Sometimes, the most enticing response to feeling burnt out is simply staying in bed for an extended period of time, from hours to days. On social media, this is known as “bed rotting,” and it’s celebrated as a form of self-care. Creators even say the trend can help with mental health, but experts warn that staying bedridden for too long can be harmful to your physical and mental health or signal a more serious mental health issue, like burnout or depression.
Before you surrender your weekend in bed the name of self-care, here is what health experts say about bed rotting and the alternatives they suggest that are more likely to leave you feeling refreshed come Monday morning. [READ: What Are the Signs of Burnout] What Is Bed Rotting? Bed rotting is a term that was born on social media that describes staying in bed for extended periods of time without excess stimulation or activity.
Since the term isn’t an official diagnosis, the specifics vary. For some people, bed rotting may only last a few hours, while others talk about bed rotting for a few days. The common thread is that you’re spending that time “off,” describes Dr.
Jessi Gold, psychiatrist and chief wellness officer for the University of Tennessee system. “I think about it as sometimes purposeful, sometimes not, staying in your bed, staying on your couch, staying away from things that are stimulating,” says Gold. “Maybe you’re sleeping, maybe you’re reading, maybe you’re watching TV, but you’re just ‘off.'” While bed rotting, people often choose to be intentionally unresponsive to the outside world, not picking up phone calls or texting back.
Some people describe it as a way to reclaim their time for themselves, rather than needing to be responsive on social media or social in the outside world. If you’re bed rotting regularly, it’s worth mentioning to a therapist or psychiatrist, so that you can try to determine why and whether there might be healthier coping mechanisms for what you’re experiencing. [SEE: Best Ways to Practice Self-Care.] Restorative Self-Care or Avoidance?
How Bed Rotting Affects Your Mental Health If a patient talks about bed rotting, Gold says she wants to learn more about that person’s experience by asking questions like: — How long of a time period are you bed rotting for? — Do you know why you’re drawn to bed rotting?
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