We’ve all had those days where productivity is just not in the cards. Whether it’s due to the culmination of a few rough days at the office or a can’t-miss schedule of football on the horizon, having a day to yourself without any accomplished tasks is nothing new to most individuals.

But would you believe that the art of doing nothing is actually gaining some momentum on social media? Yes, being unproductive for hours and even days on end is the latest trend on TikTok, appropriately referred to as “bed rotting.”

This trend is rooted in the notion of self care and recharging your internal batteries after burnout, but should you really be lying in bed for the sake of better mental wellness? In this case, the science goes against the trend.

Despite its popularity amongst Gen Z on social media, many experts believe bed rotting to be counterproductive with regard to improved well-being. We spoke with Dr. Raj Dasgupta, Chief Medical Advisor at Sleepopolis, a website dedicated to comprehensive sleep-industry info, to get a better understanding of this hip new way to recharge— and why it could be doing more harm than good in the long run.

What Is Bed Rotting?

According to Dr. Dasgupta, bed rotting involves staying in your bed for extended periods of time for the sake of recharging your energy stores. Rather than sleeping during these periods, bed rotting involves passive activities like scrolling social media, eating an appealing snack or binge watching your favorite TV series.

“To ultra simplify that, my short answer is, literally, it’s lying in bed and unfortunately, being unproductive,” he says.

“TikTok somehow has a way of making laziness seem trendy, and that’s the opposite of what I want someone to do who has depression.”

While it may be enticing to lounge away without a care in the world, Dr. Dasgupta cautions that what you see on social media may not be the absolute truth in practice. Sure, there’s merit to giving your body and mind a chance to recuperate after strenuous activity, but lying prone for this length of time, essentially avoiding any outside stressors, can be a detriment to your psyche, especially for those suffering from more serious issues.

“TikTok somehow has a way of making laziness seem very trendy, and I’m scared about these things because that’s the opposite of what I want someone to do who has depression,” Dr. Gasgupta says. “I want them to get help, I want them to go out and get sunlight, I want them to go out and eat well — not just in the bed.”

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Why Bed Rotting Isn’t Great for Self Care

Bed rotting creates an unhealthy association between you and your bed

According to Dr. Dasgupta, lying in bed without sleeping is a recipe for disaster. Your bed and sleeping arrangements should be reserved for just that — sleep. Associating your mattress, pillow and bed sheets with the passive activities of bed rotting can trick your brain into staying awake once you begin to get comfortable, making it harder to fall asleep when you’re not practicing the trendy discipline.

“We call that stimulus control,” Dr. Dasgupta says. “You don’t want to start going to bed [while] your mind and body are thinking, ‘Oh, this is time for some social media, this is time to watch some TV, this is time to eat.’ The bed should only be associated with sleeping.”

“Having less quantity and quality of sleep will just make every underlying health condition, both mental and physical, even worse.”

This isn’t to say that you cannot lie prone in bed for a little while or take in a movie every now and again in the comforts of your comforter. The important thing to remember, according to Dr. Dasgupta, is moderation.

“There’s definitely people that just want to watch something in bed for a little bit or have a little bit of ‘you time,’” he says. “That’s not the target audience that we’re thinking about over there. We’re thinking about individuals who feel they need to be alone, and all of a sudden, this could be a first sign of depression that you’re not addressing.”

Bed rotting can jeopardize your sleep quality

In relation to the disassociation with your bed and sleep, bed rotting can also rob you of quality time spent in slumberland. Having a balance of qualitative and quantitative sleep is vital to your overall health, and the risks outweigh the rewards in trying to adopt a practice that potentially throws off that relationship.

“Having less quantity and quality of sleep will just make every underlying health condition, both mental and physical, even worse,” Dasgupta says. “The hard part is, you never know who’s going to be predisposed to developing a very chronic case of insomnia because everyone is different and that’s why you don’t want to put yourself at risk. Sleep and a lot of these mental health conditions are so highly associated.”

Bed rotting can mask more serious issues

Seeing influencers praise this lethargic cure for mental burnout may make it seem like a simple solution to stress, but like all self-care disciplines, you need to understand that individual problems require a personalized approach. Bed rotting can be a quick fix for recovery if done in spurts, but if you’re harboring more serious issues like depression and anxiety, it could become a crutch that only ramps up your problems over time.

