Set the alarm clock for 3:17 am

How to use the online alarm clock

Pulling yourself away from the job you are already doing can be harder than waking from sleep, so set the alarm for 3:17 am as the point to stop and get ready for night roadworks on the M25. That leaves the rest of the hour for boots, high-visibility kit and the journey, without treating 4:00 am as the moment to begin preparing.

Your M25 departure is the useful check on whether the alarm is still active: after setting it, move to another tab and return once to confirm the time remains displayed. A background page may be given fewer resources by the browser, so avoid relying on last-second timing. A closed browser page or a sleeping phone cannot sound the alert, which could leave the roadworks crew waiting while you remain unaware.

Heading towards the motorway during the night can mean stepping from a heated or air-conditioned room into sharply different conditions. Set out the layers and water you need before 3:17 am, and keep the car’s climate control moderate rather than making the cabin much warmer or cooler than outside. The change will feel less abrupt when you arrive and put on protective gear.