Over the years at Priory, one realizes that they cannot maintain a healthy and normal sleep schedule, whether because of the never-ending homework, or because you had a game that went until 9:30 P.M. and you have to go home and study for a test that you have tomorrow.
Eventually, you will come to adapt to this problem. Some people will drink copious numbers of energy drinks in a feigned attempt to make it through the day; however, there is the inevitable crash that comes with those at around 1:00-1:30 in the afternoon. Some will simply thug it out, sleep the normal 3-4 hours, and stay awake through sheer force of will; however, this can lead students to walk around like zombies all day, and, if done for long periods of time, will lead to the inevitable manic episode (don’t ask Buddy Essen about The Hat Man). However, many other members of the student body and I have the most optimal way to fight the issues we face: instead of sleeping at home, why not just sleep here? Taking naps at school is the best way to cope with the lack of sleep prescribed to you by your teachers BY FAR. A small power nap in the middle of class or your study hall will give you the energy to make it through the day. However, the quality of these power naps is dependent on WHERE you take them. There are a handful of spots that I have grown fond of over the years, and there are several new spots with the new construction finished. With all that said, here are the top three best nap spots on campus.
3. The Highschool Commons Couch
One of the newer editions to the school, the couch in the re-vamped high school commons is a place where I have found myself napping on several occasions. It is so comfortable and soft that, once you lay down, you sink right in; the feeling is euphoric, especially when you are deprived of any quality shut-eye the night before. Another great thing about the couch is that it is big; so big in fact that you and your friends could all fit on it and sleep together… have a slumber party if you will. I would put this higher on my list, but there are a lot of drawbacks to the couch. First, its location isn’t optimal. It is rather isolated from classrooms, and you could be late to your classes if you decide to sleep a couple of minutes past the first bell. My second reason is that the commons is not the place to go if you want a serene peaceful environment to sleep in, as it is oftentimes full of noisy little children who will make it their top priority to exacerbate the effects of your school-ridden insomnia. My third reason is that the couch is too comfortable… you might be saying, “But isn’t comfort important?” and I would say YES, but to a degree. If you are too comfy, you might sleep through the bell and miss your next class, which is why it is important to find a place that has the perfect balance of comfort and irritation.
2. The New Blue Chairs
Another new addition to the sleeping spots on campus is the big blue chairs that act as a border between the new junior school and the high school. These chairs are not as comfortable as the couch, but they are comfy enough to where you can get a decent little cat nap and not sleep through the bells. I like these chairs, but there are a lot of drawbacks to them. The location of the chairs has its pros and cons. The pros are that you are next to a big window, so while you are dozing off you can look out at the new and improved Priory campus that your parent’s tuition money bought. The cons are that you have a long trek to class; so I would recommend that you only nap here if you have a lot of free time. Another added bonus, or drawback, depending on how you look at it, is that you have Dr. Plaxco’s office directly facing you, and he will eye you down while you recover from a long night of writing papers for him. I know this from personal experience.
1. Regular Ol’ Desks
All these new additions to the catalog of places to sleep throughout the day are great and they have their benefits. HOWEVER… there is no beating the tried and true ol’ reliable desk. Sure the hardened plastic isn’t the most comfortable, and you’re surrounded by all your idiot friends who are going to take pictures of you, but there is truly no better place to catch up on some sleep. First of all, you get a relaxing ambiance as you fall asleep to the sounds of Mr. Woodcock’s lectures in his British accent; or you can let your mind roam free as you doze off to Desolation Row by Bob Dylan as it plays for the fifth time in a row. Second of all, you don’t have to move anywhere as you can just go to your designated classroom and clock out for 45 minutes. There are many more reasons as to why this is the GOAT napping spot, but I’m pretty sure I’m putting you to sleep with how long this is right now.
I will end with this: all the places I have listed are subjective, and hopefully, you agree with me. Everyone has their own preferences though, and there is no one-size-fits-all spot, so I would encourage you to go find your perfect spot whenever you can. It doesn’t just have to be during breaks – skip a class or two if that’s what it takes to find your ideal spot because it will help you so much in the long run. It will also help in the long run if you follow Priory Naps on Instagram and submit pictures of your idiot friends who you caught lacking.
