In sleep-deprived China, a unique profession has emerged that charges insomniacs for help falling asleep. So-called sleepwalkers try to promote sleep with soothing conversations and emotional support before bedtime. They target young adults struggling with the demanding 996 culture – working from 9 AM to 9 PM six days a week – marital stress and other life pressures. Part-time sleep therapist Taozi, who has a steady job with a modest salary, turned to the practice to supplement her income after experiencing the benefits of the services herself.
She told Guangzhou Daily that she used the sleep services to cope with the anxiety triggered by her peers in her hometown getting married and starting families.
“Discussing personal issues that are difficult to share with friends and family with a stranger may be the best way to clear out emotional garbage. When that emotional garbage is cleared, you tend to sleep better,” Taozi said.
After becoming a sleepwalker, Taozi joined a group chat where she could take orders in her free time and share the profits with the platform.
Sleepmakers are divided into different tiers on the platform, such as gold and boss, with higher tiers earning more. A boss sleep-maker can earn up to 260 yuan (Rs 3,044) per hour, while a full-time sleep-maker can earn up to 30,000 yuan (Rs 3.5 lakh) per month plus tips,” Taozi added. Most of Taozi’s clients are young adults born in the 1990s and 2000s. They seek a listening ear and emotional support to help them navigate life’s challenges.
Their service ends when the client falls asleep. Taozi says she struggles with her sleep because the hours are naturally sleep-related. Sleepmakers work both online and offline.
An online practitioner, Sevenseven7, having over 2.6 million followers on Douyin, is known for her imaginative bedtime stories. In one of her most popular videos, titled “Little Pig Boiling Medicine,” which received 480,000 likes, she tells the whimsical story of a little pig who falls ill and seeks a doctor.
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