There’s a new self-care trend that’s sweeping the internet and no, it doesn’t involve green juices or yoga mats. It’s called “bed rotting,” and while the name sounds like something out of a horror movie, I assure you it’s far from that. In fact, bed rotting might just be the best form of self-care, where doing nothing is exactly what you need. If you’ve ever spent an entire day scrolling through social media in your cosy nest of blankets with no intention of being productive, congratulations—you’ve mastered the art of bed rotting. While some might see this as an indulgent waste of time, I’m here to argue it’s not only necessary, but a vital way to recharge. Here’s why.
The Logic Behind Doing Nothing
Humans are not designed to be in constant “go mode.” Yet, in today’s hustle culture, we’re always told to optimise every hour, every minute, and even every second of our lives. Have you ever tried to relax, only to be interrupted by the nagging voice in your head saying, “You could be doing something more productive”? Yeah, me too. It’s exhausting, and the reality is, our bodies (and brains) need downtime. Biologically speaking, rest is essential. Our bodies need real, unstructured time to recharge. Think about it, when you’re sick, what do doctors prescribe? Bed rest. When you’re burnt out from work, you take a mental health day. So why does it feel like we need to apologize for taking time to simply… exist? Even if we’re not physically moving, our brains are still working hard to process, restore, and reset. All of our organs are doing work, even when we’re not actively “doing” anything. So when you’re lounging in bed, scrolling through Netflix or browsing Instagram, your brain is still doing its job by helping you decompress. I mean, binge-watching Gossip Girl while munching on some bedside snacks is probably the most relaxing thing you can do after a chaotic workday. So, if this is what bed rotting looks like, sign me up.
Bed Rotting Isn’t Lazy, It’s Necessary
Some people like to dismiss bed rotting as sheer laziness, but that’s only because we’ve been conditioned to believe that any unproductive time is “wasted.” I completely disagree. As someone who used to fill every hour of my day with plans, appointments, and commitments, I used to think downtime was for suckers. It was all great fun, but now, I realise the joy of not doing anything at all. After years of social commitments, there’s something refreshing, dare I say, liberating, about throwing on some comfy pyjamas, turning off your phone (okay, maybe not completely), and ignoring the world for a while. We don’t have to justify every second of our lives with productivity. Life is stressful enough. The news is depressing, the cost of living is skyrocketing, and don’t even get me started on climate change. If bed rotting helps me recharge and prepare for the week ahead, is it really such a bad thing? I say no. I’d argue that taking time to “rot” in bed allows you to be better for everything else in life. My social battery doesn’t recharge by going to a workout class or listening to a self-help podcast. Nope, it recharges by lying in bed and scrolling aimlessly through Instagram, watching yet another video of someone trying to make the perfect sourdough.
The Guilt-Free Guide to Bed Rotting
The first step to embracing bed rotting without feeling like you’re “wasting” your time is to reframe how you think about rest. We’ve been conditioned to only praise certain types of self-care, like attending a meditation class or writing in a gratitude journal. But honestly, isn’t binging your favourite Netflix series just as valid? Stock your nightstand with snacks, a cosy blanket, and your favourite Netflix show on autoplay. Bonus points if you manage to stay in bed long enough to consider it an entire day well-spent. Of course, there’s a line. If you find yourself bed rotting as a means to avoid life altogether, or if it becomes a frequent escape from real responsibilities, then it might be worth talking to a professional. But for the rest of us, who simply need a mental break from time to time, bed rotting is an act of self-care that we shouldn’t feel guilty about.
The next time someone asks what you did over the weekend, feel free to say, “Oh, I was just bed rotting.” And say it proudly. It’s time we start seeing this as the self-care ritual it is because sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is absolutely nothing at all.
