a 25-minute nap for $10? sounds like a deal
the studio isn't the most luxurious of settings to take a nap. but for an overworked and tired employee, it could be exactly what they need
4 minute read
national post reporter devika desai tests the beds at nap it up on october 30, 2019.
peter j. thompson
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national post
by devika desaiwalking into the reception room of nap it up is akin to entering an especially quiet dentist’s office — with its light blue walls, minimal decor and white-and-brown counters — except for the basket of brown bed slippers by the door.from there, the door to the adjoining room opens to reveal a maze of simply furnished beds. each is lined with neatly ironed white sheets and a fluffy white pillow. on three sides are thick, light-purple curtains, dividing each bed into its own little cubicle. a water bottle, a black sleeping mask and a little pink lock box are provided for each bed.everything, in other words, that mehzabeen rahman thinks people will need to get a quick nap in a room, potentially full of strangers, for as little as $10.
she got the idea for canada’s first “napping studio” while working at her former job in a bank. “i worked long hours at my (former) work and we normally have an hour and a half for lunch,” she said. “i was very, very tired so i was trying to take a nap on the dining table.”just as she closed her eyes, her co-worker walked in, complaining about how tired he was. “and then another co-worker came in and said the same thing,” she said. “so there were three of us, just dying. at that moment, we would have paid anything (for a place to nap).”“you can’t go into the car in winter because it’s snowing and it’s too hot to sleep in there when it’s summer,” she explained. “so you need a place where you can nap and a lot of workplaces don’t have that.”
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after a year and a half of research, the studio officially opened on oct. 21 and is the first of its kind in canada, according to rahman. while it is taking people time to get used to the concept of paying for sleep, she said she has received positive feedback.“i haven’t gotten that many clients yet but whoever has visited it loved it,” she said. “one guy actually slept for an hour, despite saying he’s a light sleeper.”a white noise machine is kept on one side for those who can’t sleep in silence, while those who need absolute quiet could simply choose beds on the opposite end of the room. an air purifier and lavender diffuser is placed in the middle to keep the studio smelling fresh, cool and lightly scented. small succulent plant pots and punny posters, like “namaste in bed” and “naps are life” cater to the current millennial decor trends.for $10, a customer can sleep up to 25 minutes and the price increases by $10 for every extra 30 minutes. however, rahman noticed that her clients tend to prefer the longer times. “nobody actually used the 25 minutes,” she said.
the national sleep foundation recommends napping for a minimum of 20 minutes for short-term alertness. “while naps do not necessarily make up for inadequate or poor quality nighttime sleep, a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance,” according to the website. a 2016 conference board of canada survey found that 27 per cent of canadian workers report being fatigued most days or every day during a typical work week.however, as the concept of paying for sleep is “a brand new one,” many are unconvinced of its benefits.
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“a lot of people refuse to come — ‘why would we pay you to sleep when we can go home for that?’” she said. “but it’s the convenience that sells.”the idea of paying for sleep isn’t all that different from, say, paying a restaurant for a meal, she says. “look at mcdonalds and their fast food service. you can go home and eat too, but a lot of people still pay for the convenience.”finding the studio is no easy task. tucked at the end of a corridor right behind a liquor store in a mall in the busy yonge-eglinton area in toronto makes the commute a bit cumbersome for customers looking to make the best of their lunch hour. rahman said they picked the location because of its proximity to the different office buildings. “there are so many highrises and offices near us — architects, lawyers, dentists, people who work long hours.”
rahman remains optimistic. according to her, the younger generation are “very keen” on the idea, often responding enthusiastically. “it is the people who are a bit older who say, ‘we won’t pay you for that’, but that’s ok. i understand it’s not for everyone.”rahman recommends people visit the studio before objecting to it. “i see a lot of comments on social media asking the same thing — pricing, hygiene etc,” she said. “i’ve tried my best to make all the arrangements, so for those who would consider the studio, i would say, come see it before you have any objections.”
rahman remains optimistic. according to her, the younger generation are “very keen” on the idea, often responding enthusiastically. “it is the people who are a bit older who say, ‘we won’t pay you for that’, but that’s ok. i understand it’s not for everyone.”rahman recommends people visit the studio before objecting to it. “i see a lot of comments on social media asking the same thing — pricing, hygiene etc,” she said. “i’ve tried my best to make all the arrangements, so for those who would consider the studio, i would say, come see it before you have any objections.”
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