What is Bed Rotting? And Why There Are No Pros To This New Trend In Self-Care
Have you ever heard of the term “Bed Rotting?” When I first heard the term, I began to wonder if culture had finally given a name to the aftermath of hiding food in my bed as a kid. Oh, the number of times I would sneak into the kitchen late at night and swipe a cookie. I would eat it as quietly as possible (convinced my parents would hear me chewing) and then put one under my pillow for later—which I always forgot about.
I digress. That’s not bed rotting.
I recently came across a News Article, and it immediately caught my attention simply because of the term bed rotting. I’d like to think I am up on the latest trends and terms, but this one had me slightly confused. So, naturally, I clicked on it.
Allow me to explain what I learned.
Bed rotting describes the act of spending extended periods lying in bed endlessly scrolling through social media. All in the name of self-care. The practice is another new social construct birthed out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The instructions for infected family members to isolate themselves in their rooms created the space and time for students to normalize sitting alone in a room with nothing but their phones to entertain them. In their desperate attempt to stay connected, students connected digitally.
What began as a temporary solution to a unique solution became a coveted practice for self-care. That’s right, you read that correctly. Self-care. Perhaps it’s just my GenX misunderstanding of a generation of digital natives. Still, given the extensive research on the negative impact social media has on our mental health, one would think that laying in bed all day scrolling is anything but self-care.
That’s what I was hoping the article was going to say. It didn’t. The article provided insight into why bed rotting might be a good idea. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of an entire day lying in bed, relaxing, sounds amazing, but that’s about as far as the dream goes. At some point, you have to get up and take on the day. All those responsibilities you are trying to avoid will still be there.
Are There Any Pros
However, because I want to be fair, let me give you why some argue that bed rotting could be a good thing.
Digital Connection: Social media and the internet offer a way to connect with friends, family, and the world without leaving the comfort of one's bed. Scrolling through social media can provide entertainment, social interaction, and a sense of belonging, which can contribute to feelings of well-being.
Rest and Recovery: Rest is an essential component of self-care. Adequate sleep and relaxation are vital for physical and mental health. Some people view bed rotting as a way to catch up on sleep or allow their bodies to rest, especially when dealing with stress or exhaustion.
Escape: Bed rotting can serve as a temporary escape from the challenges and responsibilities of daily life. It can be a way to mentally detach from work, school, or personal issues for a little while.
But Is This Really Self-Care?
Our students’ desire for self-care could come from their willingness to talk more about their mental health. More than previous generations, GenZ is talking about their mental health more. However, the problem is that they are talking about it more because they are suffering more. As teen mental health continues to be a problem, internalized issues like depression and anxiety are on the rise.
More students generally feel unhappy, dissatisfied, and down on themselves, leading to increased cognitive issues and a more pessimistic outlook. When we consider these trends and the effects of the pandemic, if we learned anything, we now know that social connections among teens are critical. Life in isolation only leads to more loneliness and depression—even when we are connected digitally. Yet the statistics show that GenZ is more lonely than previous generations at the same age.
But what happened? How did this generation of students experience such a massive shift in their mental health? One word. Technology. Yes, it is true that there have been marked improvements and advancements in technology across every generation for all time. However, our students are growing up with the fastest adoption of any technology in human history. And while many aspects of technology can be credited with improving our overall quality of life, we also need to note the adverse effects—its impact on teen mental health.
Our kids are less active, get less sleep, have lower self-esteem, and have less social skills because they are scrolling most of the day (many more than 9 hours a day in non-school related activities). The result? Self-harm, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation—all on the rise.
So, the self-care remedy is not sanctioning or encouraging our kids to spend alone time in their room on their phones. There are far greater avenues of self-care that can do far more than allowing our kids to engage in an activity with far more adverse effects than benefits.
The Better Alternative
If your students need a break from stress or the challenges of school or other parts of their lives, rather than isolate in their rooms, go outside and take in the sun. Studies actually show that being out in nature helps us relax and reduces stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension, and heart rates. Simply walking outside with a friend is all the self-care many of us need.
Click Here to Learn More About The Effects of Sunlight on Our Mood
To put it more bluntly, bed rotting is a terrible idea and shouldn’t be condoned by any teacher, doctor, or parent. There are far greater options available to us.
Click Here to Learn More About The Affects of Social Media on Teens
