You mean you go to sleep every night and don’t get paid for it? Your luck may be about to change.
Turns out several million people in the United States suffer through sleepless nights, which many researchers agree greatly affects overall health. Numerous hospitals dedicate entire divisions to studying sleep -- and they’re willing to pay you several thousand dollars just to watch you nap.
Most studies want healthy adults with consistent sleep patterns. I checked both boxes, and earned $12,000 participating in two studies in the same hospital. Here’s what I learned in the process, and how you, too, can get paid to sleep.
Some cities have a higher concentration of facilities that pay sleep-study participants, but it’s easy to find facilities in your area. I joined two studies in Boston at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
When you find a sleep center near you, you’ll usually see multiple studies running simultaneously. You won’t qualify for all of them, but you may qualify for more than you think.
Read the specifics of each study carefully so you only apply to studies you qualify for. You’ll often need to take a survey, sharing your personal information and confirming you understand the study’s goals and compensation. For example, the questionnaires I filled out included:
Don’t fudge your answers. Being honest is the only way to successfully get through this process, not to mention contribute to accurate scientific data!
One cool feature: You can start this part of the process remotely. I stayed in Florida while applying for studies in Boston, and I was able to get pretty far through the process before having to visit in person.
So if you’re planning a trip and want to turn it into an earning opportunity, consider looking for a study before you leave home!
You have just become the recruiter's best friend! She’ll want to talk to you and see you all the time.
Next, you’ll go to the hospital for a series of briefings and tests. You’ll likely meet the doctor conducting the research, who will give you a thorough explanation of the study and its processes.
At this point, you’ll likely take two exams:
You won’t know right then and there if your blood and urine earned an A+, but you’re well on your way to completing the process.
The best part? This is paid time. If you get cold feet and decide to quit at this point, you’ll still get paid for each part of the process you’ve completed so far.
Compensation varies, but most researchers want to dangle a carrot so you’ll keep going. Most of the time you can expect a $25-$100 payment for each step you complete.
Most facilities are really good about the payout breakdown, but if yours doesn’t explain it at the beginning, ask. This is also your opportunity to discuss when and how you’ll be paid, as well as how your payment will be taxed.
After your exams, you’ll meet up with your new BFF, the recruiter who you will call every day for the duration of the study. At this point, I actually stopped calling her my BFF and started calling her “my mother.” She gave me a special watch to monitor my light and activity patterns, keeping an eye on what I was doing.
You’ll also keep a physical sleep log documenting your progress as you wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, and you’ll call your new “mom” as you’re doing this to make sure what you say you’re doing is true.
That said, Mom has faith in you. She wants you to succeed, and if you blow curfew a few nights, you probably won’t be kicked out of the study.
No, it’s not all comfy pillows and sweet dreams; researchers pay participants because these studies have a few downsides.
In my experience, they sound worse than they actually are. Here’s what you should be ready for:
You will likely be completely cut off from the outside world during the study’s observation period.
You usually won’t have any time cues, meaning no clock, no computer and no phone. You also won’t have any windows to observe light patterns. While you’re in the study, the doctor determines night and day, which can be a bit unsettling.
I’ve taken part in studies as short as four days (for which I earned $4,000) and have seen others as long as 31 days (typically paying $10,000). Start small and work your way up once you’ve tried it once or twice.
You may have to maintain a “constant posture” for part of the study.
In some cases you may have to sit in the same position for six hours, or you may be kept awake at a 45-degree angle in low light for two days. It depends on the study, but confirm you’ll be able to manage it before you sign up.
And no, for those of you wondering, I’m not kidding about the “constant” part -- you don’t get to get up or change positions to use the restroom, so you might need to use a bedpan. This was the most difficult part of the studies I did!
During at least part of the study you may wear an IV, a rectal thermometer and electrodes attached to your head.
Did you just say rectal thermometer?! Why yes, I did. There’s a reason they pay the big bucks.
The technicians and researchers make all of these procedures and measurements as easy as possible. The thermometer helps them make sure you’re maintaining a normal body temperature, and it’s not as big of a deal as it sounds.
No, it’s not all easy -- but the rewards are great. I earned $4,000 for a four-day study and $8,000 for a seven-day study.
Plus, when you’re not giving blood or following instructions, you can do pretty much whatever you want outside of activities that would raise your heart rate.
If you want to relax, simply hang out in your comfiest clothes and listen to music, write letters, draw or paint. I never make time to create comics, but I completed three during one study, not to mention finishing several books that had been collecting dust on my shelves.
