In high school, I was a really big napper. Every day after school, I would take a 2-3 hour nap out of exhaustion; it didn’t matter if I came home at 3pm or at 6pm – the naps were fixed in my weekday schedule. I thought that college would be similar.
For me, naps in my dorm haven’t been incredibly realistic. With classes, food, and optimal study spaces on main campus, it’s too much work to travel back and forth. So, I found myself taking 20-minute power naps wherever I could to re-energize. Here are the top 5 places I’ve napped on campus:
- Rand Booths
Sometimes, snatching a green booth on Rand’s first floor is more competitive than getting into Vanderbilt. When I’m lucky enough to sit on arguably the best location at Rand, I usually end up doing a bit of studying after my meal. More than once, this study session has led to nap time, and the booths are cushioned enough for a twenty-minute recharge. As someone who is shorter than the average person, fetal position in these booths is pretty doable. Although Rand booths earn the fifth position on my list, there are a couple of downsides to note: the lack of privacy (you’ll definitely get some stares, albeit unbothered), lack of space, and lack of silence (!!!).
- Sarratt Center’s 3nd Floor
Sarratt 3 is a gem, and it is definitely a worthy contender against the Rand booths. Although it only has two longer couches, the real prizes are the cushioned seats. Sometimes, I like to put another seat facing the one I’m on, so I have somewhere to prop my legs. The location has a more controlled volume, so it’s better to nap than it is at Rand. Also, I’ve never been inside the Multicultural Lounge on Sarratt 3, but it does look like a great place to rejuvenate after a long day of writing essays!
- Kissam Center’s 2nd Floor
I can’t really count how many times I’ve fallen asleep on Kissam’s 2nd floor. In terms of privacy, it’s a hit or miss; you rarely ever see more than two groups of people at each corner of the floor. The couches are fairly comfortable, and the building itself is lovely. It’s usually best to go before the dinner rush, but it’s difficult to tell now that the Kissam Kitchen is open for both lunch and dinner. Win for our stomachs but not for naps.
- The Baseball Glove Lounge
Located on 1U of Sarratt, the Baseball Glove Lounge is a severely underrated haven. Yet, it’s honestly one of the best places to nap! You find so many tired students here, that napping on one of their comfortable couches is not uncommon. They’re probably the softest seats on campus, and it’s incredibly quiet. Paired with its library-esque ambiance, its isolation from other parts of the building really develops a sort of calming atmosphere. What more can you ask for?
- Wilson’s Cushioned Seats
After the two Macroeconomics exams I took these past few months, I immediately passed out on one of the cushioned seats. Maybe it was my exhaustion from studying, but I swear those were the best naps I’ve taken on campus. Wilson is fairly quiet after classes are held, and even then, finding students napping one of the chairs is pretty ingrained in your day-to-day views.
Honorable mention:
Stevenson Library
Stevenson Library is the only library on campus that is open 24/5, and for a lot of students – especially those in Gen Chem and Calculus – this is an essential asset for a passing grade. If you’re taking a STEM class, chances are you’ve probably napped here – whether it’s at one of the personal booths or among the open seating. Personally, I think the Stevenson Library is really depressing, so I try to avoid it unless I have a really big exam. Nonetheless, it does the trick: it’s quiet, semi-comfortable, private (if you’re in a booth), and reasonably spacious.