Bed rotting
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Bed rotting is where a person stays in bed for an entire day without engaging in daily activities and chores. This concept emphasizes taking time to rest, recharge, and enjoy leisure activities like watching TV, reading, or scrolling through social media without the pressure to be productive.
In February 2024, Dictionary.com announced that it added "bed rotting" along with more than 1,700 new or updated definitions to reflect recent online trends. It was defined as "the practice of spending many hours in bed during the day, often with snacks or an electronic device, as a voluntary retreat from activity or stress."[1]
Background
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Many who partake in bed rotting commonly spend their time on their smartphone or reading a book.[2][3][4][5][6] While some see it as a way to prioritize mental health and combat burnout, it's important to balance it with other activities to maintain overall well-being. However, bed rotting can shift from intentional rest to a unhealthy habit that disrupts daily routines. What may begin as a form of self-care can gradually lead to avoidance of life and responsibilities[7]. The trend has gained traction on social media, where users share their "bed rotting" experiences, celebrating the art of doing nothing in a cozy, comfortable setting. Platforms like TikTok have popularized this behavior with a 2024 survey showing that nearly a quarter of Gen Z reported staying in bed for a day or more to relax or use devices-shifting the bed's purpose from just sleeping to an all-day comfort space.[8]
Response
[edit]Some observers have interpreted this as a reaction to stress and or anxiety.[9][10][11] Lifehacker has described bed rotting as "an aspect of JOMO".[12] This "trend" is enabling social media addictions and justifying laziness. People have turned bed rotting into a daily "activity". "While bed rotting can benefit some people in the short-term, it can become concerning if it lasts for more than one or two days." [13] Self care is important to avoid burn out, but too much can become negative.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Barbiecore? Bed rotting? Greedflation? Dictionary.com adds new 2024 words". Spokesman. 2024-02-13.
- ^ Marples, Megan (2023-07-08). "Bed rotting: TikTok's latest trend reveals the toxic side of self-care". CNN. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "Experts warn about 'bed rotting' trend". Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "Actually, 'Bed Rotting' Can Be a Very Legit Form of Self-Care". SELF. 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "What is 'bed rotting' and is it actually self-care?". The Independent. 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ Cheong, Charissa. "Step aside, hustle culture. Gen Z college students are 'bed-rotting' instead". Insider. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "Hurkle-durkling and bed-rotting: The pros and cons of lounging in bed". health.osu.edu. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ Celmer, Lynn (2024-08-21). "'Bed rotting' tops TikTok trends". American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ "Good News – We Should Be Rotting In Bed". HuffPost UK. June 9, 2023.
- ^ Bregel, Sarah (2023-05-31). "'Bed rotting' doesn't mean Gen Z is lazy, but is it really self-care?". Fast Company.
- ^ Lee, Bruce Y. "'Bed Rotting': What Is This New TikTok Generation Z Self-Care Trend". Forbes.
- ^ "The Out-of-Touch Adults' Guide to Kid Culture: What is 'Bed Rotting'?". Lifehacker. June 2, 2023.
- ^ "What Is 'Bed Rotting'? Gen Z's Newest Self-Care Trend, Explained". Health. Retrieved 2025-04-16.