napping – The Fourth Edition

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016

Georgetown Day Drinking Hacks

The time has come for ALL Georgetown students to relax, let loose and celebrate the end of classes. Georgetown Day is almost here and 4E is ready to get you very excited for all of the debauchery.

One who has experienced the ridiculousness of Georgetown Day knows that you will be moving from townhouse to rooftop to lawn to (insert pizza place here) to your bed. You’ll be on the move and therefore will need a nifty way to carry your libations safely from brunch to party. 4E is here to give you some Georgetown Day drinking hacks!

Hack #1: Go to SNAXA and use the slushie machine to create the perfect portable beverage! Need a cold drink to cool you off after dancing too much on the Vil A rooftop? Run over to SNAXA and get a slushie, then pour a little bit of your fav alc in it. I recommend some vodka or rum!

Hack #2: The Corp cups will be your best friend! Just order your fav coffee drink and add Kahlua or Bailey’s! You’ll feel energized and buzzed.

Hack #3: Einstein’s orange juice. You can’t go wrong with orange juice as your solid chaser or cocktail accoutrement. Run down to Einstein’s in the morning and grab an orange juice to make the perfect mimo. Take a bagel while you’re at it, because eating something to soak up that andré is essential.

Hack #4: Get a straw for your personal bottle of André. I don’t think I need to explain why this drinking hack is a must. Let’s just say a straw is efficient and you won’t be sloppily getting champagne all over you.

Hack #5: And of course, you can never go wrong with carrying around a personal flask!

Here are just a few of the many approaches one can take when carefully transporting their precious gin & juice. Just remember to drink responsibly!

Gifs: giphy.com

April 15, 2016April 15, 2016

Friday Fixat10ns: Songs To Nap To This Weekend

Having one of those weeks where all you want to do is take a nap? Well, you are in luck because here at 4E we have come up with the perfect soundtrack to listen to (or sleep to) while you catch up on those Zzs. If you fall asleep before this playlist ends, we did our job.

[8tracks url=”[8tracks width=”300″ height=”250″ playops=”” url=”https://8tracks.com/mixes/7858234″]

“In Your Atmosphere” – John Mayer: Didn’t get that dream internship in L.A.? Neither did John Mayer it seems. Let the soothing sounds of John Mayer sing you to sleep as you contemplate the fear of living at home for yet another summer with your family.
“Like Real People Do”- Hozier: Learn to nap like real people do with awesome sound tracks like this one. Listening to Hozier’s mellow sound will send you into a hypnotizing sleep, the kind of 8 hours a night sleep that “real people” are supposed to get.
“Landslide”- Fleetwood Mac: Georgetown is stressful, with so many clubs, classes and other activities, it can seem like a landslide of work is constantly pilling up. Listen to this song to get away from your worries, if only for an afternoon nap.
“Stop this Train”- John Mayer: Yet another shining example of why I consider John Mayer to be the mayor (haha get it) of nap time. Drift off to sleep while contemplating growing old and all the stress that comes with it.
“Clean”- Taylor Swift: This song may be inspired by Taylor’s breakup with One Directioner Harry Styles, but it can also be applied to your soon-to-be breakup with your high GPA. Listening to this song will give you a sense of peace and make you feel “clean” inside and out.
“I Want to Write You a Song”- One Direction: Speaking of Harry Styles, here is a super cute 1D song that is perfect for dozing off. Bonus points if you end up dreaming about writing a song with 1D.
“Cherry Wine”- Hozier: What could be better than wine and napping? That’s right, listening to this Hozier song about wine while napping. If you listen closely, it almost sounds like Hozier himself is getting a little sleepy just singing.
“Hate to See Your Heart Break”- Hayley & Joy Williams: Your heart will break if you don’t listen to this one. It has some low notes and some high points, but most importantly it will rock you to sleep like the lullaby you wish your mom could have sung to you.
“Autumn Leaves”-Ed Sheeran: Yes, I know, it is technically spring right now, but it has been so cold lately that it is practically autumn again. This Ed Sheeran bonus track might be one of my favorite nappy time songs, it is just so sweet and sleepy.
“I’ll Be Good”- Jaymes Young: Ah yes, what I tell myself every Friday night. I’ll be good this weekend, I’ll wake up before 11, I’ll do my homework, I’ll work out. Instead of actually doing any of those thing, just listen to this song and you will be filled with a sense that you actually did something good.