Dr. Dasgupta recommends speaking with your healthcare provider before trying bed rotting for yourself. This can help identify underlying issues with the support of a professional, as well as give you a more concrete understanding of what you’re truly trying to accomplish with the discipline.

“It’s very important to always think about the underlying cause and how is this a solution toward what you need to do, and what are the alternatives,” he says.

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What to Do Instead of Bed Rotting

Rather than use your bed and sleeping arrangements for unproductive activities, Dr. Dasgupta says investing in your sleep hygiene can be an excellent way to promote better self care. These factors aren’t typically present within bed rotting, so by making these switches to your routine rather than relying on the ‘Trending’ page, you could be setting yourself up for future success and better wellness.

“When we talk about sleep hygiene in general, we’re talking about some general tips that we all could benefit from,” he says. “Sleep is individualized, but the room should be on the quieter side, the cooler side, the darker side. I think we could all benefit from putting some technology away. If you drink caffeine, maybe think about cutting back and not drinking it later in the day.”

Looking to elevate your sleep hygiene with a more comfortable, cozy, Zzz-inducing vibe? Below are a few items we recommend for creating a proper setup:

Gravity Weighted Blanket

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Soft and plush, this impressive blanket can create that soothing aesthetic of your dreams (pun intended). Weight options range from 15 to 35 pounds, so there’s plenty of consuming coziness to be had as well. Just be sure to follow the proper care instructions — the interior is hand wash only.

Casper Foam Pillow with Snow Technology

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Creating a cool environment around your noggin can be excellent for capturing Zzzs, and this soft, comfortable profile from Casper does just that. HeatDelete Bands help pull heat away from your body, so that premium comfort level extends throughout the night, too.

Umizato Blue Blocker Glasses

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Umizato Blue Blocker Glasses

If you must scroll social media before bed, be sure to take care of your eyes in the process (and set a time limit for yourself). These blue light blockers from Umizato can filter up to 90% of blue light, and varying magnifications also lend themselves to better, easier reading conditions.

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SAN JOSE — The rooms inside this building—modestly furnished with neatly made twin beds, tables, chairs and nightstands decorated with vases of faux orange-and-violet daises—may look unremarkable. But to Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, they represent hope.

The 11 double-occupancy rooms and six singles—a total of 28 beds—will house adults with severe mental illnesses at the county’s newest residential mental health treatment center, which is set to open this fall. Across the street from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in West San Jose, it will serve who are no longer in crisis, but need assistance transitioning back to their day-to-day lives.

“Each one of these rooms offers the opportunity, the hope of a better life,” Simitian told an enthusiastic crowd gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility on Tuesday afternoon. “Each of these rooms promises the hope of a life that is full and richer and worth living.”

The county’s new 28-bed inpatient mental health facility had a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by many local politicians, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. The facility operated by Momentum for Health is in a former detox facility next to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 

In addition to its rooms, the $1.8 million renovated facility—formerly a detox center run by Horizon Services—has two common rooms, a kitchen and space for group and individual therapy. Patients, who could receive services for up to two years, according to county officials, will also have access to psychiatric services, addiction treatment and other support.

The facility will be run by one of the county’s contractors, Momentum for Health, and services are estimated to cost $2.8 million annually.

The expansion of Santa Clara County’s stock of psychiatric beds comes a year-and-a-half after Board President Susan Ellenberg declared a local mental health and substance use crisis, and just a week after the release of a county-commissioned study that found a local shortage of psychiatric beds.

Since Ellenberg’s January 2022 declaration, the county has expanded its contracts to add 99 psychiatric beds. The board has also recently dedicated funding for another 173 beds, including the 28 on South Bascom Avenue.

“Locally, we are moving faster than we had been for a number of years,” Ellenberg told the Mercury News. “Locally, we are also paying more significant attention to the distinctions between mental health treatment and substance use disorder treatment, and the different facilities and responses that are needed.”

A room at Santa Clara County’s new 28-bed inpatient mental health facility is toured, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. Operated by Momentum for Health, the facility is in a former detox center next to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 

The county will have to continue to move quickly if it wants to meet the demand. According to a recently released county-commissioned study from non-partisan think tank RAND Corporation, Santa Clara County has a significant shortage of subacute psychiatric beds — a level of care in which patients often require in-house care for several months.

