What Is Bed Rotting (and how to recharge instead)

As scary and morbid as this sounds, bed rotting is quite a common phenomenon in this crazy, fast-paced world. The term “bed rotting” refers to the pastime of many of the world’s exhausted. After a busy week of burning the candle at both ends, getting very little sleep (and likely poor quality at that), and running yourself ragged, you throw in a few workouts, and just like that, you’re in the burnout zone.

What Is Bed Rotting?

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Bed rotting is when you and your bed spend a lot of time together, even becoming best friends. Yes, it’s a new problem in the modern world, one where the urge to stay in bed for endless hours is strong, preferably lounging with snacks, drinks, and of course, your favorite electronic device.

Typically, bed rotters will stay in bed for hours, maybe even all day. They’re usually alone and just chilling, with virtually no movement throughout the day. Does bed rotting involve sleeping? Not really. It’s mostly just taking some serious downtime and letting yourself unwind.

The Upsides and Downsides of Bed Rotting

If you and your bed are inseparable, it’s not necessarily a colossal waste of time. There are some bennies to bed rotting:

Mentally recharge—it allows you to get away from pressures and stress. It doesn’t matter if it’s work, school, or relationships that are causing you stress; bed rotting is the break you might need. It enables you to just chill, letting your mind and body relax and let go.

Permission to be lazy—in this fast-paced, non-stop society, constantly being on the go can prove to be too much for many people. Bed rotting is a way to take a beat and allow yourself to slow down before you enter burnout mode.

Feel in control—because we often don’t have a lot of control in everything that goes on around us, deciding what you want to do in your downtime can give you back some of that much-needed feeling of control. When you have too many plates spinning in the air, bed rotting may be exactly what you need to grab back the reins.

But … you know what they say about too much of a good thing, and bed rotting is no different. There’s a reason it’s called “rotting,” and here are some of the reasons why this name fits.

Depression can set in—if you’re spending copious amounts of time in bed, you may want to assess how you’re feeling. Are you bed rotting because you’re tired, bored, or stressed? Or are you simply unable to function due to depression?

Sleep patterns are interrupted—if bed rotting starts affecting your sleep time in bed, it could be time to chill out on the chilling. It’s best to set specific times to go to sleep and wake up and make sure you’re actually sleeping (not surfing or chatting) during those times.

Calorie burn declines—you might not notice at first, but if you keep bed rotting as a regular part of your routine and you don’t change your eating habits (or worse, you eat in bed), you might start packing on the pounds. Your metabolism will read your lack of movement, a.k.a. calorie expenditure, as a signal to slow down. If you keep up your calorie intake at normal non-bed rotting times, you’re going to quickly find yourself in a surplus, and that means extra body fat.

Mental health can suffer—staying in bed all day may not be the best thing for mental health as it’s a form of shutting down and avoiding necessary tasks. This can lead to being non-productive and accomplishing very little with self-esteem eventually taking a hit.

Connections falter—if you’re bed rotting most of the time and you never spend time with real people (regardless of how much social media interaction you do), you may be doing yourself a disservice. Real human connection and touch are still important facets of a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle. Sharing thoughts, emotions, and meaningful conversations with others can help restore your spirit on a deep level; something bed rotting does not allow.

Better Ways to Recharge

Yes, you do need a break, and yes, recharging is important. But, there may be better ways to replenish your body and mind than by bed rotting. Try some of these things instead:

Yoga—try relaxing with some gentle stretching or a yoga session.

Exercise—contrary to popular belief, if you’re tired and rundown, getting in some tough workouts can turn things around and have you feeling reenergized in no time.

Napping—taking a nap versus spending all day in bed might give you a quick reboot so you can finish out your day strong—and not in bed.

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Communing with nature—taking a walk outdoors and enjoying nature and fresh air can help you recharge. It’s also a great time to leave the electronics at home and just enjoy the beauty all around you.

Meditation—try recharging with some meditation. It can help you reduce stress and feel rejuvenated.

Reading or watching a show—television, movies, plays, reading…these are all things you can do to take a mental and physical break.

There’s a fine balance between too much downtime and not enough. And, as with anything, finding that balance is key. Take the time you need to unwind but remember to also engage in a variety of healthy outlets that allow you to recharge.