Well, there you have it! 4E’s perfect playlist to nap to this weekend! So don’t start working on all of those huge final research papers, take a nap instead.

Gifs: giphy.com

Music: https://8tracks.com/

August 6, 2014

People You Meet On Planes

As the summer is winding down (I know, I can’t believe it’s already August), many of you are probably getting ready for your last weekend away, or maybe returning home after a long vacation. Either way, you’re likely to spot a lot of travelers at the airport. Some will be friendly and fun to sit next to, and others, well … not so much. As you jet-set one last time before coming back to Georgetown, look out for these eight types of people you’ll see on planes.

1. The Business Man

He’s not sitting in first class (shocker) because he’s probably a junior exec. who hasn’t quite reached that six figure salary. He’ll be hammering away on his laptop the whole flight, and the flight attendant will have to physically pry it out of his hands as you’re landing: “Sir, you must turn off all electronic devices NOW”. He won’t talk very much, except for the occasional muttering under his breath. If you plan on getting any sleep but you happen to sit near him, you’d better not mind the sound of keys clacking.

2. The Guy Who Snores

He’s probably been asleep ever since you got on the plane. Valid question: How did he get on here anyway? And you won’t see him wake up until the flight attendant shakes him at his destination. His snore can be heard throughout half the airplane and he’s slumped over on the poor person next to him (which could be you!). Especially if he’s in the aisle seat, you’ll be holding him the whole flight. Get ready to get cozy!

3. The Mom With Kids

Traveling with three, four or five young kids is hard. You definitely respect her – but that doesn’t make her brood any less noisy. The kids are adorable to look at, but you know during takeoff and landing, they’re going to cry and scream. If you’re sitting next to them, you’ll have buddies to color and play cards, but no way are you getting a wink of sleep.

4. The Drunk Girl

She’s a little afraid of flying, so how does she cope? Alcohol. She’s already had a cocktail or two, and as soon as the beverage cart comes around, she’s ordering wine. She’ll be slurring her words, stumbling to the bathroom and maybe even imitating Snoring Guy at the end of the flight. You’re slightly jealous of her and her dedication to turning up, but she doesn’t make the best travel companion.

5. The Couple

They never leave each other’s side. They’re adorable and clearly going on some romantic vacation but their lovey-dovey babble makes you want to throw up. Watching them kiss and hold hands for several hours straight is even worse than the turbulence. Also, you might be secretly envious of them (mile-high club anybody?).

6. The Mess

Her bags are twice her size, and it requires two other people to help her get them into the overhead compartment. Her hair is completely tangled and she looks as if she ran all the way to the gate. If you sit next to her she’ll be very sweet and apologetic for her appearance that is currently in shambles. Still, she will definitely spill her soda on you and elbow you on her way to the bathroom – whoops.

7. The Betch in Heels

The complete opposite of the mess, the betch in heels is completely put together – lipstick and jewelry ready to go. Her makeup and clothes look flawless even though she’s on a six hour flight. Nothing she’s wearing looks comfortable, especially those four inch heels she’s got on. Is it possible to pick someone up on an airplane?

8. The Chatty Old Person

Usually a woman, she’s adorable, tiny and wrinkled – the epitome of the perfect grandmother. She might have cookies in her bag, but to score one of those, you’ll need to divulge every detail of your personal life. This is including but not limited to your major, summer internship, siblings, pets, hometown and relationship status. You’ll get some lively conversation, but sleep is probably not an option.

Gifs: perezhilton.com, giphy.com, wifflegif.com

Photo: amazonaws.com

June 7, 2014June 7, 2014

Got Jet Lag?