In order to meet the needs of the community, researchers said the county requires 251 acute inpatient beds, 90 crisis residential beds and 372 subacute beds.The study estimated that for adults in the county, there are 304 acute inpatient beds and 92 crisis residential beds–exceeding the number required in those categories–but only 216 subacute beds.

Jonathan Levin, an associate policy researcher at RAND, said the county will need 3.6% more adult psychiatric beds over the next five years to meet its needs.

In an effort to help the county meet its goals, the RAND report offered several recommendations that included increasing the number of beds for it refers to as “hard-to-place populations.”

“On the psychiatry side, that was particularly for individuals with dementia, individuals who were non-ambulatory, those who require oxygen and those without funding sources,” Levin said. “And on the substance disorder use treatment facility side, only about 5% of facilities accepted individuals with dementia. Only about a fifth of the facilities accepted patients with a physical co-occurring health condition or those who have an arson or sex offense conviction. There are also fairly low rates of accepting individuals who are non-ambulatory also without funding sources.”

For Valerie Aboge, turning to county mental health services after a suicide attempt last July was the first time in her life that she felt a feeling of security, safety and that she mattered. After spending time in the psychiatry ward at Stanford Hospital, she transitioned to one of Momentum’s residential treatment programs.

“The help is there and I am a living example that you can come from such darkness and get into the light because of the resources that are available,” she said.

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.

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When you hear someone say “bed rotting”, you probably come up with images of a filthy bed that needs to be washed thoroughly. But the ‘bed rotting’ term that many are using on social media, especially Tik Tok, has got nothing to do with it. It basically means spending a lot of time in bed by choice. So, you can watch TV or check out funny posts online or just eat your favourite snacks, all in bed. It might seem like a self-care trend that you need in your stressful life. But is bed rotting good for your mental health?

To explore this Tik Tok trend, Health Shots caught up with Gurugram-based clinical psychologist Aishwarya Raj.

Bed rotting is a social media self-care trend. Image Courtesy: Freepik

What is bed rotting?

Bed rotting is all about people spending excessive amounts of time in bed, often for extended periods of the day. It involves staying in bed for long periods without engaging in productive activities or taking care of basic responsibilities, explains Raj. Before you call it just another lazy day, you should know that bed rotting is different. Having a lazy day typically refers to taking a break from work or responsibilities to relax and recharge. It might involve staying in bed or spending leisure time engaging in activities that bring comfort and relaxation. However, bed rotting takes laziness to an extreme, as it involves long hours of unproductive behaviour without any meaningful engagement or self-care.

Side effects of bed rotting

We all need a bit of self-care whenever it is possible. But bed rotting is not the way to do it. It is an unhealthy way of self-care because it promotes a sedentary lifestyle and excessive screen time, which can have detrimental effects on physical and mental well-being, says the expert. It often leads to neglecting responsibilities, social isolation, and reduced physical activity, all of which can contribute to a decline in overall health.

Here are some side effects of bed rotting

1. Increased risk of depression

Spending excessive time in bed, without any social interactions and meaningful activities, can lead to feelings of loneliness, sadness and ultimately increase the risk of developing or exacerbating depression.

2. Anxiety and stress

Constant exposure to social media, often filled with unrealistic comparisons and negativity, can trigger feelings of anxiety and stress. Also, the guilt and self-criticism associated with neglecting responsibilities further contribute to these negative emotions.

Bed rotting can lead to anxiety and stress. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Decreased productivity and motivation

Simply being on the bed can lead to a lack of motivation and productivity. Spending long time in bed without engaging in fulfilling activities can result in a sense of purposelessness and decreased motivation to accomplish tasks or pursue goals, says Raj.

4. Poor sleep quality

When you spend excessive time in bed during the day, it disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. That makes it harder to fall asleep at night. This can lead to irregular sleep patterns, insomnia, and a decline in overall sleep quality.

5. Negative body image and self-esteem

Constant exposure to social media can contribute to body image issues and low self-esteem. Seeing carefully curated and filtered images of others can lead to unhealthy comparisons and feelings of inadequacy, impacting your mental well-being.

If self-care is what you are looking for, exercise to boost your mood or pursue hobbies and interests that you couldn’t do earlier. You can also connect with others and engage in meaningful conversations. And always prioritise quality sleep. Getting up late sometimes is fine, but rotting in bed is not healthy!

