People take naps in various places such as parking garages, side streets, nap pods for rent, or even while working from home to recharge before the busy school pick-up time.
People who make a habit of sleeping on the job comprise a secret society of sorts within the US labour force.
Following the example of famous nappers like Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein, modern nap enthusiasts believe that short breaks can enhance cognitive skills, although there is still some negative judgment surrounding this practice.
She introduced a nap room in a former company, now known as HuffPo, as well as in Thrive Global, a tech company focusing on behavioral change, where she holds the positions of founder and CEO.
“If people have been up all night because of a sick child or a delayed flight, if they have the opportunity to nap, … then they will be much more productive and creative for the rest of the day instead of dragging themselves or trying to boost their energy through multiple coffees or cinnamon buns,” Huffington said in an email.
Kirsten Perez, 33, is a devoted napper. She used to use her lunch break at work to catch a few winks in her car.
When she got her own office, she closed the door for a siesta while sitting at her desk.
Nowadays, working from home as a marketing manager at Nvidia, the Atlanta resident usually takes her daily nap in bed.
She sets an alarm for 15 minutes, falls asleep within a minute and wakes up 30 seconds before the alarm rings.
“I can tell when my reasoning, my mood are dropping, just kind of feeling the drag of the day,” Perez said.
In those situations, she asks herself, “‘Do I have a chunk of time in the next hour or so?’ And then I’ll figure out when I can find 15 minutes and find myself horizontal.”
Naps are accepted and even a necessity in some occupations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages naps for nurses working night shifts.
But many nurses can’t sleep at the hospitals where they work because they’re too busy and aren’t given access to beds.
Nurses “regularly struggle to have sufficient time to use the bathroom or go outside for fresh air, no less take a nap,” said a spokesperson for the National Nurses United union.
Some companies are trying to fill the void. Inspired by his mother who worked as a nurse, Neil Wong founded Nap York, which offers sleeping pods in Manhattan and Queens that can be rented for about $27 an hour.
His regular customers include super-commuters, UPS drivers, a security guard who works two full-time jobs, and doctors who work at nearby hospitals.
Nap York also gives half-off prices to essential workers such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel.
“In this society, you really only have two place to sleep: you have your bed at home and you have a hotel room you can probably get for 100 bucks,” Wong said.
“There’s really no third space that’s quiet, that provides some privacy, where you can also rest.”
