What is 'bed rotting' and is it as bad as it sounds? A sleep expert weighs in
According to a top sleep expert, Bed rotting involves people spending an excessive amount of time in their bed avoiding their responsibilities, but is it as harmful as we think?
Videos revolving around the term 'bed rotting' have surpassed over 130 million views on TikTok, making it the latest sleep trend we should be aware of.
The term 'bed rotting', according to Dr Deborah Lee, a sleep expert working with Bed Factory Direct, refers to individuals spending an excessive amount of time in bed avoiding all their responsibilities.
She explains: "when someone lays in bed, usually scrolling through TikTok or binging TV shows for hours on end without doing anything productive, that is often what is being referred to as 'bed rotting".
While the media has portrayed the term as something that is extremely negative as the term 'rotting' has unpleasant connotations, Dr Deborah Lee explores whether it's truly as harmful as we perceive it to be.
"Bed rotting can be positive if it's done as a genuine stance of needing to recover and rest, however, the term 'rotting' does have a negative impact."
The expert continues: "Perhaps renaming it as 'intentional rest' will put a bit more of a positive spin on this rather than the use of the term 'to rot' – it shifts the focus from being lazy and unproductive to purposeful relaxation, which we all need to get over our busy modern-day lives."
However, Dr Lee also delves into why some people who engage in 'bed rotting' are actually doing it for the wrong reasons.
"Those that 'bed rot' are often ignoring their day-to-day activity which can seem overwhelming. A lot of people are physically and emotionally overwhelmed with trying to balance everyday life.
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"Some individuals resort to 'bed rotting' as a means of evading real-world responsibilities, but the reality is that the task list will still be waiting when they eventually rise. It's essentially an 'ignorance is bliss' approach to crucial administrative tasks."
"Exercise plays a vital role in daily life, whether it's simply moving around the house doing some cleaning or taking a proper walk to the shop. Neglecting these activities can have detrimental effects on mobility and overall health, particularly if ignored for extended periods," the expert states.
To prevent prolonged 'bed rotting', Dr Deborah Lee has compiled a guide to getting up in the morning and avoiding the slump:
Breakfast is crucial
Dr Lee expresses the importance of a nutritional breakfast, saying: "It might be tempting to just grab a breakfast bar or pop some bread in the toaster, but a breakfast rich in both carbohydrates and protein should make you feel more alert quickly, and should deter you from returning to bed.
Avoiding sugar in the mornings is a great way to feel more alert."
Morning Exercise
The expert understands that not everyone wakes up excited to work out, or wanting to do it at all.
However she expresses: "studies have shown that a 30-minute workout of moderate intensity can help you wake up much quicker than if you didn't exert yourself."
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Light up the room
"When your eyes see light in the morning, it gives signals to your brain that it's time to wake up," Dr Lee states.
"If you have blackout curtains, then this can be really confusing for the mind and you'll naturally want to stay in bed for long periods of time."
Dr Lee recommends buying a bedside lamp so that you can use it first thing in the morning, however she expresses: "if you can utilise natural light by opening the curtains and getting outside as soon as possible then that's a better option."