Set the alarm clock for 3:51 am

How to use the online alarm clock

Waking at 3:51 am gives you a moment to get your bearings before setting off to finish a shift at the 24-hour supermarket. The alarm leaves nine minutes before 4:00 am, enough time to sit up, check what you need and avoid drifting back to sleep while the night still feels settled.

Your supermarket shift may begin among humming fridges, delivery cages and cleaning equipment, so set the alarm volume with that background noise in mind. Test the signal at roughly the distance your phone will be from you, rather than judging it while holding the speaker. This supermarket alarm relies on the browser continuing to run and the phone remaining awake; if either stops, the signal will not sound and your shift preparation could start late.

Anyone else in the house is likely to be asleep at 3:51 am, so place the phone close enough for a moderate signal to wake you without carrying through every room. Keep clothes, keys and anything needed for the supermarket together beforehand, reducing the need for bright lights, cupboards or repeated alarms. If you share a bedroom, a brief vibration before the sound can make the wake-up less disruptive while still giving you those few minutes before 4:00 am.