Bed rotting. It’s a ‘self-care’ TikTok trend that involves staying in bed all day to do passive activities like binge watching shows and scrolling on your phone.
But, is bed rotting a good way to recharge your batteries, or is it a sign of deeper mental health issues?
Ella spoke with AFTRS counsellor Rachel Roberts to unpack this.
Rachel said, “we live in a time that undervalues rest and overvalues productivity… and as a culture, we do have shame around needing to rest.’
“We need rest, but we need to look at our behaviour in context”, she said.
Check in on how you’re feeling. Only you can decide if your bed rotting is proactive rest.
However, over time, bed rotting could become concerning. “Are you finding it difficult to do other tasks? Are you avoiding more things, like activities you’d usually find enjoyable? Do you have overdue assessments?”, Rachel questioned.
There are an abundance of other ways that we can rest, beyond our bed sheets!
From physical rest like gentle movement and a good nights sleep, to sensory and spiritual rest like spending time in nature and practising mindfulness, Rachel suggests that these methods of rest are healthier and more beneficial than spending excessive periods of time in bed.
AFTRS community, let’s band together and reduce the stigma around rest. It’s needed, it’s important and it’s encouraged.
If you or a mate are struggling, it’s okay to need help:
- 13YARN: 13 92 76
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Black Dog Institute: 02 9382 4530
- Lifeline: 131 114
- Mental Health Australia: 02 6285 3100
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