Sleep-deprived China has witnessed the emergence of a unique profession that charges insomniacs for assistance in falling asleep.
So-called sleepmakers try to induce slumber with soothing conversations and emotional support before bedtime.
They cater to young adults struggling with the demanding “996” culture – working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week – marriage stress, and other life pressures.
Part-time sleepmaker, Taozi, who has a stable 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 sleep services to manage the anxiety triggered by seeing her peers in her hometown marry and start families.
“Discussing personal problems that are difficult to share with friends and family with a stranger might be the best way to clear out emotional garbage. Once this emotional garbage is taken care of, people tend to sleep better,” Taozi said.
After becoming a sleepmaker, Taozi joined a group chat where she could accept orders during her free time, sharing profits with the platform.
“Sleepmakers are categorised into levels on the platform, such as gold and chief, with higher tiers earning more. A chief sleepmaker can earn up to 260 yuan (US$36) an hour, while a full-time sleepmaker can earn up to 30,000 yuan (US$4,200) a 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 navigate life’s challenges.
Her service comes to an end when the client falls asleep.
Taozi said that she struggles with her sleep because the hours are, obviously, sleep related.
Sleepmakers operate on and offline.
One online practitioner known as “Sevenseven7”, who boasts 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 attracted 480,000 likes, she tells a whimsical tale of a little pig who falls ill and visits a doctor.
“There was a cute little pig that suddenly fell ill and went to see a doctor. The doctor prescribed some medicine and told the pig to boil it for 1,000 seconds, but the pig fell asleep while boiling it.
“When the pig wakes up, it discovers that 1,001 seconds have passed. In a panic, the pig shouted, ‘The medicine is burned!’ Yao shui jiao le in Mandarin, which sounds like ‘It’s time to sleep’.”
This play on words has drawn interest from her audience, who have dubbed her videos “modern new drugs”.
“Hearing sweet stories makes me a sweet boy,” one online observer said.