Or, put your time to work. Devise a business plan for a new venture, outline your new blog’s content calendar or even write letters to members of Congress. During one of my studies, a technician told me another participant worked on his architecture senior thesis during his time in the study!
Although you're subject to frequent interruptions, if you can bounce back to what you were originally working on, it's a great time to really hone in on any type of project. I suggest packing a bag with notebooks, art supplies, books and projects you’ve been meaning to work on, and seeing what you feel like.
You’ll enjoy a complete technology cleanse, you’ll interact with interesting technicians and researchers, you’re contributing to science, and best of all, you’ll get a big fat check. Not bad for a few nights’ work!
Jillian Shea loves obscure means of money and media. Read her blog at jillsheais.wix.com/lostmakers
Dear Penny Hoarders,
It’s me, Jillian, that girl who spent lots of time making lots of money to sleep. After writing about my experiences, I started receiving several of the same questions from readers, so I figured I’d answer all of them in one easy-to-read place.
For those who haven’t seen the original story, here’s a quick recap.
Research facilities around the world pay people to sleep, and you can participate in those studies by following a few steps. It’s a fun and fulfilling role that gives you the opportunity to contribute to science, while making some cash in the process.
Let the Q&A begin!
This was the No. 1 question, and the answer is different for everyone. Originally, I offered this link to help people find studies in their area, but Penny Hoarders helped out by suggesting this site, too.
Here’s the catch: Looking on these sites doesn’t mean you’re now part of the study. They just show you research facilities near you.
You can take this one step further by visiting the websites for the clinical studies in your area. They typically have a page listing current studies with corresponding surveys to see if you qualify, but you can always call or email to express interest in participating. Even if you don’t currently qualify for a study, they may keep you on a list for future consideration.
In short, once you find open sleep studies, visit the websites, call or email the facilities, and ask how you can get involved. Every study and every facility is different.
It’s also helpful to do a simple Google search for “paid sleep studies in [your city].” This may generate results more specific to what you’re looking for. You can look for paid studies on any topic, too.
Available studies include those for smokers, late-shift workers and people who are chronically tired. The sky’s the limit -- just be specific in your search, and you’ll get specific results.
It’s important to note that larger cities typically have larger research facilities. Hospitals sometimes double as places for case study research, so the larger the hospital, the more likely it is to have a sleep division or clinical trial area.
I know you don’t know me, but I wouldn’t lie to you! Studies offer people a great opportunity to earn some money while they’re between places, figuring things out or going to school. You can verify legitimacy by contacting local facilities and asking for details on their paid studies.
When investigating a study, always ask to see the terms written out in a contract. Ask lots of questions, and look into the background of the location. I participated at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, which I knew was an honest, reputable institution I could trust to take care of me during my stay.
As a general rule, if you get a bad feeling about a place, you don’t have to move on with the study. Every study I’ve joined states that you’re allowed to leave if you ever feel uncomfortable or decide you aren’t OK with the circumstances.
Additionally, if you’re staying overnight at a facility, always let someone else know about the location and duration of the study. Do your research, and make good choices before signing up. Don’t jump into something without knowing all the facts first.
Yes, this is the best way to know if you qualify for a study. You can also see if the facility has a survey you can complete to qualify for future studies. Ask the center to contact you or keep you on file if it’s ever searching for someone. This makes the recruitment process easier for the center and gives you an advantage in being selected.
In my article, I was honest about some studies requiring regular blood draws and internal temperatures, but this is not every study. This is something you can learn more about by looking into what different facilities are interested in studying. For example, I participated in a study all about color, and the researchers put me in a room with a different luminosity every day.
Every study is unique. Careful research and a call to a recruiter will give you the best idea of what studies require of you physically. If you want to get a good laugh, just come right out and ask, “But do they make you put in a rectal thermometer, or what?”
Some people thought I was writing as a representative for a place or an organization. Nope, I’m just someone who learned about research studies and made them my life for a while. You can, too!
I hope this clarifies a few of the questions that everyone has about sleep studies. I’m happy to answer more, but if they are location-specific, it’s best to reach out to organizations in your area that are performing the studies. Some pay better than others, some are a small commitment, and some are more ongoing. Think about your schedule and lifestyle, and pick a study that works for you.
Jillian Shea is a freelance creative who runs her own copywriting business. She loves obscure means of money and media. Read her blog at jillsheais.wix.com/lostmakers.