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Lounging in bed all day might seem lazy — but some Gen Z trend followers are now embracing it as a form of self-care.

“Bed rotting” — the practice of spending long periods of time snuggled under the covers with snacks, screens and other creature comforts — is gaining popularity on social media.

The unofficial definition, per Urban Dictionary, is “the Gen Z term for staying in bed for days on end, binging on Netflix, Tik Tok and Hinge.”

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Are these extended siestas really wise for one’s mental health — or could they be a cause for concern? 

Fox News Digital reached out to some professionals for their take on this leisurely trend.

“Bed rotting” — the practice of spending long periods of time snuggled under the covers with snacks, screens and other creature comforts — is gaining popularity among some on social media. (iStock)

Dr. Ryan Sultan, a board certified psychiatrist, research professor at Columbia University in New York and medical director of Integrative Psych NYC, who treats many young patients, called the bed rotting trend “fascinating.”

“In our current culture, with too much to do, too many expectations and too much productivity, many individuals are feeling burned out and often aren’t getting enough sleep,” Sultan told Fox News Digital.

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“It’s easy to see why taking time off to lie around — literally — is appealing,” he went on. 

“In many ways, this is beneficial. It’s a chance to clear your mind, recharge and regroup before returning to life in a better frame of mind.”

On the flip side, however, he said a long-term need or desire for “bed rotting” could be a warning sign.  

Spending too many daytime hours in bed — awake or not — could also wreak havoc on sleep schedules, one doctor warned.

“If it becomes a habit, it is likely a sign of depression,” Sultan said. “People should be mindful if bed rotting become a pattern of behavior.”

Spending too many daytime hours in bed — awake or not — could also wreak havoc on sleep schedules, the doctor cautioned.

“Our brains are fine-tuned for sleep in darkness and alertness in light,” he explained. “Lying in bed half-asleep during the day will worsen sleep regulation — and once it’s dysregulated, it’s a challenge to fix.”

A long-term need or desire for “bed rotting” could be a warning sign of depression, according to a mental health expert. (iStock)

Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, agreed that while some downtime can be useful in terms of de-stressing and rejuvenation, “prolonged bed rotting is a bad health practice.”

In addition to increasing the risk of depression, decreased motivation and disrupted sleep patterns, the practice can also lead to weight gain from sedentary behavior and binge-eating, the doctor said. 

“Prolonged bed rotting is a bad health practice.”

“I am also concerned about the medical risks of prolonged bed rotting, including blood clots, blood pressure issues and obesity,” Siegel added.

“Regular exercise as a form of de-stressing is much healthier.”

Instead of sitting or lounging in bed for extended period, Dr. Marc Siegel of New York recommends regular exercise as a better form of de-stressing. (iStock)

One young person claimed on Reddit that the “bed rotting” phenomenon is actually a mask for depression and loneliness.

“I’m Gen Z myself and I find myself rotting in my bed … a lack of friends and social community has been skyrocketing the trend of bed rotting,” the person wrote. 

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“And it is a real sad shame that I see people calling Gen Z lazy when we are simply misunderstood.”

“Lying in bed half-asleep during the day will worsen sleep regulation.”

Another poster who indulges in the practice claimed that bed rotting actually serves to worsen fatigue.

“I’ve been feeling like I’m bed rotting, too. Just don’t care about anything. Have a lot to do, college coming up, errands to run, medical things to take care of — just don’t care,” the poster wrote. 

Spending too many daytime hours in bed — awake or not — could also wreak havoc on sleep schedules, a doctor cautioned. (iStock)

“I try not to bed rot, though, cause the more you lay or sit on your bed it convinces your mind that you’re tired, so you just get more fatigued.”

As with any activity, moderation is key when it comes to holing up in bed, Sultan said. 

While the occasional lazy day can be beneficial, too much lounging could have the opposite effect.

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“My best tip is to not get into the cycle to start with, unless you are sick or have an ailment,” Sultan said. 

“If it becomes a habit, that’s a fairly sensitive test for depression.”

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Those who lack the motivation to get out of bed should try calling or texting a friend or family member for support, identifying a small errand or task to complete, or reaching out to a medical professional for help, according to Mental Health America’s website.

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. 

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