After only about three weeks at Dartmouth I realized that because our lives are peppered with papers, midterms, finals and oh-so-restful weekends, naps are the currency of the realm. The promise of what used to be a kindergartner's daily low point is now what gets me through hypnotic lectures and late nights the thought that, after classes are over, I can cocoon myself in my bed and get some well-needed shut-eye for an hour or two (or four or even six in my case the appropriate term here is narcolepsy).
Excessively long naps aside, I'm not picky when it comes to where I choose to crash but with a little scouting, it's easy to transform a simple nap into a luxurious slumber, with the location and ambience to match.
If you're a social sleeper, try the green couches in Collis the tables are perfect for propping up your feet, the pseudo-vinyl is deliciously comfy, and you can let the chatter of your fellow students and the smell of the soups lull you to sleep. Just don't take over the couch length-wise, or you'll give the swarm of people post-11s trying to get their stir-fry one more thing to complain about.
The couches at the bottom of the stairs in Novack are also a good bet they're spacious and convenient if you wake up with a sudden and urgent need to check your blitz, Greenprint something, eat a baked good and drain your DA$H at the same time.
One Wheelock is another enticing choice the couches are spacious, the space is softly lit, and you can enjoy a free hot drink while you're at it.
Looking for something more spacious and picturesque? Grab yourself a chintzy loveseat at the Top of the Hop you can enjoy a gorgeous panoramic of the Green and fall asleep surrounded by student art. (Check out that multi-colored toilet seat while you're up there. Best thing ever.)
If you're too tired to make it up the stairs to the Top, the bottom of the Hop isn't too bad either there's a three-sided red sectional that is soft, conveniently located right at the Hop doors, and is nearly always empty. Even better? You can drift off into dreamland while hearing the echoes of practicing a cappella groups reverberate around you.
If you want to nap and study as you please, Sanborn Library is the place for you. It's soporifically warm most of the time and the armchairs on the upper level are perfect for curling up in. You can even stretch out on the full-length couches on the lower level if you're vertically endowed or just want to feel pampered. The best part? You're guaranteed to nap for no longer than an hour, thanks to that jarringly loud grandfather clock.
If the sciences are your thing, the couches in the atrium of the Thayer School of Engineering are a prime go-to nap locale. And if you're a budding economist (half of Dartmouth?), those desk-and-bench booths on the first and second floors of Rocky seem to be the perfect size for a simple, quiet, undisturbed mid-study head-on-desk affair.
Of course, if you are a snorer, a drooler, a whimperer, or in general do not sleep like a baby angel, more private sleeping areas can be arranged the basement of FoCo has an assortment of couches for you to doze off on, as well as a fireplace for that at-home feeling. Depending on the time of day, the Dr. Seuss room on the east side of Baker may be empty and, if so, is perfect if you enjoy falling asleep with a book in your lap. If you're adventurous and maybe a little bit socially awkward, try bringing a blanket and a pillow to fourth floor Berry and locking yourself in one of the smaller study rooms. Those conference tables are probably bigger than the full-sized bed you had at home, right?
My favorite nap location, though currently invalid (unless your skin is part UnderArmour, or you are part polar bear) is napping out on the Green. When the weather is warm enough and I'm begging for that day to come soon take a blanket (or better yet, relive your DOC trip days and embrace the dirt), and enjoy an hour or two under the sun.
We all love our naps, those afternoon respites we so look forward to after the tough morning of lectures that you only survived by chugging coffee nonstop. Treat yourself to a true break, and get the nap you need with the atmosphere to die for. Easy access to multicolored toilet seats is the icing on the cake.
