Unless you work for one of the few companies that encourage napping, catching those elusive daytime Z’s while in the workplace can be difficult. But never fear, we’ve taken the time to outline the strategies — and gadgets — necessary to get away with getting some sleep in the office. Consider this a nap-meets-gift-guide for yourself, or the drowsy office drone in your life.
Situation 1: You Have Your Own Office
If you’re in this boat, you barely need our help. Assuming you’ve got a door, and some blinds on any inward-facing windows, snoozing in your office should be pretty easy. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t take precautions. Considering the following additions to your sleep strategy:
Make Yourself Sound Busy: There are a variety of solutions — app-based and online — that provide ongoing audio of fake conference calls. Lock your door, dial up some buzz-word-laden meetings about “moving forward” and “implementing synergy”, and get busy getting sleep.
And since you’ve got a chamber all to yourself, don’t skimp on comfort. Pick up a quality sleep pad like this Therm-a-Rest Neo Air, and enwrap your face in some soft dark comfort with one of these genius level sleeping solutions.
Situation 2: Sleeping in Plain Sight
Sleep Safe Tape - Yes it really exists.
Whether you’re a cubicle-resident or a victim of the modern ‘open-concept’ workspace, catching sweet Z’s in plain sight will be no easy task. But with these clever tricks, you may be able to dash off to dreamland undetected.
Obviously, sounding busy will go a long way to allaying suspicious slumbering. That’s where apps like iNap@Work become useful — this app provides a menagerie of work-related noise, including mouseclicks and keystrokes, to maintain the illusion of producivity. If you want to go a step further, strap on a set of these Sleep Safe Tape eyelid covers, which give the illusion of open eyes even while you’re asleep.
Or you can act like any sane person and toss on a dark pair of shades and a particularly voluminous hoodie. Better yet, you can perfect our favorite techniques in #3.
Situation 3: The Poor Man's Office (Learning to Love the Bathroom Nap)
Yes, it’s a brightly lit, echoey, often malodorous environment. But for most of us, the closed bathroom stall is the closest we’re going to get to a private office anytime soon, and with the proper strategies, you can turn this metal-walled enclosure into a warm womb of snooze.
If you’re going to commit to a bathroom napping lifestyle, we recommend comfortable shoes. And preferably, you’ll want to switch out footwear during nap sessions to minimize recognition by others. Sneak those sneakers into your sleep stall with a hidden-compartment backpack, and while you’re at it, toss in a comfy toilet seat cushion. Your coccyx will thank you.
The final component for bathroom napping is the Wrap-a-Nap - a sleep aid literally designed to maximize snoozability in situations like this. With your head surrounded by ultra-soft pillow, you’ll be whisked away to dreamland on the twin wings of complete darkness and muffled noise, while the pillow keeps your head warm, soft and padded as it leans again the cold metal walls.