So, it turns out that there is a name for that thing you do when you lay in bed all day as you and your mattress become one – ‘bed rotting’.
If there's one thing we are all collectively and desperately looking for, this could well be it. It's no wonder – the weather is poor, the economy very much mirrors the weather, social media has never been more draining, life is not soft, the list goes on…
We're a generation of burned-out beings, and wellness and self-care movements have become progressively more celebrated (for those who are privileged enough to experience it of course).
Enter cold szn armed and ready.
What is bed rotting?
There is a new self-care trend on the block – (perhaps not so new, but we like the fact that we can now name it) and TikTok is catching on. Dubbed ‘bed rotting’, this trend essentially means spending extended periods of time in bed engaging in various activities such as napping, scrolling through social media, binge-watching TV shows, indulging in comfort foods and… some more napping.
While initially seen as an indulgent and whimsical escape from the demands of daily life giving you the rest and relaxation you truly deserve, bed rotting has sparked discussions about the potential consequences of this sedentary lifestyle – when someone spends six or more hours per day sitting or lying down, lacking significant physical movement in their daily life.
Girl boss? Forget it. We’d like a job that gives us all the perks with none of the stress, TYVM.
Why do we bed rot?
Sure, staying in bed seems attractive to anyone. The tendency to stay in bed for prolonged hours either napping, scrolling through your phone or binge-watching TV is pretty alluring.
Thijs Launspach, psychologist and author of Crazy Busy: Keeping Sane in a Stressful World, adds: “It could be boredom, it could be recharging your energy after a stringent or a hectic week on the job. It could be a reaction to performance anxiety or pressure to perform. It could be habitual behaviour. It could be multiple things. It can be a good way to recover from stresses. But there comes a point when it tips over into, let's say, hiding yourself from the world, which isn't necessarily a good thing.”
However, this shouldn't just be attributed to how easy it is to get lost in the comfort of endless streaming and scrolling. Nor should it simply be reduced to laziness.
Granted, the cosy and familiar environment of your bed can create a sense of security, especially during stressful or overwhelming periods… but there are many factors as to why you will regularly find yourself bed rotting, which can involve your mental and or physical health.
“A lot of people are bed rotting for a multitude of reasons. Some people do it because they suffer from depression, or their mental health could be suffering in a lot of different ways. Some people with ADHD also struggle with this,” says Tiktok creator @lifeasraven, who has made a number of videos on the subject.
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Sometimes it could be personal circumstances like breakups or grieving, but it's also important to note that there could be more physiological issues at hand. “There are people just realising that they have a thyroid issue and some people have chronic health issues that are affecting them this way. Issues with hormones in their bodies, gut issues that affect energy… people that are injured – that makes it really hard to be mobile and get up and out of bed,” Raven adds.
For those reasons and beyond, it's important to seek professional help if you find yourself bed rotting too often – so you can find the true root cause.
What are the effects of bed rotting?
While bed rotting may provide temporary escapism, it comes with its own set of pros and cons. On one hand, it offers a chance to unwind and recharge, allowing you to prioritise self-care and promote some sort of sense of relaxation.
However, prolonged bed rotting can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, potentially impacting your physical health by contributing to issues such as muscular atrophy, poor posture, and disrupted sleep patterns. Additionally, excessive screen time and unhealthy eating habits can further exacerbate the negative effects of bed rotting on your overall well-being.
“So of course we know from psychology that having plenty of rest is very good for your mental health, and having plenty of sleep is fundamental for your mental health and also to recharge your batteries. However, multiple days of bed rotting, I would not recommend,” adds Thijs. Especially, he adds, if it leads to: “isolation, to not getting the things done that you wanted to get done… if it's avoidance behaviour. We also know from research that it's actually quite important psychologically speaking to have a support group around you or to have regular interactions with other people.”
TikToker @medexplained2you, a physician assistant in the US, also agrees that using bed rotting as a means of self care could be detrimental if you are suffering with your mental health. “One of the main problems is that your anxiety and depression will actually probably worsen if you participate in bed rotting. It doesn't solve anything, it just removes you from a situation and prolonged having to deal with it," he says.
