Set the alarm for 4:00 a.m.

Web alarm clock for 4:00 a.m.

You are midway through another task when you need to break away and collect a coworker finishing the night shift. Set the alarm for 4:00 am so the pickup does not slip behind whatever has your attention. Leave enough time to put things down, gather your keys, and check the route before heading out.

Your pickup depends on hearing the alert, so set the volume for the room you are actually in. Television, an electric fan, rain on a metal roof, or traffic outside can easily cover a quiet signal. Test the sound once, then keep the phone close instead of across a noisy space. The alarm cannot sound if this page is closed or your phone goes to sleep, which could leave your coworker waiting after the night shift.

Because the trip falls deep in the night, decide beforehand what happens when you return. Keep the room dim, prepare anything you will need for bed, and avoid turning the pickup into a longer wakeful stretch. At 4:00 am, a simple return routine can protect the sleep still available before the morning begins.