What’s Up With Mattress Toppers?

Welcome to college, where mattress toppers are one of your most important possessions. Sleep is definitely the most important thing in my life right now. I had the misfortune of having no mattress topper for the first couple weeks of school, so I got familiar with my Georgetown-supplied mattress.

I treated that mattress well, keeping it clothed with my Bed Bath & Beyond 300-thread-count twin-XL sheets, which I washed two (2) times in the first couple weeks of class. It wasn’t as kind.

Going in, my expectations were pretty low: I knew my dorm wouldn’t scream “luxury.” Yet, the inhumanity of such an unrelenting material almost seemed sacrilegious. The mattresses supplied to us by the Jesuit Order definitely did not take cura of my personalis.

I don’t blame Georgetown for such hostile living conditions. I get it: The university has better things to spend its measly budget on — like a new gym, but one that’s only for athletes.

I’m no MSBro, but I can tell you that toppers range from $10, to over $200 for some fancy “organic” ones. Don’t get me started on what “organic” mattress toppers offer that non-organic ones don’t; that can be a topic for another day. There are many options with which to top your mattress, but for those who are more basic, I applaud you. I attempted that lifestyle for a couple weeks, but my body was too frail for such exertion.

That’s why I’m in love with the concept of mattress toppers. They’re at the crossroads of necessity and luxury, much like a minifridge or that extra Kate Spade bag you bought last month. Among the plethora of mattress toppers, each one tells a story and gives insight into the student who lays on it.

After extensive interpersonal and detailed research, I’ve concluded that there is a direct correlation between mattress toppers and personality type:

No Topper:

  • Doesn’t go to class.
  • On the path toward nirvana and giving up every shred of physical attachment to this world.
  • Probably shotgunning nitro brew coffee in the shower.

1-to-2-Inch Topper:

  • Probably hasn’t washed any sheets yet.
  • In Lau studying rn.
  • Always dehydrated.

2-to-4-Inch Topper:

  • A little dramatic.
  • Hates the cold.
  • Always on an e-scooter

Over 4-Inch Topper:

  • Probably doesn’t sleep much anyway.
  • Compensating.
  • Doesn’t know how to type properly.

So, there you have it. Sleep tight, Hoyas.

 

Sources: giphy.com

Midterm Szn: Sophomore Year Edition

It’s sophomore year, ladies and gentlemen, which means we’re all ~experienced~ and can now look down on the lowly freshmen who walk the dreaded path to Darnall Hall. But besides the slightly upgraded situation — minus all the rats that bless our apartments, dorms and townhouses (#stayclassygtown) — all of us have really grown as individuals, haven’t we? I mean, new semester, new us, right?

Lo and behold, midterm season is upon us right in the midst of rejections from clubs, jobs and whatever else we pre-professional Hoyas dream of attaining.

As sophomores, we’ve moved on from competing to get into the most exclusive clubs (not really though) and comparing midterm grades (eh, have we really?). Instead, we’ve moved onto bigger, better and brighter things: jobs and internships.

So, here it is dear Hoyas: the types of people during midterm #szn, sophomore year edition.

1. The Bragger

This person constantly notes how many classes they’re taking on top of their internship for the Department of Justice, some fancy senator or the White House.  And SOMEHOW they will find a way to sneak their GPA into the discussion.

Here’s an example: “The weather is beautiful today. Almost as beautiful as opening MyAccess and seeing that stunning 3.9 GPA.” Did I ask for your resume? No. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize me saying “excuse me” to grab a pack of gummy bears was the green light for you to tell me that, on top of your 10 classes that are all 6 credits and your ~amazing, pre-professional~ internship, you have four midterms Thursday. Seriously. I just want my gummy bears.

2. The Coffee Addict

To be honest, I’m almost positive I spent my life savings at Midnight Mug the night I was cooped up in a Lau 2 study room for nine hours. To the people on shift that night, I truly apologize. If you had to make a non-fat large chai latte, chances are, it was mine. Much love to everyone at Midnight.

