 years have made us go giddy? I had this thought while watching The Love Hypothesis that there is a rom-com shaped void in our hearts that no one knows how to fill. 

As a millennial on bad days and during holiday season, I turn to Nora Ephron, because the lady knew the secret. Romance wasn't just about the grand gesture, the airport chase or a man realising that he couldn't live without the woman he'd spent two hours taking for granted. It was also about the woman. As my friends and I discuss often, romance and rom-com is the only genre where women have agency, women are thriving and good things are happening to them. 

In this genre - the spotlight is on what she wants, what she fears, the terrible decisions she makes, the conversations she replayed in her head and the possibility that the man she was falling for might, actually, be an idiot.

In When Harry Met Sally…, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, Ephron made neuroses sexy, conversation an aphrodisiac and ordinary life something worth dressing up for. Her women had careers, apartments, opinions and very specific ideas about food. They could be romantic without being silly, ambitious without being cold and lonely without being tragic. They didn't need to be extraordinary women doing extraordinary things. They just needed to be interesting.

And Bollywood? Bollywood has a love affair with love. It just isn't always interested in the woman experiencing it. If you have watched Romantics - you know how obsessed our movies and filmmakers have been with the idea of people falling in love.

And if I am being fair, Hindi cinema has given us wonderful female characters and romantic films that have endured for generations. But look at the space available to women in today's mainstream storytelling. The female-led film carries the weight of a social issue, a feminist statement or an inspirational journey. The romantic comedy, meanwhile, is built around a male protagonist's pursuit, with the woman serving as his motivation, his reward or the plot twist that gets him to grow up.

Where is the film about a woman who has a perfectly good job, a complicated relationship with her mother, a questionable taste in men and absolutely no idea what she is doing with her life? Where is the 38-year-old who wants to fall in love but doesn't want to be told that her biological clock is ticking? Where is the woman who can be selfish, funny, sexually confident, insecure and spectacularly wrong about a man without the screenplay treating her as either a cautionary tale or a role model?

This is where the female gaze is crucial. It isn't simply about putting a woman behind the camera or making the male lead look good in a linen shirt. It is about whose feelings get the close-up - whose desire drives the plot, who gets to be complicated.

Ephron's women weren't always right. They were allowed to be a glorious mess. The films didn't punish them for wanting romance and being miserable post break ups, nor did they suggest that finding a man was the ultimate prize. Love was part of the adventure, not the entire itinerary of the vacation called life.

The opportunity for Indian cinema is enormous. Our dating lives come with parental surveillance, matrimonial apps, class anxieties, WhatsApp overthinking and the very Indian art of pretending not to care while caring deeply. There is enough material here for a dozen brilliant romantic comedies. We have the locations, the actors and an audience that continues to show up for a good love story. What we seem to lack is the conviction that a woman's everyday emotional life can hold a film together without a murder, a courtroom or a social evil thrown in for good measure.

Nobody is asking Bollywood to transplant Manhattan to Mumbai or turn every heroine into Meg Ryan. We need our own version of that magic - a woman talking too much, falling for the wrong people, changing their minds and figuring themselves out somewhere between work, friendship and a terrible date. Make space for these stories!

Because the great thing about a Nora Ephron film was never that everything worked out perfectly. It was that, for two hours, the mess of being alive and in love felt worth watching. It felt cinematic and glorious! For an industry that has spent decades selling us romance, Bollywood could do with remembering that women aren't merely the reason men fall in love. They have love stories of their own.

And frankly, we'd quite like to watch them.

 

 

BIO: Mohar Basu is a journalist with Mid-Day and author of bestselling books Shah Rukh Khan : Legend, Icon, Star and Salman Khan : The Sultan of Bollywood. She writes about cinema, stardom, fan cultures and the impact of cinema and the movie industry on society. 

( THIS IS THE 7 th WEEK - 11 TH YEAR of BFL-  PART OF GUEST POST SERIES- POST -7)

Nature Heals: Finding Peace While Waiting at the Clinic

  

We often visit a clinic with a mind full of thoughts. Waiting for our turn to see the doctor can make us anxious, especially when we keep thinking about the consultation, the questions we need to ask, and what the doctor might say. Sometimes, we prepare ourselves mentally so much that we forget to relax.