Some of you (by which I mean myself) may have noticed that I’ve been uncharacteristically silent on 4E these past few weeks. The reason: I’ve been in China! The time difference between “the Middle Kingdom” and D.C. is about 12 hours, and as you might imagine, adjusting my sleep schedule has been a piece of cake.

Just kidding. Jet lag is a very real phenomenon, and I’m sure that many of you 4E readers have experienced it. But in case you’ve forgotten how it feels to have your circadian rhythm temporarily destroyed, here’s a handy reminder.

You fall asleep at dinnertime.

Like this, except you’re surrounded by family and friends and also you’re not Tina Fey.

What? You thought that only the elderly do that? You thought wrong. One minute you’re sitting down to eat, the next, your mother is shaking you awake and you have a piece of food stuck to your chin.

You wake up at 2 a.m.

Maybe your parents are practical people who decide to take a pill to help them sleep, thus restoring their normal sleep schedule. But you’re above all that. No, you’re going to pass out and wake up whenever you please! To that end, you’re going to jolt awake disturbingly early and be forced to play inane phone games for five hours.

You get hungry at weird hours.

Yesterday, I had a large breakfast at 7 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., I had lunch. At 2 p.m., I was hungry again. Apparently, when your sleep schedule is off, so is your food schedule. But never fear! This is why snacks were invented: for exhausted travelers who realize that their dad took the last of the ham.

You have difficulty doing basic tasks.

At the grocery store, you’re asked to grab a carton of orange juice. Approaching the stacks and stacks of cartons, you’re suddenly confused beyond belief. Do I normally drink low pulp or no pulp? Does it matter if it’s Tropicana or Minute Maid? What if I don’t want an extra infusion of Vitamin C? If you were in your normal, non-groggy state you’d realize that this internal argument is absurd, because all orange juice is amazing. Of course, there is the distinct possibility that you have difficulty doing basic tasks when you aren’t jet-lagged. We won’t judge.

—

It should be noted that for all the trouble jet lag can sometimes be, it’s completely worth it. Exploring different countries is one of the most fun things you can do, and as college students, we are in a prime time of our lives to visit and experience other cultures. Just bring some snacks and drink some caffeine, and you’re good to go. Happy traveling, Hoyas!

Photo: youredm.com
Gifs: tumblr.com, photobucket.com, giphy.com

June 4, 2014June 4, 2014

The 10 Phases of Packing

Unless you commute to school or live ridiculously close to campus, you’ve experienced the struggle. Somehow you managed to bring all of your precious belongings to school, so why does it always seem that when you try to pack at the end of the year the amount of stuff has doubled?

Each year I tell myself that I’m going to pack lighter next time, but it never actually happens. And now, during the summer, as we pack up to return to D.C. for the summer or vacation, we all face the hassle that is packing. As I inevitably struggle with all of my belongings and question my existence within the human race as I realize how materialistic we all are, I typically go through the following phases:

1. The Optimist This phase of “Hey, it’s not so bad” and “I’ll be done in a jiffy!” Usually ends immediately after opening your closet.

2. The Neat Freak As impending doom sets in you figure the best way to tackle it is to stay organized and maintain a system.

3. The Rebel You give up on the system about two seconds after you start it.

4. The Faker At this point you’ve gone through three phases — with nothing to show for it — so you pretty much put anything anywhere as long as it looks like packing.

5. The Napper Extraordinaire It’s only been like four minutes of packing but whatever.

6. The Foodie Carbs and protein, you know, for the heavy lifting. (Not to be confused with the procrastination phase, though the two are inextricably intertwined.)

7. The Procrastinator Probably a good time to catch up on Full House right? No? OK well I’m doing it anyway.

8. The Crier It’s been 12 HOURS now and you only put two shirts in a suitcase so far. There are a lot of emotions happening. Get your stuff together.

9. The Real Person Who Takes Over Your Body for a While to Actually Pack There are tears, sweat, phone calls to loved ones and sometimes a little blood. But you CAN and WILL do it.