That confession aside, we should come clean: All of us have been this person. I think we can all come to the general consensus that a diet solely consisting of coffee, more coffee and the occasional chocolate-covered coffee beans is most certainly not a sustainable way of living. Hoyas, if you ever get to the point where it takes you five espresso shots for your soul to even feel mildly stimulated,  please…I don’t even know. Self-care, self-love. Remember we’re trying to ~thrive~ not just survive.

3. The Zombie

I just don’t understand…like, what?? How can someone pull consecutive all-nighters and still function like a normal human being, or at least some semblance of one. Honey, seriously, I know the chairs on Lau 2 can seem really comfortable if it’s 5 a.m., but please go back to your bed and sleep there.

On the note of sleep deprivation, let’s talk about eye bags. Well, it’s a look for sure. Moral of the story: Get on that healthy #Hoya sleep schedule with an average of 4.5 hours a night.*

*Don’t come for me if that statistic is wrong pls. It’s really a guesstimate. Thx.

Well, there you have it. Happy midterm #szn, Hoyas. If your intense course load and grueling internships don’t break you, lack of sleep will! Such exciting prospects. We at 4E sincerely wish you the best of luck.

Sources: giphy.com, tumblr.com

The Anti-Bucket List

Happy October!

AKA, happy end of all things fresh, new and exciting. Happy death ‘n’ afterlife to all things green. And, above all else: a very happy ~midtermz~.

The magic of the welcome and/or return to the Hilltop has sizzled and has now begun its fall fizzle. The Stall Street Journal listing the scores of Things to Do in D.C. has been replaced. Your color-coded to do list fell victim to the avalanche of Stats printing mishaps. And perhaps, while the roomie wasn’t looking, you sent that dubious text you swore you’d never.

October brings spooky time, kids. In preparation, we here at 4E have put together a cautionary tale of sorts: the anti-bucket list.

The ANTI-Bucket List

Things you probably never thought you’d do at Georgetown.

But you probably have.

1. Epi at 2 p.m.: You thought you wanted a quesadilla, when really, you just wanted to relive 1:30 a.m. on a Saturday night.

2. Wisey’s Twice in the Same Day: Because while Aramark has tried its hand at faux &pizza, Sweetgreen and Falafel, Inc., Royal Jacket simply pales in comparison to the art of Wisemiller’s Deli & Grocery.

3. Lau At 3  p.m. and 3 a.m.: One paper needed to be written. And in those 12 hours, you’ve managed to share four Facebook posts, down three cups of coffee, make two friends at The Midnight Mug, artfully craft one new meme and write zero words.

4. Failed to Leave* Georgetown?: You swore this would be the year you ran to the monuments at sunrise, found all those evasive insta-friendly graffitied walls and checked those museums off your (bucket) list. Our lovely bubble was once yours for the bursting, but now it seems kind of perfect the way it is.

*AdMo at 1 a.m. does not count.

5. Left Your Laundry in the Washer for *Only* a Few Hours After Its Cycle Finished: And that was the day you become *that* person.

6. Easy Mac: Our most dependable friend. Just add water.

7. Fallen on the Red Brick Road: Did anyone see that half-stumble, half-pay-a-millisecond-visit-to-your-maker after you encountered that loose brick on N Street? At least some experiences make us grateful for modern marvels like poured concrete .

8. Paid a Lockout Fee: This one goes out to you, roommate who insists a $100 lock-change fee is a reasonable trade-off for the invitation that would automatically be extended to Freddy Krueger by leaving your apartment door unlocked.

9.“Insufficient Funds”: An inevitable reality, kindly facilitated by Chick-Fil-A and our helpless acquiescence to The Corp. But who thought it would happen this fast?

10.Made an Actual Bucket List: It’s okay, we have too.

If you found yourself thinking, “been there, done that,” we’re sorry: NSO-era you is probably frowning.

Sources: giphy.com, usnews.com

The Five Worst Types of People During Midterm Szn

Okay, first of all, why are they called midterms when they start during the third week of a semester and last until finals? Honestly, it’s a living hell.

