Sometimes, getting a good night’s sleep can lead to more than just feeling rested. For Jiniya Chatterjee from Mumbai, it meant winning 9.6 lakh and a sponsored vacation after being named the winner of the fifth season of the Sleep Internship by Wakefit.

The two-month competition brought together 10 participants from across India, selected from more than 2 lakh applications. The idea was simple: get enough sleep, maintain a regular routine and take part in weekly challenges to earn a place on the leaderboard.

But the internship was not limited to sleeping hours. Every week, they also took part in activities that tested their creativity and ability to complete unusual tasks.

Another activity, called the Undercover Sleep Mission, required participants to use the words “blanket” or “pillow” 10 times during a conversation without being noticed. The best performer each week was named Pro Sleeper of the Week.

At the end of the competition, Ratnagiri Manikandan, Jiniya Chatterjee and Mehek Khot emerged as the top three contestants.

However, Karim Khan from Hyderabad also returned as a wildcard entry after winning the highest number of weekly creative challenges.

One of the tasks was the Memory Foam Challenge, in which contestants had to recreate a bedroom setup after looking at reference images. The task tested their memory, observation and teamwork.

The next challenge, called the Sleep Auction, asked contestants to bid for items needed to create their sleeping environment.

These included pillows, blankets, air-conditioning controls, lighting and sound settings. The auction also featured a rap lullaby performed by host and influencer Anuj Gupta.

Once their sleeping arrangements were ready, the finalists spent their final night in the competition. Their sleep scores from that night played a key role in deciding the winner.

After the final scores were compared, Jiniya Chatterjee emerged as the winner. She took home 9.6 lakh along with a sponsored vacation, bringing the fifth season of the internship to a close.

Since its launch in 2019, the Sleep Internship has received more than 10 lakh applications across its first four seasons, with 65 interns receiving stipends of 1 lakh each.