SHINee’s Taemin Reveals His Surprisingly Quiet Routine on Days Off

Behind one of K-pop’s most meticulous performers is a self-described homebody who sleeps at least seven hours, takes an hour to eat and finds inspiration while watching videos alone.

Taemin’s Day Off Is Quieter Than Fans Might Expect

On stage, Taemin is known for precision, intensity and performances that feel carefully constructed down to the smallest movement.

His days away from the spotlight look very different.

Appearing on YouTube program Yoo In Radio, the SHINee member described himself as a genuine homebody who rarely feels bored alone. While others sometimes wonder how he can spend so much time without meeting anyone, Taemin insisted that there is always something to do at home.

His schedule revealed one activity appearing throughout nearly every part of the day: watching videos.

He Needs at Least Seven Hours of Sleep

Taemin explained that he usually gets up around 10 a.m. when he has no scheduled activities. His late-night routine, which can continue until around 1 a.m., often includes watching videos and scrolling through Shorts.

“I should sleep, but I keep watching them,” he admitted.

He also described himself as a long sleeper, saying that getting fewer than seven hours noticeably affects his condition the following day.

The detail offers a practical glimpse behind his performances. Taemin’s work depends heavily on physical control, stamina and concentration, so sufficient rest is not merely a preference. It forms part of how he maintains the condition required for rehearsals and concerts.

Even Breakfast Can Take an Hour

His first meal generally falls between 10 a.m. and noon.

While preparing for promotions, Taemin said he may grill salmon, but he also cooks aglio e olio or eats yogurt with a banana. The meal itself can last more than an hour because he continues watching something while eating.

Combined with showering and getting ready, leaving home can take him around two hours.

It is a far more unhurried routine than fans might associate with an artist known for tightly controlled choreography. Yet the contrast also makes sense. When his professional life moves according to rehearsals, recordings and performance schedules, his time at home appears deliberately slow.

His “Depression Mode” Is Also Creative Time

The most revealing part of Taemin’s schedule began around 8 p.m., which he labeled “watching Shorts, depression mode.”

The expression sounded gloomy, but his explanation was more complicated. During those hours, he sometimes becomes anxious and wonders whether it is acceptable to spend an entire day this way.

At the same time, this is when ideas begin to appear.

Taemin said he writes down keywords that come to mind and saves photographs or images that match his inspiration. Once that process is finished, he returns to watching Shorts.

His comments suggest that what looks like inactivity from the outside is not necessarily empty time. Quiet evenings give him space to collect visual references and fragments of ideas that may eventually develop into music, performances or concepts.

The Homebody Behind an Elaborate Artistic World

That habit feels especially relevant because visual storytelling has long been central to Taemin’s solo career.

He has previously spoken about participating closely in the creative process behind releases such as “Criminal,” including its symbolism, choreography and cinematic direction.

His highly detailed stage identity may therefore begin in surprisingly ordinary places: a saved photograph, an unfinished keyword or an idea that appears while he is sitting alone at home.

Taemin recently returned with PHASE 1: Soft Violence, released on August 31. The project once again highlights the contrasts that define his work, pairing softness with tension and restraint with intensity.

Fans may see the finished result beneath elaborate lighting and styling, but Yoo In Radio revealed the much quieter beginning of that process.

Taemin may call himself a homebody, but creatively, he rarely appears to be doing nothing.