Napping at the job

January 26, 2006 10:38 AM

Help me sleep at my desk...

I'm looking for tips and tricks for getting a refreshing (or as refreshing as possible) nap at a desk at school. I hate sprawling out on couches in public, so short of going home on my breaks, I have to sleep in the library if I want a quick rest. Any suggestions on how I can catch a bit of shut eye in an uncomfortable chair, with my face resting on a hard slab of laminated plywood?

posted by johnsmith415 to health & fitness (14 comments total)

Though it's designed to be used on a plane, this would probably do the job. However, if you're uncomftorable sprawling out on couches in public, I can't imagine you'd be any more comftorable using this hidious thing.
posted by nitsuj at 10:42 AM on January 26, 2006

How about a face rest pillow like those used with massage tables?
posted by brain_drain at 10:50 AM on January 26, 2006

maybe you can sleep under a study carrel.
posted by CrazyJoel at 10:57 AM on January 26, 2006

I'm sorry I'm not contributing anything to this thread, I just have to comment that that picture from the SkyMall product is hilarious for some reason. Am I the only person who nearly busted out laughing upon seeing it?
posted by twiggy at 11:00 AM on January 26, 2006

twiggy- no, you're not. It's truy hilarious. It looks like it might be comfortable, but I'd personally not be willing to look like that much of a dweeb, even on a plane.

As for the question, I often just ball up a fleece and use it as a pillow and lean forward to nap. But then again, when I'm tired enough, I can sleep anywhere.
posted by JMOZ at 11:02 AM on January 26, 2006

I think I've fallen asleep on school desks (during class mostly) to perfect the method. I rest a thick book 1-2 inches works best imo, on the desk, put my arm over it, and set my forehead on my arm. That way, I can be face down without smashing my nose and mouth against the desk, which results in lots of drool.

JMOZ's suggestion of a fleece works well also. Since I usually have my jacket with me, balling it up makes an awesome pillow.
posted by nakedsushi at 11:17 AM on January 26, 2006

A fleece sounds like a good suggestion... easy to pack along with your books. There are simple things to help in your attempts to get some sleep... ( as paraphrased from http://www.babyfit.com/articles.asp?id=583 )

1. Napping best occurs between 3-5pm
2. Limit Caffeine ( duh... you like how I pointed out the easy one?)
3. Limit food with in an hour of your nap. Especially anything that can enduce heart burn (spicy, citrus, etc)
4. Keep your naps to 20 minutes - maximizes the effect of the nap without detracting from that night's sleep.

I sleep in my school library twice a week - I seem to be able to fall asleep anywhere but my favorite are those cubical type things somewhere hidden in a corner... I just pass out face down on the freshy lysol sprayed desk. What could be more comfortable then that?
posted by meta x zen at 11:17 AM on January 26, 2006

There are two major desk-sleeping techniques:

1) Slouched down in the chair, back of the head resting on the top of the chair back, feet up on something, if possible. This requires two sources of padding (one under the head, one on the edge of the chair). I reccommend wearing a hoodie (great head padding) and carrying a small pillow/blanket/extra sweater.

2) Ass all the way back in the chair, leaning forward, head on desk (ass you've suggested). This can be very comfortable IF the desk is high enough. A sweater is excellent chair padding, and God designed arms so we can rest our weary heads.
posted by muddgirl at 11:42 AM on January 26, 2006

john - Vancouver meetup

Can you score access to a graduate lounge? The library and the Sub are kinda icky (it squicks me out seeing homeless crash on the leather sofas in the sub) - perhaps your department has a more private area with sofas... I'm currently at BCRI so I've taken many a power/hangover nap on grad-lounge sofas (airconditioned, too!).

I employ both nakedsushi and muddgirl's techniques; if the chair is big enough/your not too tall, the ass at the edge of the chair, legs outstretched, head at the backrest is good (with the exception of the headrest, this was my posture when playing oboe in non-performance situations - it's like standing up, breathing wise). If you've got under-developed back muscles, you might develop some back pain, though.

When it gets warmer, it's more and more unwieldly to carry around a fleece/jacket/blanket. Forearm on textbook, forehead on forearm works, or you can craddle your temple in the crook of your elbow (but this can mess up your hair if you style your hair).
posted by PurplePorpoise at 11:52 AM on January 26, 2006

Stolen airplane pillows compact nicely in a backpack. Feeling frisky? Get one of the blankets too. Then cold library air can't get you

Follow you instincts for how to get comfortable. (or some of the good advice on this thread)
posted by Seamus at 12:15 PM on January 26, 2006

There are two three major desk-sleeping techniques:
1)...
2)...
3) knees on floor, head resting on hands which are folded on the seat of your chair. Body can be hidden under desk, depending on the setting. (Technique #3 is easily remembered as the "workplace oral sex" position.)
posted by alms at 1:51 PM on January 26, 2006

I used to sleep in the library cubicle thingys all the time in university in the mid afternoon. I usually just grabbed a bunch of books, a fleece, and made a pillow thing that I crossed my arms around and laid my head against. Your neck needs to be pretty loose to pull it off, but I found it quite comfortable.
posted by jasondigitized at 3:05 PM on January 26, 2006

how about sitting in the chair and leaning sideways against the wall? Ear muffs could be perfectly adequate pillows if you align them just so.
posted by leapingsheep at 4:30 PM on January 26, 2006

I used to sleep at my desk until i figured out an even better place to sleep comfortably. Go into the bathroom, put the seat cover down if there is one and sit on the throne as you normally would except leave your pants up. Take the extra roll of toilet paper and put it on the tank behind your head. This makes a great pillow. stretch your legs out and it is almost like a lazy boy recliner. I always put on my ipod so that i only get scared out of the stall by the annoying stench of a neighbor, the annoying sounding ones aren't even noticed over the music.
posted by Bjkokenos at 7:30 PM on January 26, 2006