Imagine you have the day to yourself. You decide to take it slow, relaxing in bed a little longer as you catch up on social media, read a book or play a video game. Then, you realize the sun is already setting and you’ve barely done anything productive. Though some people would label this as laziness, there’s a new term for chronically lying in bed while scrolling through your phone or re-watching a favorite series. Gen-Z calls it “bed rotting.”
Bed rotting became a trend recently on TikTok, with over 7,200 hashtags. No, you don’t simply “rot” and decompose in bed, but rather enjoy the pleasures of an environment that feels still. In other words, you are in your own little world. People “bed rot” in different ways like catching up with posts online, reading, playing video games or simply doing nothing in bed as they doze off in front of the TV screen.
Though bed-rotting in the form of “lazy days” has been around forever, more people have been trying out the activity, some possibly trying it for the first time since it’s a trend. However, I don’t think bed rotting should be a trend, but rather something that we as a society normalize. Rest should be incorporated regularly, as recharging helps to relieve exhaustion. Especially as students with busy schedules (I see y’all’s Google Calendars by the way), we need breaks in between juggling classes, school work and other tasks to avoid burnout.
Bed-rotting can be a healthy form of rest, as long as you find the energy to finally get back up. If you find yourself struggling to get out of bed after a day or two, then it could be a sign of poor mental health.
Finding moderation and setting a time to rest has improved my well-being during the semester, giving me a window of opportunity to wind down and be comfortable. As an introvert, I find myself needing to recharge more often, therefore “rotting” in bed can be a way for me to have some alone time and power through the rest of the day.
When I decide to rot, I value watching YouTube, re-binging Gilmore Girls, scrolling on X or playing “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” accompanied with a sweet treat. It’s the little things like this that keep me motivated and are very necessary for me to function.
I used to pride myself on doing work every day, a habit I grew used to. Having a constant workflow in high school and an immigrant mom who valued hard work and expected more from me as the oldest daughter made rest days impossible. Breaking free from those traditions, I now dedicate Saturdays as a school-free day, because as someone who has a weekend job, there’s nothing better I’d rather do after work than eat ice cream and watch Stephanie Soo break down bizarre stories on YouTube.
There are days when I feel guilty about not doing any work at all. I often start to compare myself to others who may be more productive than I am, like those who participate in a dozen organizations or constantly get internships. Then, there’s me, the girl rotting in bed.
Resting doesn’t mean I don’t value going out and “touching grass,” making memories or taking opportunities to enhance myself, whether that be socializing, trying new food or getting an internship. These things are still important, but by relaxing, I feel recharged to handle life one thing at a time.
I try to distract myself from thinking negatively about wanting rest and prioritize listening to my body when I need a break. I would much rather try to avoid burnout and go at my own pace, because I’ll get where I need to be someday, with the help of my bed-rotting activities to calm me along the way.
Bed-rotting is something I’ve done for years. It’s nice to give yourself a break after working hard, and I’m glad there’s a community online that understands it’s okay to do nothing while valuing alone time and being still.
I have to admit, I struggled to write this article as I wanted to rest instead, but there is a reward in everything you finish. BRB, going back to bed.