Now that our first week of bliss has ended, midterms have inevitably begun to plague our lives. Who knew that we could cram five books on the theories of Plato into our poor little heads during one night in Lau? We begin the long nights of studying, the copious amounts of caffeine and the stressful ordering of Dominos’ unhealthily-cheesy pizza.

And during this infamous #szn, there are a few types of ~special~ people who make midterms even better. And by better I mean worse:

1. The “I Have More Work Than You” Person

We all know this person.  The moment we decide to tell the rest of the world that we have an Econ midterm and that we’re dying, this lovable individual decides to announce that they have a ten-page paper along with two midterms.

Um, did I ask? No. Let me wallow in my own misery and self-pity for my current state of being. Please. Don’t compare your overbearing workload to mine. Don’t turn this into a contest for who has more work. Trust me, you don’t get a prize.

2. The Wannabe Einstein

“Omg, I didn’t even study for the test, and I got an A.” Right. That’s believable. I’m sorry, are you a genius, or just incredibly lucky? You really mean to tell me that you didn’t pay attention to a single lecture and your eyes didn’t even unintentionally glance over a few sheets of paper to review for the test? Really? Call me a pessimist, but for some unfathomable reason, I find that hard to believe.

3. The Whiner

Maybe this is me just being really unsympathetic toward others or just being a terrible person in general, but I don’t want to listen to you complain about your workload. Then again, I’m guilty of this so I really have no valid reason to be upset. I guess the overall lesson is that college — as fun as it can be — really,  likes to make our lives miserable at times. Who would’ve thought that staying up until 5:30 a.m. in Lau and writing a paper on British poetry was not an ~ideal~ way to spend the night?

4. The Mathematician

“If I get a 86 exactly on this midterm, I’ll for sure get an A for the semester.”  Let me preface this by saying that I’m already stressed as is for tests and I don’t need a grade to quantify my own stupidity. That was a little bit harsh; I’ll rephrase. Please don’t tell me what you need to get an A for the WHOLE semester. I’m just trying to pass one little test over here. Baby steps.

5. The Plague-Bringer

To be fair, I was this person during my first semester, so I know how awful it is. It’s that one individual who decides to hack up a lung every five seconds or unapologetically sniffle continuously for an hour.

I know, I know- we really shouldn’t get mad. But just imagine being on Lau 4 – it’s dead silent, and you’ve finally gotten into the working mood (if that even exists). All of a sudden, this lovely person begins to cough so badly you don’t know whether to go over and ask if they need help or just slowly get very, very annoyed until you call it quits and leave Lau altogether.

Spoiler: it’s usually the latter.

So there you have it: all your favorite people during midterm szn. Good luck, Hoyas. You’re going to need it.

Photos/Gifs: giphy.com, oxbridgeacademy.edu

Bill Clinton: A True Hoya

As you may have heard, Georgetown’s very own prodigal son is returning home to the Hilltop this week. And as cynical as we usually are here at 4E, this is actually a pretty cool thing. After all, since the events of the past year have forced us to acknowledge that Eric Trump, Steve Bannon, and Paul Manafort are technically alumni, we need to celebrate the Hoyas who didn’t collude with Russia have made a positive impact in the world now more than ever.

But as you prepare to camp outside Gaston to hear his speech, many of you who were born in the late-90s may be asking yourselves, “Who is Bill Clinton?” We know from eavesdropping on Blue and Gray tours that he certainly attended Georgetown, but is he really a Hoya? If he were a student today, would he regularly attend Jersey Night? Would he mourn the loss of Quick Pita? Would he post in the meme group? And more importantly, would his memes be dank?  To try to answer some of these pressing questions, we here at 4E briefly skimmed carefully read and took diligent notes on Bill Clinton’s autobiography, My Life, and came to the following conclusion:

Bill Clinton is a true Hoya.

