If your idea of a leisurely Saturday is not getting out of bed until Sunday, you may have unintentionally been participating in a popular new social media trend called bed rotting.
What is Bed Rotting?
Bed rotting refers to the practice of staying in bed most of the day, all day, or even for multiple days, as a means of self-care. The social media site TikTok appears to be primarily responsible for the spread of the term.
There aren’t any rigid rules for bed rotting, but as more people share their bedbound experiences, a few common themes have emerged:
- While participants are welcome to doze off while they’re rotting, sleep isn’t the sole goal of rotting the day away.
- Popular activities among bed rotters include low-energy pursuits such as meditating, reading, watching shows or movies, playing video games, and scrolling social media.
- Many bed rotters describe the experience as an intentional effort to give their body and mind time to rest. In other words, they’re spending the day in bed because they want to, not because they’ve pushed themselves past the point of exhaustion and simply can’t get up.
Bed rotting seems to be most popular among members of Generation Z. Gen Zers were born between 1997-2012, which means that the typical bed rotter is probably in their teens or 20s.
Why Are People Partaking in the Bed Rotting Trend?
There are myriad. There’s no way we could list every possible rationale for bed rotting, but here are some of the more common reasons why someone might decide to participate in this trend:
- Stress management: Bed rotting can provide temporary respite from many of the common stressors and pressures of everyday life. Bed rotters aren’t reading work emails or answering work calls, nor are they engaging via text or phone calls with angst-inducing friends or family members.
- Fatigue: As we noted in the previous section, bed rotting is a choice, not the result of a physical collapse. But fatigue can still be a reason why someone decides to participate. In this case, people are taking an optional day or so to rest and recharge as a means of avoiding a future physical collapse.
- Mental health: This is the psychological version of the previous entry in this list. Sometimes, fatigue is more of a mental health phenomenon than a physical concern. In cases like these, people may view a bed rotting session as a way to let their mind rest, so when they resume their regular activities they can do so at full cognitive and emotional strength.
- Self-care: Managing stress and taking care of your body and mind are fundamental components of self-care. So, in a sense, anyone who opts to bed rot for any of the prior reasons on this list could be described as engaging in self-care. But this category can also include treating yourself to a film, a book, or just a quiet day by yourself, which is what a bed rotting session can be.
- Cultural shift: Some commenters have discussed bed rotting as a way of pushing back against the “hustle and grind” mindset that is so prevalent in business culture today. Unlike those who proudly boast on sites such as LinkedIn about their 24/7 dedication to their jobs, the Gen Z bed rotters call attention to the value of prioritizing yourself, not your employer.
Also, since bed rotting is a TikTok-fueled trend, we can’t discount the likelihood that many people are doing it simply because so many others are.
Benefits and Problems With Bed Rotting
People may have many understandable reasons for wanting to engage in bed rotting. But is the behavior itself actually beneficial, or is it more likely to have a detrimental impact?
The answer to that question can depend on a variety of factors, including why a person chooses to participate in bed rotting, how often they do so, and how well they are managing their physical and mental health when they’re up and about.
In an interview with SELF magazine, Bonnie Zucker, PsyD, said bed rotting can serve as a vital counterbalance to expectations that humans simply aren’t built to maintain.
“We aren’t designed to go, go, go,” Zucker said. “Our nature is not to have a nonstop 12-hour workday and a six-hour sleep cycle. That’s really going against what our biological needs call for, which is adequate downtime.”
One of the key words in Zucker’s quote is “adequate.”
It’s one thing to take an occasional day to do nothing. But spending too much time in bed or on the couch could be a sign of anxiety, depression, another mental health challenge, or a medical concern. And opting for self-enforced isolation instead of talking to a qualified professional can threaten to exacerbate your symptoms.
Also, it’s important to ensure that bed rotting doesn’t become your habitual response to stressors, conflicts, or setbacks. Taking a proverbial moment to gather your thoughts or rest your body can be both understandable and healthy. But diving under the covers whenever life gets difficult is a maladaptive response that can undermine your health and diminish your overall quality of life.
As a rare treat, bed rotting can be an enjoyable way to spend a day. But if it becomes a habit – or if you find yourself frequently choosing your bed over your job, your school responsibilities, or your relationships – you may want to seriously consider consulting with a professional.
Contact Montare If You Are Struggling With Your Mental Health
Montare Behavioral Health offers customized mental health treatment at multiple locations in California and Arizona.
Our continuum of care includes inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization/day treatment, intensive outpatient programming, and outpatient care. If you’re not able to travel to one of centers, we also offer some services via telehealth.
In each of these programs and at every location, you can expect to receive quality clinical care and comprehensive support from a team of skilled and compassionate professionals.
We understand the many ways that untreated mental illness can disrupt your life, and we’re here to provide the personalized solutions that can put you on the path toward a much healthier and more satisfying future.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 11/26/2024
