DEFINING THE LATEST SELF-CARE TREND
Bed rotting, the latest self-care trend to take over TikTok, involves spending an entire day relaxing or “rotting away” in bed as a way to decompress from life’s many stressors. Videos with the #bedrotting hashtag have amassed over 2 billion views, showing people of all ages lounging in bed, snacking, watching TV, and scrolling on their phones. While some view bed rotting as the ultimate form of restorative me-time, others are concerned it promotes unhealthy habits. So, what exactly is bed rotting, and is it actually good for you? Let’s take a closer look.
HOW BED ROTTING CAN BE A FORM OF SELF-CARE
In moderation, taking a bed rotting day occasionally can be a much-needed opportunity to rest, recharge, and have some “me time” before responsibilities take over. For busy parents, caregivers, students, and professionals with demanding jobs, a day of lounging and doing absolutely nothing productive can feel incredibly restorative.
In our society, there is a tendency to glorify busyness and hustling. Therefore, as a psychologist, I feel that allowing yourself permission not to accomplish anything for a day can be a radical act of self-care. It’s a way of telling yourself that you are worthy of rest and that your value isn’t about being productive all the time.
Our bodies aren’t built for non-stop work. We need proper rest. Working long hours and sleeping little goes against what our bodies naturally need. Humans aren’t machines – we’re not always made to be productive. We need enough downtime to stay healthy.
Constantly pushing ourselves without sufficient rest can lead to burnout, anxiety, and physical health issues. Taking an occasional bed rotting day to relax and recharge can help prevent that cumulative stress and exhaustion.
Similarly, I have often told many clients that rest is productive in my practice and work. When we give our bodies and brains a chance to rest, we’re better equipped to handle challenges, think creatively, and show up as our best selves in our relationships and responsibilities.
Allowing yourself a bed rotting day here and there to destress, rest your body and mind, and do things simply because they bring you joy – whether that’s binging a Netflix series, online shopping, or mindless scrolling shouldn’t be viewed as time wasted. If it leaves you feeling rejuvenated and better equipped to handle your responsibilities afterward, it’s time well spent caring for yourself.
WHEN BED ROTTING MIGHT BE A CONCERN
While the occasional lazy day spent in bed is no cause for concern, doing it too frequently or for days on end can be problematic for both physical and mental health. If you find yourself bed rotting multiple days a week and struggling to keep up with work, family, or school obligations. As a result, it may be a sign of underlying issues.
There’s a significant difference between taking an intentional day to rest and recharge yourself and using bed rotting as a way to avoid your life. Therefore, if you’re consistently struggling to get out of bed and engage with the world, it’s worth exploring what you might be trying to escape from.
For some individuals, bed rotting can reinforce avoidance behaviors, making them feel unable to handle daily responsibilities. It can become a crutch that allows them to temporarily check out from anxiety-provoking tasks or interactions.
A key point to keep in mind is that avoidance usually makes anxiety worse in the long run. By avoiding things, we fuel our anxiety and miss chances to prove we can handle them.
Bed rotting can also be used as an unhealthy escape from difficult emotions that need to be addressed, like grief, relationship issues, or low self-worth. While hiding away under the covers may provide temporary relief, it doesn’t make the underlying issues go away.
From a physical health standpoint, staying sedentary for long stretches is detrimental. It can lead to muscle aches and pains, poor circulation, digestive issues, and headaches. Regular movement, even if it’s just some light stretching or short walks, is important on bed rotting days.
Recent research shows that our bodies aren’t meant to be still for hours and hours. So, just like we schedule intentional rest days, we also need to prioritize regular movement, even on a smaller scale.
Another issue is that spending all day in bed, even if you’re not sleeping the whole time, can disrupt your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. This can lead to insomnia and other sleep problems over time.
Our brains associate our beds with sleep, so if we start hanging out in bed for hours during the day, that association can be confused. This is why sleep experts recommend only using your bed for sleep and sex. Bringing other wakeful activities into that space can make it harder to fall asleep at night.
Reserving your bed only for sleep is an important aspect of good sleep hygiene. One idea to avoid this issue is bed rotting on the couch or in a comfy chair instead to maintain that psychological boundary.
WHEN IT’S NECESSARY TO SEEK HELP
It is important to know the line between restorative rest days and signs that professional help may be needed. If you notice bed rooting negatively impacts your ability to function normally—you’re calling out of work often, neglecting basic hygiene and self-care, and isolating yourself from friends and family—reach out to my office at 844-802-6512. I can work with you to determine the underlying issues preventing you from being your best.
Often, spending all day in bed and not being able to motivate yourself to do much else is a common sign of depression. If you’re struggling to care for yourself, withdrawing from loved ones, and feeling hopeless or worthless, it’s time to seek support.
Persistent low mood, lack of energy, and loss of interest in activities are symptoms of depression that shouldn’t be ignored. Bed rooting can also be a way to avoid anxiety-provoking situations. If you suspect you may be struggling with a mental health issue, there is no shame in seeking the support you need. We all need support at various points in our lives.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
As with most things, bed rotting is perfectly healthy in moderation but detrimental in excess. Allowing yourself a day every now and then to simply rest and engage in restorative activities you enjoy is an important aspect of self-care. We all need breaks from the constant pressures of a productivity culture.
If you decide to partake in a bed rotting day, be intentional about it. Set a time limit for yourself, whether it’s a few hours or a full day. Make sure to still get up to stretch, hydrate, and attend to basic needs. Use the time to engage in hobbies or activities that genuinely recharge you rather than numbing out.
Bed rotting can be a helpful reset, but it shouldn’t be your only coping strategy. It is one tool in a larger self-care toolkit that should include social connection, movement, time in nature, and creative outlets. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to self-care. The goal is to find a balance of activities that recharge you and support your overall well-being.
Self-care involves tending to one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. In other words, true self-care involves listening to one’s body and giving it what it needs to thrive.
So go ahead and give yourself permission to spend a day “rotting” in bed if that’s what you need to feel rested and restored. Just be sure to prioritize the other self-care aspects contributing to a balanced, healthy life. And if you find yourself struggling, know that support is available. You are worthy of rest and care, always.
