In kindergarten, they took it away, but once we started college, the glorious activity of napping returned in full force. In the midst of our coffee and tequila powered lives, the one thing that remains consistent is our uncanny ability to nap. Whether it's five minutes while working on a dreaded study guide, 10 minutes between classes, 45 minutes before dinner or three hours before Friday night plans, naps are a necessity and are never taken for granted. They run our lives and power our brains in the chaos that is college.
If you are someone who loves naps as much as I do, this list is for you.
1. You are a pro at getting ready quickly.
When you find yourself napping between classes or before plans and you are someone who notoriously hits the snooze button multiple times, getting ready quickly is an art form you have perfected. Pants, shoes, keys, backpack and out the door in five minutes. It might not be pretty, but you're ready.
2. Anywhere is a perfect napping space.
Cars, planes, park benches, library couches, student center chairs, floors and beds can all be perfectly normal and acceptable places to nap. If you can get comfortable and close your eyes, chances are you've fallen asleep in one of these places.
3. When you don't get your nap, no one is happy.
Going a day without a nap turns you into something that resembles an angry two year old who has been deprived of their juice and their blanket. If you are not happy, nobody is happy.
4. You schedule your nap time a day in advance, at least.
You've casually glanced at your planner a day or two in advance to see when naps will fit between your scheduled activities. You've blocked out specific moments when you will be able to retreat to your room and sleep.
5. You feel pity for the person who wakes you from a nap.
When you're settled down in your bed, wrapped in your blanket and closing your eyes, you have no time for that dreaded phone call or knock on the door. You've been sleeping, and you feel pity for the person behind the cool metal door or the ringing iPhone because you are one angry bear.
6. Waking up from a nap is a form of torture no one should have to endure.
Stretching, yawning, moaning and groaning, you feel every joint in your body crack and pop as you pry your eyes open. You've thrown the blankets over your head and stayed in denial for as long as your schedule allows before dragging yourself out of bed and back into reality.
7. You've fallen asleep in the middle of an important text conversation.
You've been making plans for a popping Friday night when your eyes feel heavy, and you slowly place your phone on the mattress next to you. The next thing you know, the plans have been made, and your group chat questions your presence.
8. You wake up to an excessive amount of texts because you fell asleep on the group chat.
Apparently you're now going out Friday, someone broke up, someone hugged someone else's boyfriend and your best friend failed a test. You weren't able to offer your infinite wisdom because you were in dreamland.
9. Naps = Rewards
Finish 10 pages of your thesis? Nap. Get an A on a test? Nap. Work out? Nap. Wake up not a grouch? Nap. There's so much to do that you don't want to do anything? Nap. Anything can be rewarded with a nap. It boosts morale.
10. You've had a nap marathon.
Weekends are the perfect time for naps. You wake up, watch a little Netflix and nap. Naps on naps on naps. You can have a second and a third nap if you'd like! Sleeping the day away is what the weekend is all about.
11. You've napped so hard that you wake up not knowing where you are.
What year is it? Where am I? Who is the president? A power nap turns into a three hour nap marathon with no alarm, and you wake with no understanding of the real world.
12. Sleeping at night is weird because you sleep almost all day.
Nap all day, and you are awake all night. Seriously, it's the only downfall of your constant napping. However, if you try hard enough, you can convince yourself that it's nap time and ultimately end up falling asleep just to do it all again tomorrow.
13. Naps cancel plans.
When you fully wake up and realize what you've done, you feel like a monster. You feel the pain of the 10 unread texts and feel shame for your constant napping. When a nap hits you like a bus, you have no option but to succumb to the urge to sleep.
14. You invite friends over to hang out but end up napping.
Inviting friends over to hang out seems like a good idea at the time. When you're lying in your bed watching movies and you feel your eyes droop, they end up entertaining themselves because you have decided to nap.
Group nap, anyone?
