Bed rotting has become a popular trend among teens and Gen Z, with young people spending hours in bed in the name of “self-care.” Some say it’s a much-needed break from the pressures of everyday life. But for parents, watching your teen spend an entire day in bed can be understandably concerning.
So is bed rotting actually a healthy form of self-care, or could it be a sign of something more serious, like depression? Here’s what you need to know about the bed rotting trend, including when to be concerned about your teen’s mental health.
What does the term “bed rotting” mean?
Bed rotting is when you voluntarily stay awake in bed for the whole day (or hours at a time). It’s a relatively new term that gained popularity on TikTok, primarily with Gen Z. It’s become so popular that the Merriam-Webster dictionary has officially included it.
Bed rotting isn’t the same as napping or sleeping (although some people say that napping periodically could be part of a day spent bed rotting). The very definition of bed rotting is that you’re awake in bed, typically during the day. Instead of sleeping, someone might:
- Scroll social media
- Binge-watch shows
- Text friends
- Eat snacks
- Zone out
There’s also an unspoken component of avoidance to bed rotting. Working on your laptop while in bed wouldn’t be considered bed rotting. The purpose is to avoid doing productive tasks and allow yourself to only do low-energy activities instead.
Even though the term is new, the concept of lounging around in bed isn’t. It’s what older generations may have called “vegging out.”
My teen stays in bed all day. Is that healthy?
The question most parents have is: Is bed rotting healthy? As therapists, our answer is that it depends. But it’s definitely something to keep an eye on, because it can become unhealthy very quickly.
It can absolutely be positive to know when you need to rest or take a personal day. Young people today are often under so much pressure, and rates of anxiety disorders are at historic highs. Proponents of bed rotting say it’s a way to prevent burnout.
If your teen has had a hard or extra-busy week, they may need to take a day to simply do nothing in bed. Many teens are also chronically sleep-deprived because of changes in their circadian rhythm. So it may be understandable that they’d want to take extra time to rest and recharge.
But bed rotting isn’t usually healthy for teens, especially when it becomes a regular habit. Some of the risks of chronic or excessive bed rotting for teens include:
- Disrupting their sleep patterns even more if they’re napping
- Neglecting school responsibilities
- Social withdrawal and lack of meaningful in-person friendships
- Unhealthy diet (snacking and binge-eating are often associated with bed rotting)
- Lack of physical movement and exercise
- Excessive screen time and social media use
- Worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety
This isn’t intended to judge or punish teens who turn to bed rotting, who may already feel shame. Instead, it’s important to understand why your teen feels the need to spend so much time in bed, and whether it’s actually helping them feel better.
Bed rotting as self-care vs. avoidance
For some teens, having an occasional bed rotting day can be an important form of self-care. But for many others, it can serve mainly as a way for them to avoid dealing with problems and important responsibilities.
So how can parents tell the difference?
- Do they have a clear intention? Does your teen set a plan to intentionally stay in bed to recharge when they’re overwhelmed? Or do they just end up staying in bed automatically every weekend or any time there’s a challenge in their life? If it’s the latter, it isn’t self-care.
- What activities are they choosing? How is your teen actually spending their time while “bed rotting”? Self-care is about finding ways to meet your own needs. So they might be listening to relaxing music, having a group call with their friends, or taking a bath — activities that are purposely chosen for rest. If they’re spending the entire day scrolling social media, that’s not self-care.
- Are they actually feeling rested? How do they feel after a day of bed rotting? Do they feel rejuvenated, ready to get back to life? Or do they continue to dread the moment when they need to get out of bed? Do they feel ashamed or guilty?
- Do they return to face responsibilities? On a similar note, do they face their problems and responsibilities once the bedrotting period has ended? Or do they continue to avoid them in other ways? Self-care helps us be better able to manage our emotions and responsibilities. It doesn’t help us escape them.
- How often do they feel the need to do it? If they set aside a day for bed rotting once in a while, when there’s a clear trigger (for example, maybe they just finished studying for a difficult exam or had a recent breakup), that could be an important form of self-care. But if they’re doing it every weekend, or increasingly spending more and more time in bed, it could be a sign that they’re having a hard time coping.
- Do they have other self-care practices to turn to? Bed-rotting may be one form of self-care, but it’s important for your teen to have other coping skills as well. Do they also have ways to cope with stress that don’t involve withdrawing from their everyday life, like spending time with friends, exercising, or creative activities? If staying in bed is the only way they know how to cope, that might be a sign it’s unhealthy for them.
Can bed rotting be a sign of depression?
Many parents also worry that bed rotting is a sign that their teen is depressed. They’re spending hours and hours in their room, not wanting to get out of bed. The concern is understandable.
Bed rotting occasionally isn’t enough to diagnose depression on its own. But keep an eye out for other signs that might come along with bed rotting.
- Spending so much time in bed that they’re neglecting their hygiene or basic tasks
- Losing interest in activities they used to enjoy, including hobbies and spending time with friends
- Seeming sad, hopeless, or unusually irritable most days
- Having a hard time getting out of bed even when there’s something they usually look forward to
- Turning down invitations to spend time with friends or family because they’d rather stay in bed
- Spending entire weekends in bed even when there’s nothing stressful going on
- Becoming upset or irritable when they’re encouraged to get out of bed, especially if they seem overwhelmed by the idea of doing anything else
- Describing their bed as the only place they feel comfortable or able to cope with life
Bed rotting can also be connected to other conditions, not just depression. It could be a sign of anxiety-related avoidance or executive dysfunction related to ADHD.
So if you’re concerned, it’s a good idea to talk to your teen’s pediatrician or a licensed mental health provider.
Get intensive depression treatment in Houston, TX
Occasionally spending a day in bed doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything deeper going on with your teen. But if they seem to be withdrawing from life or if bedrotting is the only way they seem to know how to cope, don’t ignore it. Bedrotting isn’t just a “trend,” and they may be having a harder time than you realize.
At Jones Wellness Center, we offer a warm and comforting environment where teens can get the mental health care they need. Our adolescent intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Houston, TX, provides more support than traditional weekly therapy, while allowing teens to continue living at home.
If you believe your teen may be struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, contact us to learn more about how our teen IOP can help.