For 40-year-old Daisuke Hori, a resident of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, sleep is a luxury he has chosen to forgo in pursuit of productivity and creativity.
An entrepreneur passionate about mechanical design, music, and painting, Hori has trained his mind and body to function on a mere 30 minutes of sleep each day for the past 12 years.
Surprisingly, he claims he does not feel tired, crediting his unique lifestyle for his efficiency and energy levels.
Hori’s journey into short sleeping began with a desire to maximize his waking hours. “I wanted to be more active during the day and get more work done,” he explained.
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He firmly believes that with the right techniques, one can learn to thrive on less sleep. “As long as you do sports or drink coffee an hour before eating, you can stave off drowsiness,” he added.
In 2016, he took a step further by founding the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association.
Here, he learned that “efficient workers gain more from high-quality sleep than long sleep.” Hori has shared his insights with over 2,000 students eager to adopt the “ultra-short sleeper” lifestyle; one student reported significant improvements in her skin and mental health as a result of this training.
Interestingly, even after sleeping as little as 26 minutes, Hori wakes up feeling energized rather than groggy.
He emphasizes that people who require sustained focus, such as doctors and firefighters, often benefit from this high-quality, condensed sleep regimen as well.
While sleep experts typically recommend eight hours for adults, Hori’s unconventional approach challenges the norm, showcasing how one’s mindset can redefine the relationship between sleep and productivity.