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Wellness

Bedrotting isn't a bad thing. Here's how you can embrace it

Once a symbol of laziness, spending hours in bed may just be the wellness antidote you need for your fast-paced life.

By Aaron Kok - 

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Hey you! Have you gone online recently and realised that there’s a whole new lexicon you no longer understand? Like why is the word “core” added to every fashion trend? Or what is a pick me, and why do these people want to be picked? Internet Analysis is a commentary column that helps to break down these new terms that made its debut on the internet and social media, and helps you fellow reader, navigate the confusing world wide web. Just call it your internet cheat sheet.

The saying goes that the early bird catches the worm, but sometimes, us working birds want to just spend a bit more time in bed. Yet perhaps due to a nagging put into our system by our parents of staying too long in bed, or the guilt that we should really be up and at 'em at daybreak (or both), bed time in the morning is often cut to a minimum.

Thanks to TikTok, we may now have more reasons to stay in bed.

Termed "bedrotting", the micro-trend on the platform gained traction as Gen Z users began documenting their bedrotting habits as a remedy to feeling burnt out from school, family and social engagements. And despite its seemingly negative name, bedrotting could be your new self-care routine.

So ahead, we demystify the practice of bedrotting, and how to do it safely.

Hold up, what is bedrotting?

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Simply put, it's staying in your bed for extended windows of time with no intention of sleeping. Instead, you're engaging in passive-yet-pleasing activities like snacking, reading, catching up on reality TV or just scrolling through your social media feeds. So popular is this practice that the term "bed rotting" has garnered more than 160 million views on TikTok.

While Gen Z-ers didn't invent bedrotting, they certainly helped popularise it. Tired millennials, send them your thanks.

On the surface, it may come across as a symptom of a deeper-rooted issue, but psychologists are pointing out that bedrotting has its benefits if done properly.

So, bedrotting is good?

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When done well and in small doses, bedrotting is great.

It's a good way for the body to continue resting in a passive mode, so you remain in the calm of waking up and ease into your day. This can be especially helpful for those who lead incredibly fast lives, or have a physically, mentally or emotionally demanding day ahead.

What's important isn't so much what you're doing in bed, but how long you spend doing it. If you're rotting for a whole day, then that's something concerning that probably requires a greater look into to see what's holding you down (metaphorically). But spending two hours reading a few chapters of your book or sipping tea and getting hot tea from Real Housewives? Go for it, girl.

When does bedrotting become something concerning?

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As mentioned, it's really a fine line. People who have clinical depression or anxiety may use bedrotting as a means to justify not leaving the bed for days, so if you find yourself slipping into that space, it's important to know when to pull yourself out. Bedrotting won't help or improve symptoms of anxiety or depression, so seeking professional help is your best and safest course of action.

Bedrotting can start off as a form of self-care, but it can also turn into a cycle of reducing social engagements and greater sleep problems. So when bedrotting, it's important to set boundaries for yourself and be disciplined enough to respect them. For example, set yourself a time limit of bedrotting – an alarm on your phone helps – and make it a point to shift the energy at the end of that time limit. This can mean turning the A/C off, throwing the curtains open, or even getting out of bed to stretch.

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