Capitalism may have a lot of ramifications, but one very pervasive side-effect to the system is eye-bags. Many a man — and woman — has had to trade their valued sleep-time for coin, after all. But what if there was a way to get paid FOR sleeping?
In 2023,
Saishwari Patil, an auditor based in Bengaluru, clinched the title of ‘
Sleep Champion of the Year’ and took home a prize of INR 9 lakh. But how?
Wakefit has been hosting a “Sleep Internship” for a while now, drawing attention from across the country. The company calls upon applicants to participate in their program for 60 days where they’re mostly expected to hit the 9-hour sleep KPI, take power naps and test a new Wakefit mattress. And suffice to say that last year’s competition was intense.
First, the winner had to get selected from a massive pool of 5 lakh applicants vying for a spot in the
Wakefit Sleep Internship. After that, they had to compete with 11 other participants that were shortlisted — all of whom were paid a stipend of Rs 1 lakh.
Over the course of the 2-month-long program, these sleep interns logged a combined total of 7,000 hours of sleep, with their progress monitored and evaluated based on their sleep efficiency. The competition reached its peak with a live “sleep-off,” where the top four finalists slept in custom sleep pods, competing for the ultimate prize. And Saishwari emerged victorious with a remarkable sleep efficiency score of 99%, securing her position as the season’s top sleeper.
The Wakefit
Sleep Internship is not just a quirky contest; it’s also a part of the company’s broader mission to address a growing issue in India. According to the Great Indian Sleep Scorecard 2024, nearly 50% of Indians wake up feeling tired, with factors like long working hours, stress, and poor sleep environments contributing to widespread sleep deprivation.
By creating the Sleep Internship, Wakefit aims to shine a light on the importance of
quality sleep and encourage people to prioritise rest in their daily lives. The internship is a tongue-in-cheek way to promote better sleep habits, offering participants not just money, but also insights into improving their
sleep health, the company said.
The good news is that you may have a chance at being crowned the next
Sleep Champion of the Year! Building on the success of the previous seasons, Wakefit has already opened registrations for the fourth edition of its Sleep Internship. This time, the stakes are even higher, with the winner standing to earn up to Rs 10 lakh!
Wakefit promises that this season will be more engaging than ever, with participants receiving a state-of-the-art Wakefit mattress and advanced sleep tracker. Additionally, the interns will undergo a series of sessions with sleep experts, fitness professionals, and wellness coaches, all aimed at enhancing their sleep quality.
As the conversation around sleep continues to evolve, this initiative, while playful, underscores a critical message: quality sleep is not just a luxury, but a necessity for overall well-being.
In the meantime, candidates interested in the program can fill in their entries
here.