He adds that it could have worsening effects on your sleep, too. “Bed rotting is likely to interfere with your sleep because the body is actually naturally conditioned – when it's in bed – to release certain hormones that tell you to power down. But if you stay in bed all day and then also try to go to bed, without ever having any breaks, your brain will get confused and it won't know when you want to go to sleep or when you want to stay awake, and likely you will have an increase risk of insomnia.”
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He also warns that the lack of movement associated with bed rotting could also increase the risk of blood clots in the body – so it's wise to get up and get some steps in when you can.
How can I stop bed rotting?
Bed rotting is not all bad though – and at times in our lives, it's completely unavoidable. However, experts recommend striking a balance between rest and activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle – by incorporating some sort of movement, post-bed rotting designated hours.
The other issue with bed rotting however, lies in the fact that it can turn from a relaxing experience to mental turmoil very quickly. Although on the outside everything seems calm and your body is still and ‘resting’, on the inside you can become anxious and stressed.
“You're actively thinking about all the stuff you have to do but you're not doing it. You're thinking: ‘there goes another hour that has passed of me doing nothing’, you try to convince yourself that in the next five minutes maybe you’ll get up, but you don't,” says Raven. And truly, there is nothing relaxing about those thoughts.
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To break the cycle of bed rotting, it's essential to set realistic goals for gradually reintroducing daily activities and movement. Creating a structured schedule that includes specific time slots for productive tasks, physical exercise, and social interactions can aid in building a healthier routine. Implementing mindfulness practices and setting limits on screen time can also foster a more balanced lifestyle.
@lifeasraven is a TikTok creator that has dedicated her content to educating us on bed rotting – amassing a colossal 2.9 Million likes (and counting) on her videos. With the ‘trying to rot less’ slogan on her bio and her loyal following, she has truly become a bed rotting expert as we know it. Here are some top tips she recommends:
- Say it out loud: Sometimes you really need to speak into existence. Raven recommends saying to yourself out loud: “In five seconds I'm going to get up. Five, four, two, three, two, one…”
- Place feet on the floor: When you get up, say aloud what you're doing. “My feet are moving, my feet are touching the ground, my back is up, stand up, walk towards the window, open the blinds.” And so on and so forth. “[Saying things] out loud puts the actions outside of your head,” says Raven.
- Change clothes: Change from your pyjamas to comfy loungewear, or outside clothes. “This will help your mind from not working to now working,” she advises.
- Photosynthesise: Raven recommends stepping outside – even for five minutes – so your body can receive direct sunlight (or whatever the British weather can provide for you throughout the day). “Literally tell yourself, ‘I am like a plant, and this will give me the energy I need for the whole day’.”
- Cook: Whether it's a microwavable meal or cutting up a piece of fruit, take time to nourish your body with some food.
- Candles: Raven recommends using candles as a reward for not rotting.
- Get moving: Doing light stretching or light exercises can counteract the negative effects of prolonged bed rotting.
- Know the different between resting or rotting: Resting is a physiological need that we have to help our bodies recover, heal and re-energise – hence why we need to rest every single day. Rotting is different. “I think there is a spectrum of rotting, and when it's harnessed and maintained at lower levels, it could be not that bad, or actually good for you, depending on what you've got going on. But if it's got out of hand and it's taking over your life – perhaps you feel like you're neglecting yourself and you're just feeling worst overtime, that could be a sign that your rotting is something to work on.”
- Leave a designated time for rotting: Bed rotting is not always bad, so don't beat yourself up for it. “Some of us just need to leave a little extra space to [bed] rot before we get productive, or in between times of productivity," Raven says. "Rotting can be caused by so many things and its so hard to track – and trying to quit it cold turkey can actually be detrimental.”
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If you're still reading this, there is a high possibility that you're scrolling and bed rotting as we speak, so take this as your sign to place both of your feet on the floor and start to break the cycle. Just try, you'll thank us for it.
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
