Bed rotting

Have you ever stayed in bed scrolling your phone for hours? Whether it was self sabotage or self care, this article might be for you.

What is Bed Rotting

The topic happens to be a social media trend nowadays. The word rotting certainly has a negative connotation. Yet bed rotting is a form of self-care that has its own time and space.

Bed rotting refers specifically to the prolonged period spend in bed usually doomscrolling or binging on films. It involves neglecting our duties. Some people have even their drinks and snacks within arm's reach. Although it can overlap with laziness, the two aren't the same.

Healthy Rest vs Escapism

There is a huge difference between doom scrolling and reading a book. Because one is more active than the other. Still, there is something comforting about the guilt free laziness. It frees us from social pressure and responsibilities. It might be just what we need if we're struggling with burnout. Gives us the chance to get a mental reset.

The truth is, it's not always easy to find the fine line between healthy idle time and bed rot. But it's better if we do find it for mental clarity and balance.

There are many ways to distract ourselves. This distraction gives a calming effect. I must admit, binge watching films is definitely my thing. During my time at university, I used to procrastinate on coursework and found myself binging through entire seasons of shows.

Only you can decide whether bed rotting is guilt free laziness or unhealthy escapism for you. Noticing negative changes can be an indication that bed rotting is not self care anymore for you. For example if you became more sluggish, having sleep problems, feeling isolated or guilty, neglecting yourself. The prolonged periods of inactivity, staying in bed, isolation, not attending to your responsibilities might be symptoms of depression that calls for professional help.

Finding the Balance

Moderation is key. So don't let bed rotting become a habit. It's better to do it as a single inactive period, sporadically. It will be less overwhelming to get active again.

It's easier to work on inactivity if you don't let it stay a concept in your head. Give it tangible qualities. You can track your time spent doom scrolling. Compare how do you feel after similar activities like hours of doomscrolling and watching movies, rate it on a scale of 10. Compare which activity charged you up more.

More practical tips:
📱 Consider making your bed a screen free zone.
📚 Pick up the habit of reading books in bed.
😴 Create a good sleep routine.
📆 Make a plan for spending time in bed.
🛌 If you enjoy being in bed, allow an extra hour before sleep. You can unwind or plan your next day during this time.
🧩 List low effort activities that you can do instead of bed rotting.
⏰ If you still choose bed rotting set an alarm, set a time limit.

Instead of labelling bed rotting as good or bad, it is more useful to see it in its own simplicity.

That's why practising the art of doing nothing can be rewarding. Our brains and mental health need a good rest. After all, the information overload, the constant stimulation from the noise is exhausting.

Don't beat yourself up. Rather, stop forcing yourself to be more disciplined. Don't get me wrong, discipline isn't bad at all. It has its time and space, like doing absolutely nothing.

So, how do you overcome the urge of bed rotting? To put it simply, by ending the desire to beat it. It serves a purpose. The main thing is to understand its purpose. Whether it's distracting yourself and avoiding things or getting a good old rest, you deserve to cut the noise.

Thanks for reading,

Judit
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