But what if we could turn this waiting time into a moment of peace by simply paying attention to nature? During a recent visit to a clinic, while waiting for my turn, I decided to look out of the adjacent window. Instead of concentrating on the doctor's discussion or mentally preparing myself for the consultation, I let my eyes wander outside.

To my surprise, I spotted two mynahs perched on two different branches of a coconut tree. One sat above the other, as though they had chosen their own little seats to enjoy the view. Dark clouds were slowly gathering in the sky, hinting at the possibility of rain.

One mynah was stretching its legs, while the other opened its little beak and chirped in a sweet, baby-like voice. Their tiny movements caught my attention. As the wind gently swayed the branches of the coconut tree, the two birds seemed to be enjoying a natural swing, moving along with the rhythm of the breeze. There they were, perched high above the ground, completely at ease even as the clouds gathered around them. They did not seem bothered by the changing weather. They simply stayed where they were, chirping, stretching and enjoying their little moment together.

And there I was, sitting inside a clinic, waiting for my turn!

For those few minutes, my attention shifted from my thoughts to the little world outside the window. The birds, the swaying branches, the coconut tree and the clouds became the centre of my attention. Without making any special effort, I began to feel relaxed. It was such a simple experience, yet it made a difference to my state of mind.

I was reminded of the words and wisdom of Ruskin Bond, whose writings often celebrate the beauty of nature and the comfort it brings us. Nature has a wonderful way of drawing us away from our worries and helping us appreciate the present moment. We do not always need a garden, a hill station or a long walk in the countryside to experience this connection. Sometimes, a tree outside a clinic window, two little birds on its branches, or the sound of leaves moving in the wind can be enough to make us pause and smile. Nature asks for nothing from us. It simply invites us to notice.

The next time you find yourself waiting at a clinic, in a hospital corridor or even at a bus stop, try looking around. Observe the trees, watch the birds, notice the clouds or listen to the breeze. Instead of allowing your thoughts to run endlessly, give yourself a few moments to enjoy what is happening around you. Of course, we need to pay attention to the doctor's advice and prepare for our consultations. But we need not spend every minute of the waiting period worrying about what lies ahead.

Sometimes, a little attention to nature can make the wait more pleasant and our minds a little calmer. That day, the two mynahs were probably doing nothing extraordinary. They were simply being birds, perched on a coconut tree and enjoying the breeze before the rain. Yet, without knowing it, they helped me relax.

A little time with nature can remind us to slow down, breathe and live in the present. Nature may not take away our worries, but it can help us look at them with a calmer mind. And perhaps that is one of nature's simplest gifts to us: healing moments hidden in our everyday lives, waiting to be noticed.

Have you ever found peace or comfort by watching birds, trees or clouds while waiting somewhere? Share your little nature moments in the comments.

Super Happy Day Story

  

 

The bright orange sun flashed its rays into my balcony,

 Announcing a happy day, warm and sunny.

 The rain had stopped by night, leaving a morning so cool,

 With dewdrops kissing the plants, making nature look beautiful.

 

The clothes from yesterday were drying happily on the line,

 While the fresh morning breeze made everything fine.

Pigeons, crows, mynas, cuckoos, parrots and sparrows,

Chirped away in a row, with stories of their own to share.

 

Perhaps they too were planning a super happy day,

With songs and little adventures along the way.

 I read an old favourite story before breakfast,

A little joy that made my morning the best.

 

Then came a hot, yummy breakfast, fresh and delicious,

Making my simple morning feel truly precious.

 With a happy heart, I sat down to write,

 Turning my thoughts into words, feeling bright.

 

A step, a point, a theme to pursue,

For a super happy day story, fresh and new.

What more could I ask for to brighten my day?

 God will bless me, I'm sure, in every possible way!

May my happiness spread to everyone I meet, making this super happy day truly complete!