Take a look at our reasoning below:

1. He Loves Wisey’s

The Quote: “At Wisemiller’s Deli, just across Thirty-sixth Street from the Walsh building where I had most of my classes, I got coffee and two donuts for twenty cents every morning

Our Analysis: Like all good Hoyas, Bill Clinton both loves Wisey’s and eats there way too much. He definitely would have voted for the Hot Chick/Chicken Madness ticket back in the infamous GUSA election of 2016, and is surely a strong supporter of our unofficial school mascot, The Wisey’s Rat™. So the next time you feel guilty about eating Wisey’s cookies for breakfast as you walk in 15 minutes late to your class on the fourth floor of Walsh because the elevator was taking forever, just remember that you will probably grow up to be the President of the United States.

When you call your order in and the wait is only 10 minutes

2. He Never Leaves Campus

The Quote:In my first two years, I rarely ventured beyond the confines of the University and its immediate surroundings”

Our Analysis: For a true Hoya, Burleith is as exotic as it gets. Yes, just like a vast majority of Hoyas, Bill Clinton fell victim to the Georgetown Bubble. And yes, we know D.C. is a world-class city full of renowned food, art, and culture, but the whole Metro system is confusing and not a lot of places take GoCard. True Hoyas stick to complaining about the lack of options at Leo’s and only venture beyond M street once a semester for Instagram-related purposes. Also “immediate surroundings” is definitely code for Chi Di. We’ll see you there on Thursday, Bill. Hopefully you have a good ID though, they’ve been pretty tough this year.

When someone suggests you should “explore D.C. more”

3. He Embraces Our “Sleep When You’re Dead” Culture

The Quote: “My most memorable class sophomore year was Professor Walter Giles’s U.S. Constitution and Government… By the time I got to his class I had embraced my lifelong affinity for sleep deprivation and had developed the sometimes embarrassing habit of falling asleep for five or ten minutes of class”

Our Analysis: Same, Bill Clinton. Same. Does it even qualify as a Georgetown class if more than half its students are awake at any given time? Whether it’s in a lecture hall, on Healy Lawn, or in the middle of a professor’s office hours (it happened once), falling asleep at inappropriate times is what we Hoyas do best. Honestly, Bill Clinton, props for doing this well in an era before you could try to stay awake by scrolling through memes on Facebook while the professor thinks you’re taking notes. Side note to any of my professors who accidentally clicked on this article: I love your class! Keep up the good work!

When the professor makes eye contact during the lecture and you have to act like you’re deep in thought over whatever they just said

4. He Has a Capitol Hill Internship

The Quote: On interning for Arkansas Senator William Fulbright, “It was easy to fit the job into my daily schedule, partly because in junior year only five courses were required instead of six, partly because some classes started as early as 7 a.m.”

Our Analysis: If you hadn’t already guessed, Bill Clinton was in the SFS. This quote confirms it. I can practically hear this quote telling me he’s a STIA major and that he has to go study for MAP. Even today, when Bill Clinton meets new people, I guarantee you that he finds some way to mention the SFS. This guy is a Hoya.

When it’s been five minutes and no one has asked about your foreign service background yet

5. He Loves The Tombs

The Quote:My favorite haunts in Georgetown were the Tombs, a beer hall in a cellar beneath the 1789 restaurant, where most of the students went for beer and burgers

Our Analysis: Bill Clinton’s Tombs Night was definitely lit. But not too lit, like where you had to call GERMS and the whole night was ruined. It was just the right level of lit, like where everybody danced to “In Da Club” by 50 Cent when the clock hit midnight, and then Bill Clinton got a great Instagram pic of his forehead being stamped by the Tombs bouncer. Every Hoya since John Carrol has made some of their greatest memories at the Tombs. Need we say more?

Actual photo of Bill Clinton getting his forehead stamped on his Tombs Night. On an unrelated note, yes, I am available for freelance photoshop jobs. Serious inquiries only.

So there you have it: Bill Clinton is a Georgetown Hoya. Our diligent research has definitively proved it. We hope you all have fun accidentally falling asleep learning a lot at his speech on Monday- and huge props to the team over at #GUPolitics for making this happen! No disrespect to the time you got Martin O’Malley to play his guitar in McShain Lounge, but this is definitely much cooler than that.

