TikTok has done wonders for helping audiences better understand self-care and what it takes to look after one’s own mental health. However, to the chagrin of many self-care advocates, a recent trend has found itself on the for you pages of many: Bed Rotting.

What is Bed Rotting?

Bed Rotting is being touted as the newest form of self-care that involves lying in bed even after waking up for the day and engaging in sedentary activities such as continuing to sleep, watching TV, or scrolling through social media.

 Many have linked the practice to another lifestyle trend dubbed “slow living” that emphasizes living more consciously and doing things meaningfully as opposed to the constant rush of the average American’s daily schedule. 

What separates Bed Rotting from slow living, however, is the sense of isolation that prevents those who partake from curating the connections and meaningful practices that define the slow-living lifestyle.

Why Do People Bed Rot?

While the answers vary for each individual, the Bed Rotting trend has been increasingly popular with members of Generation Z, who have found themselves battling burnout from work, school, and social obligations.

In an individualist culture that promotes personal success and achievement, it can be easy for people, especially young adults, to feel as if they are falling behind and become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of duties they must fulfill on a daily basis. For many, bed rotting has turned into a way of removing oneself from the chaos of the external world and allowing for a moment of respite. 

The question remains, however, of what people can gain from the practice.

Is Bed Rotting Good For You?

Yes and no, technically. Determining the effects of Bed Rotting is largely contingent on its duration. While there are benefits to the act of sleeping in on a lazy Sunday and allowing your body to wake up on its own terms, such as easing stress and exhaustion after a taxing week, prolonging this can lead to adverse health effects and even worsen the exact things people are looking to remedy.

Psychologist Dr. Katrina Ostmeyer notes that the act of staying in bed and continually napping is a sign of depression as well as other mood disorders. Additionally, the act of Bed Rotting could even be a link to developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, leading to higher chances of irritability.

The act of staying in bed and avoiding the outside world also effectively isolates individuals from what could otherwise enrich their lives for the better, making the seclusion all the more damaging to one’s mental state and well-being. 

Key Takeaways

Life can be hard, and there is no denying that fact. How people approach these hardships, however, can be the difference between overcoming adversity and prolonging it. 

Bed Rotting emerged as a coping mechanism for many who found the comfort of their bed to be the perfect cocoon to protect against the outside world. While this can be helpful in the short term as a way to recuperate after a difficult workweek, concerns begin to arise if this were to last more than one or two days.