Why do you put your fingers under the pillow? this would be really uncomfortable to me.

Anyway, just really focus on your fingers. Also, you don't have to actually *move* them, just tense the muscles as if you were about to move them. It typically takes me about 10-20 seconds to get the falling or spinning sensations of SP when doing this after waking up naturally. I have never tried doing it after waking from waking from an alarm.