Bed rotting is a new trend sweeping TikTok, with the hashtag having more than 25 million views. It involves staying in bed for extended periods of time, not because you're injured, but to eat snacks, watch TV, and surf the internet.

It's a response to the grind and hustle culture.

It is a way of rejecting the toxic, capitalistic belief that if you don’t constantly work hard and be productive, then you aren’t a valuable human being.

Self-care is important for both physical and mental health, and we all need a day to relax now and then, but is frequently relaxing all day in bed really the healthiest way to take care of your physical and mental health?

What Professionals Think

Kelly Glazer Baron, associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, said that the bed should be used for sleep and being intimate with your partner(s). While activities such as working or eating should be kept at a minimum in bed. This can create a stronger connection between the bed and being in a resting state.

If you need more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep even though you’ve been trying for more than 20 minutes, then it's best to get up and go sit on some other comfortable spot and do something relaxing.

Being fatigued at the end of an exhausting day is normal, but you should seek professional help if it's interfering with other parts of your life, according to Baron.

Psychiatrist Jessica Gold said, "You don't have to always fight the urge to bed rot," but you need to ask yourself if you're staying in bed because you're actually tired or because you want to avoid whatever stresses you out. She added that it'd be good to find more active ways to cope, like reading, journaling, or working out.

Both neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez and osteopath Jared Braunstein shared similar sentiments.

Dr. Hafeez said that bed rotting “refers to people using their phones excessively throughout the day while lying in bed, usually with snacks and TV on in the background.” Snacking on your bed while watching TV may sound like a great way to spend your time, but spending too much time in bed can take a major toll on your physical and mental health, according to Dr. Hafeez. 

“This differs from taking time to relax and unplug in bed, as bed rotting is often used as a coping mechanism for dealing with stress and anxiety.” added Dr. Hafeez.

Dr. Braunstein said that staying in bed all day is a clear sign of depression. According to him, bed rotting can throw you in a loop of constantly thinking about the things that stress you, which only makes things worse. He believes staying active is a better way to deal with anxiety and depression because laying in your bed all day doesn't release endorphins, which are hormones that help combat stress. 

Pillows Are Sweet, Life Can Be Too 

If you find the root of your problems and what makes you want to stay in bed all day, then you will have taken a step in the right direction. And if you need support or guidance, don’t be ashamed to seek help from a mental health professional.

Of course, this doesn't mean you have to constantly push yourself to do things that stress you out. 

Listen to your body when it tells you it doesn't want to move. Rot in your bed if you don't want to do anything else because you're physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted. But don't do it as a way to avoid your problems. Face what you need to face in order to move forward.

If you don't want to leave the house, stay in and read a book, take a long bath, sing karaoke, dance to your favourite songs, put on your comfort show.

We all love our beds, but don’t waste your life under your pillows, no matter how comfy they are.