Sources: My Life by Bill Clinton, Tombs.com, Facebook.com, giphy.com, Georgetowndc.com, georgetown.edu

4E’s Guide To Black Friday Shopping

Banner - Black FridayThe holiday season is right around the corner. Soon you’ll be sprawled about on a couch, wondering how it is humanly possible to still be alive after eating that much food. Soon after, you’ll be hit with a harsh dose of reality: you still haven’t bought any gifts for your friends and family. While this can be stressful, Black Friday, your last opportunity to get the best deals, can be even more stressful. 4E can make Black Friday the best Friday of the year with just several simple steps:

  1. Sleep late. If you’re going to be running around all day, you’re going to need a lot of energy. Eating so much yesterday probably took a lot out of you, so you’ll need some extra Z’s to feel refreshed.
  2. Wear a ski mask. You definitely don’t want to run into any of your high school ~friends~ when back in the home town. A nice ski mask will prevent awkward encounters and also keep you warm (darker colors = more sunlight absorbed)!
  3. Lie on the ground in front of Wal-Mart. In order to get the most incredible deals, like a refurbished low-grade tv that hopefully works for FREE, you’ll need to stake out your territory. Sprawling out across the ground is the best way to fend people off.
  4. Drive aggressively in the parking lot. There’s no hope in ever being able to find a parking spot if you’re not really willing to go for it at any cost. Reckless driving gets you a ticket, aggressive driving doesn’t.
  5. Don’t ask for help. You really can’t trust anyone. Everyone else vying for those clothes doesn’t care about you: not the store employees, not your friends, not even your family. Go it alone and don’t tell anyone your plans if you know what’s good for you.

    Trust NOBODY when it looks like this!

In the end, there’s always Cyber Monday. Happy shopping!

Photos/Gifs: giphy.com, telegraph.co.uk

Friday Fixat10ns: Songs To Nap To This Weekend

Friday Fixat10ns

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″]

  1.  “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.
  2. “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.
  3. “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.
  4. 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.
  5. “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.
  6. “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.
  7. “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.
  8. “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.
  9. “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.
  10. “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/

Got Jet Lag?

Jetlag

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

You’re on Spring Break: Now What?

Spring BreakWell, we’re about two days into spring break, and if you’re most people, you’re already sitting at home, bored to death, refreshing Facebook and hoping you can vicariously live through your friends’ adventures. Sure, there are tons of things you should be doing: starting that paper that’s due shortly after break ends, getting a jump on work you’ll have to suffer through after break or reconnecting with old friends who are also on break (which is unlikely: Who else has spring break this early?). But will you do any of that? No. Instead, you’ll be reading 4E and taking our advice on how to best spend this glorious week off.

Sleep This is truly all that break was meant for. Go to bed with no alarms set, and sleep to your heart’s content. Wake up feeling rejuvenated and free of guilt, because you have no real obligations over break.

Reunite with your pets I’m not embarrassed to admit how excited I was to see my two cats upon returning home. While spending time with your friends and family is certainly important, spending time with your pets is vital.

Watch TV on an actual TV It’s such a change of atmosphere to get home and realize that my parents just leave the TV on for most of the day. It actually puts me much more on top of the news in general. More importantly, I get to watch Food Network liberally. There’s nothing quite like spending hours watching Guy Fieri gorge himself on food or Ina Garten work her magic.

Utilize your vast pantry You’re not gonna be able to sit around watching Food Network all day without eating something. There’s a finite number of days until we inevitably have to trek back to Georgetown and readjust to sad, disappointing Leo’s life. Make the most of what you can eat until that time comes.

T-minus six days until everyone is back on campus. Make the most of your vacation time until then!

Gifs: tumblr.com

The Napping Guide

napYou 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.

nap-time

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.

NapTime

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.

25-precious-animals-napping-day--large-msg-136304881005

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!

Photos: Jamey Stegmaier, Personal.PSU.edu, Buzznet, Blog.Bufferapp.com