Forget the Standing Desk — Your Office Needs a Nap Desk Right Now
You know that one super-peppy coworker who obnoxiously brags about the health benefits of his standing desk? Well, a Greek design company has officially developed the ultimate comeback for those boasts: a straight-up napping desk.
Science shows we should all be taking naps at work: They increase productivity and decrease frustration. But forget the napping pillow. The nap desk is a little bit desk, a little bit bed and a whole lot of awesome.
This George Constanza dream desk has actually been lurking in the shadows of the Internet since 2010, but it is currently making its way around the Web thanks to what appears to be a random flurry of website coverage this week. It was designed by Greek company Studio NL and provides a bit of a commentary on how we spend too much time working and not enough time napping.
"The desk concept came from my time working incredible hours at university," designer Athanasia Leivaditou told the Huffington Post. She added that, much to the chagrin of nappers everywhere, the design isn't actually going to be marketed worldwide. "It's meant to show how much of our lives we spend on work."
The sleek piece of furniture is still very fun to look at, though. It is foldable and can transition easily from straight-up desk to cozy nap haven in just a few GIFs:
Given that professionals in the United States are notoriously overworked — along with the fact that one in three adults identifies as a napping enthusiast — these desks could be legitimately useful in the real world.
Plus, power naps are vital. They can compensate for sleep deficits, and according to the National Sleep Foundation, "a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance."
One day, companies will wise up and seriously consider turning desks like these into an IRL option for their tired, Costanza-like employees.
But until then, we'll just have to keep dreaming. (During the day, preferably.)
h/t HelloGiggles