How to nap - Hackdot

Re:How to nap by spuz on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @04:16PM (#3449057)

Can you and other nappers here explain how you are able to find somewhere to nap in a busy office environment (and your car isn't available)? For me, lying on the floor would be far too noisy with hundreds of PCs humming away and I would be at constant risk of being stepped on by my colleagues.

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Re:How to nap by nicholasjbs on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @04:49PM (#3449232)

In the three most recent offices I've needed to nap in, I napped: Sitting on a sofa with my head back against the wall; lying down on an oversized bean-bag cushion; in a computer chair, with my butt moved towards the front of it and my head back against the top of the back (the back wasn't tall enough unless I scootched forward). The last was obviously the least comfortable.

In general, I've found the biggest obstacles are social (i.e., people think you're lazy), not logistical. But these are largely gone for me now that I'm running my own company. My cofounder and I have vowed to not just tell any future employees that napping is acceptable, but to actually keep doing it, so they see that we're serious and feel comfortable napping themselves should they want to.

I'd recommend telling your coworkers/boss that napping makes you more productive, and that you only take one 20-minute nap a day. If they're silly and care about exact minutes worked, just show up a few minutes early or start a bit later.

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Re:How to nap by marcinw on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @10:26PM (#3450319)

When it comes to the social stigma of taking a nap at work, just ask if they'd prefer you take a smoke break every hour. Usually, people will get the hint. If not, too bad.

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Re:How to nap by alanning on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @11:43PM (#3450472)

Former coworker of mine used to take, "non-smoking breaks". I always thought that was clever. Now I feel bad for never telling him so...

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Re:How to nap by afterburner on Wednesday January 11, 2012 @12:12AM (#3450541)

I used to go for frequent walks... people assumed I smoked.

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Re:How to nap by light3 on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @04:30PM (#3449129)

I usually fold my arms on the desk and sleep with my head down, you have to be careful to make sure you let enough oxygen through and also to not cut circulation from your arm for too long. If I sleep for too long this way my arms become numb, but sometimes I'm so tired I just don't care =)

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Re:How to nap by gnosis on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @07:32PM (#3449872)

This is so unnecessary and demeaning. At least bring along one of those little bean-bag pillows you could prop your head on. But the real solution is for the company to provide sleeping facilities at work and not to work their employees to the point of exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

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Re:How to nap by callahad on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @08:31PM (#3450047)

not to work their employees to the point of exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

Genuinely curious: How much of the sleep deprivation is due to employment practices, and how much is due to, say, American cultural values? Are we sleeping less because our employers or our social lives demand more?

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Re:How to nap by bh42222 on Wednesday January 11, 2012 @11:28AM (#3452376)

One hour+ commute, enough time to prep and eat or go out and eat food, enough time at night to not go bed right after eating, not good for your health, squeeze in an hour of exercise per day, a tiny bit of social interaction with friends and/or family, equals less than 8 (some times even less than 7) hours of sleep. And over the long term for most people 6 hours a night results in sleep deprivation.

But some are lucky genetic mutants. I am not one of them.

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Re:How to nap by philwelch on Tuesday January 10, 2012 @04:32PM (#3449136)

You can try what I always did in high school: bend over your desk and nuzzle into the crook of your elbow.

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Re:How to nap by BigTigger on Wednesday January 11, 2012 @01:07AM (#3450647)

I'm not a regular napper, but whenever I've napped in a busy office, the best approach I've found is to head out to a park, find a shady spot and lie down. Take a towel so you don't get dirty or itchy

Options here are obviously, book a meeting, pretend you're going for a run, out to lunch or a coffee.

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Re:How to nap by fedd on Wednesday January 11, 2012 @01:34AM (#3450701)

when the car wasn't available, i slept, i am sorry, in a toilet. (later i noticed that not only me was who did that, so i've nothing to be ashamed of)

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