On average, the human body requires about 6-8 hours of sleep each night to maintain optimal health. This amount of sleep is crucial for regulating mood, supporting cognitive function, and ensuring overall well-being. However, what if someone told you that there’s a man who has managed to live with only 30 minutes of sleep per day for the last 12 years? It sounds implausible, but it’s true.
Meet Daisuke Hori, a 40-year-old man from Hyogo prefecture in western Japan, who has defied conventional wisdom by maintaining a sleep routine of just 30 minutes a day. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Hori has managed to "double" his life by reducing his sleep drastically. Over the past 12 years, he has trained his body and brain to function normally on such minimal rest, and he claims this practice has significantly enhanced his work efficiency.
Hori attributes his ability to stave off drowsiness to specific habits, such as exercising or drinking coffee an hour before eating. He firmly believes that the quality of sleep is far more important than the duration, especially for those who need to maintain high levels of concentration in their work. For example, professionals like doctors and firefighters, who often have shorter rest periods, can still perform efficiently if their sleep is of high quality.
Intrigued by Hori’s extraordinary lifestyle, Japan’s Yomiuri TV decided to follow him for three days for a reality show titled Will You Go With Me? The show documented Hori sleeping for just 26 minutes, after which he woke up feeling energized, had breakfast, went to work, and even made time for a gym session. This glimpse into his daily life left viewers astonished and challenged the traditional understanding of sleep.
In addition to practicing his ultra-short sleep routine, Hori is also the founder of the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, which he established in 2016. Through this organization, he has taught over 2,100 students how to become ultra-short sleepers like himself, emphasizing the importance of maximizing life by minimizing sleep.
Hori’s case is not entirely unique; there are other remarkable individuals who have defied sleep norms. For instance, an 80-year-old Vietnamese man named Thai Ngoc claims to have not slept for over 60 years. Ngoc attributes his lifelong insomnia to a fever he contracted in 1962. Despite various attempts at therapy and the use of sleeping pills, his condition remains unchanged, and he continues to live without sleep.
Both Hori and Ngoc’s stories challenge our understanding of sleep and its role in human health. While these cases are extraordinary and not necessarily advisable for everyone, they open up intriguing questions about the limits of human endurance and the potential for different approaches to rest and productivity.
Image Source: Twitter