Gen Z employees can’t bear the 9-5 grind — so they’re using lunch breaks to nap or ‘crash out’ in bizarre places throughout NYC
By Marissa Matozzo
Published on March 31, 2026.
Stressed-out young employees in New York City are using lunch breaks to nap or 'crash out' in bizarre locations throughout the city. The stress of the 9-5 grind has led to a surge in Gen Zers, who are using these breaks to rest, sleep, decompress, or have a full-blown meltdown in the middle of the workday. A viral video by TikTok user Ben Sanderson, which gained over 1 million views, revealed that he paid $15 to nap in a Midtown AMC theater for a mid-day nap in an AMC theater. Other Gen Z users have also found private, rentable capsules in NYC designed for power naps, overnight stays, or just a temporary escape from the city chaos. Experts like Forest Hills-based neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez suggest that nap is a science-approved and more than just a midday indulgence.
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