10. The Reflector Now that victory has been achieved, you realize that you have to unpack everything as soon as you get to your destination. You realize how much easier it would be if you just never went anywhere. You promise to never get so disorganized again. Just know, you won’t keep these promises.

Happy packing!

November 19, 2013

The Napping Guide

You were in Lau until 4 a.m. trying to stay awake, cramming for your 8 a.m. midterm. You totally killed that test (you hope), but now you have to run to your T.A.’s office hours, grab lunch with your peer advisor and take a shift at work before you can get any down time. You finally have an hour before your next class, and the weight of your eyelids tells you there’s no way you’ll get through it without catching some z’s. That’s where we at 4E come in. After extended research and experimenting, we would like to provide you with this comprehensive guide to napping and all its wonders:

Types of Naps:

The various kinds of naps range in length, purpose and effectiveness. Depending on who you talk to, each habitual napper will swear by his or her method, so figure out what works for you.

1. Power Naps: One of my personal favorite naps, these snoozes are taken for a short period of time (typically 15-20 minutes) and end before you enter a deep sleep cycle. For quick rejuvenation, I’d definitely recommend these. For an added bonus, drink a cup of coffee right before going down for your nap. The caffeine will kick in when you wake up and you’ll experience the double whammy of the caffeine and sleep revitalization – BOOM.

2. NASA Naps: Similar to the aforementioned power nap, but with a twist. Research on pilots has shown that a 26-minute nap can improve alertness and greatly enhance performance. Just make sure you set your alarm – one minute more or less and you’re a goner.

3. The Necessary Ninety-Minute Nap (NNN): A full REM sleep cycle takes place in 90 minutes, so this is one nap that you can turn to when you don’t want to mess around. I often find, however, that a nap of this caliber quickly escalates from 90 to 180 minutes, so be sure to set enough alarms and let a roommate know when you need to wake up.

Benefits of Napping:

According to the National Sleep Foundation (hello, where can I sign up for that?), the obvious benefits of daily naps include improved alertness and productivity during waking hours. Additionally, naps can be a mini-vacation and a chance for one to recuperate. On a personal note, I have also realized that most of my best dreams (exploring secret passages, driving really fast, fighting crime, etc.) have happened during my afternoon naps, so I guess that’s just another motivating factor for consistent napping.

Disadvantages of Napping:

One of the riskiest parts of napping during the day is the sleep inertia it may cause. Much like my nap today, 45 minutes quickly can turn into a hour, and soon enough you wake up and it’s dark outside and you’ve forgotten what day it is and you’re not sure why you’re still wearing your shoes. For that reason, alarms while napping will be both your best friends and worst enemies. Additionally, the timing of a nap may prevent you from restful sleep during the night, which will only perpetuate your sleep deprivation further into the week. Try to stay away from naps too late in the day to prevent this cycle.

The Great Debate:

It’s the age old question: To nap or not to nap? As a general rule of thumb, assessing your productivity level and comparing it to how it would be if you took a 20-minute nap is a good measure.

If you continue to work at the pace you are, will it take you twice as long to complete a task that you might be able to do more quickly after only resting? If so, kick your feet up and give yourself a short break. Make sure you only apply this logic when you really do think you’ll be more productive, as you may actually just be pulling the whole “I’ll be more productive after a nap” line as an excuse to dive back into those ninja warrior dreams you’ve been having lately – or maybe I’m the only one who has been having those dreams lately.

In the hectic lives of the typical Hoya, we can often be discouraged from taking a few minutes out of the day for our own sanity and health. However, if you’ve been working hard and napping can improve productivity, there’s no doubt you’ve earned it. Plus, you’ll be in the company of famous habitual nappers JFK, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison and Lindsay Lee. If that doesn’t prove this practice’s effectiveness, I don’t know what does. Now I’m going to go catch some Z’s myself. Happy napping, Hoyas!

Tag: napping

Georgetown Day Drinking Hacks

Friday Fixat10ns: Songs To Nap To This Weekend

People You Meet On Planes