Juggling a lot lately? Take a break, darlings. The whole world is immersed in ‘bed rotting’ anyway.
The phrase ‘bed rotting’ is trending on TikTok with more than 220 million views. While it may not be a novel idea, this so-called trend has captured Gen Z’s attention.
For those unaware, bed rotting simply involves lying in bed and doing anything you want – whether it’s consuming food, scrolling through your phone, reading, daydreaming, etc – for however long you choose.
Comparable to ‘rat girl summer’, ‘goblin mode’ and ‘crust days,’ the idea involves disregarding societal norms and indulging in your laziest, ungroomed, most content self.
Though ‘rotting’ in bed is not a revolutionary concept, many consider it a self-care activity.
‘It’s like a new way of recentering oneself,’ illustrated licensed counselor Tammy Foster-Harban, discussing the trend.
‘This is the chosen method for Generation Z to practice self-care.’
She further elaborated: ‘Seemingly, it’s good for both your mental and physical health.
‘It’s about staying in bed, relaxing, and sticking around as long as you like – provided you’re recentering yourself.’
While we all can acknowledge that excessive bed rotting might not be beneficial, there’s no denying that it’s a brilliant method to rejuvenate your social energy.
Bed rotting provides an opportunity to shed off all responsibilities and celebrate the pleasure of doing as you please, irrespective of its productiveness or lack thereof.
As Rea Michelle, a TikToker, described in her video about bed rot: ‘We’ve been conditioned to constantly be productive for so long that sometimes you just want to be in bed doing nothing at all.’
On TikTok, bed rotting opposes the ideas of productivity and optimization – and honestly, we’re all for it.