Sleep scientist and PhD candidate Vanessa Hill explains in the video above, "There's a new trend called bed rotting, and it's actually perfect. Bed rotting is when they do literally nothing but lay in bed. It's the end of optimization, and anti-productivity because you are wasting away under a blanket and the nothingness is your best life. I'm a sleep scientist who fact-checks a lot of trends, and I'm here to tell you that bed rotting is 100% backed by science."
"Just sink into your sheets and stay there. Some outlets are challenging this beautiful trend asking, 'Is it really self-care, or could it mess with your sleep?' And to them, I say, 'Just let the people rot.' You're allowed to live life under a blanket — rest and be soft. I'm not accepting questions at this time," she concludes in her TikTok.
BuzzFeed spoke to Hill, who said her area of expertise is sleep habits, and her research focuses on bedtime procrastination. When talking about bed rotting, she said, "In a world of hustle culture and productivity hacks, there is shame associated with rest and 'doing nothing.' Giving yourself permission to rest without feeling guilty is an act of self-compassion. Self-compassion is linked to better physical and mental health and can lead to better sleep quality."
Hill believes that trends like bed rotting give people permission to rest and recharge when they may otherwise feel pressured to be productive or socialize. However, she also notes that like with anything, it may not be the right activity for every single person. So we reached out to one other expert to get the low-down on bed rotting and any potential impacts it could have on mental health. Remember: Health is never a "one size fits all" and it's always best to speak to your own doctor if you have any concerns.
So, to learn more about bed rotting and mental health, we also spoke to Helene D’Jay, MS, LPC who is the executive director of young adult services at Newport Healthcare.
When it comes to mental health, D'Jay said bed rotting may negatively impact some people and could be an indicator that someone is struggling psychologically. "They may not want to face their life and therefore choose to stay in bed all day doing things like binge-watching TV or scrolling through social media to escape or find comfort," she explained.
And D'Jay warns that the bed rotting trend can be particularly dangerous for people who are currently experiencing depression. "When individuals with depression engage in bed rotting, it may worsen their symptoms and perpetuate a cycle of negative emotions and behaviors."
But, in general, both experts agree it is all about balance. “'Healthy' bed rotting would be intentional rest for rejuvenation, self-care, and body-nourishing sleep. Non-healthy bed rotting is prolonged inactivity, social withdrawal, and loss of interest, and is more often associated with mental health issues," said D'Jay.
Hill said she views bed rotting as the rebranded term for having a lazy day. "It's where you spend parts of the daytime in bed doing activities like reading, watching TV, or using your phone. It's a rejection of productivity culture by doing nothing. Everyone needs to rest and recuperate, though excess time in bed may disrupt healthy sleep patterns. Like other areas of health, 'everything in moderation' is the best advice to separate healthy vs. unhealthy bed rotting. Occasional bed rotting may recharge your batteries, but too much may backfire and may lead to more fatigue," she said.
"So many of us are tired because we feel pressured to 'do it all.' Trends like bed rotting aren't about wasting your days away in bed — they're about allowing yourself to do less, and telling you that doing less is okay. Of course, spending all day, every day in bed will have a negative impact on your mental and physical health. Bed rotting isn't about disrupting the balance of your health. It's a mental shift to prioritize rest and stress management because these are underrated foundations of our well-being," concluded Hill.
