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What is Bed-Rotting?

“Bed-Rotting”: An Unhealthy or Self-Healing Trend?

Expert Weighs In On Viral Coping Tool 

By Dara Mormile

Spending the day in bed might be the ideal recharging situation - especially if you’ve had a long week and just want to veg out for hours. Gen-Zer’s certainly know how to get a full day of self-care – by “bed-rotting”! 
 
Sounds gross but it’s real! 
 
“Bed-rotting,” a term popularized by Gen Z on TikTok in 2023 for staying in bed and sleeping all day without engaging in any activities/chores, entails more than just being lazy or unproductive. This horrific-sounding and cringe-worthy activity (or lack thereof) is now defining an era of youngsters who sleep for hours on end to recover from life’s trenches. 
 
Preferred Health Magazine spoke to an expert on the topic - America’s Psychologist Dr. Jefferey Gardere, who understands what today’s youth is going through. 

“Our young people are really, really stressed out these days,” Dr. Gardere said. 
“Given what happened during Covid, what’s happening politically, with the economy and the environment… what’s happening with all of the wars and conflicts in the Middle East, and the fact that they’re feeling very overwhelmed in school…I think for a lot of young people it’s a way to escape - and I don’t think it’s the best way to do it - from a lot of issues they run into.” 

Many studies claim this trend is a legitimate form of self-care after dealing with burnout and stress management, but it can also be a sign of a more serious mental health issue including clinical depression. 
   “For other people, ‘bed-rotting’ is a way of getting physical and emotional rest – but there are those who tend to overdo it by just spending all of that time in bed. Plus, I think there are a lot of young people who might have some level of depression, and ‘bed-rotting’ is a possible symptom of that,” the nationally renowned doctor noted. 
   Some studies have shown that the trend doesn’t help people who already suffer from depression and anxiety - fostering avoidance and increasing the risk of obesity. 
 
What differentiates ‘bed-rotting’ from just resting and where’s that fine line before you’re heading overboard? Dr. Gardere projects that normally, most people will just spend a few hours napping and that may sufficiently recharge their battery. “When it comes to ‘bed-rotting’, we’re talking about a weekend in bed where you wake up at

9 a.m. and then go back to sleep for the entire day,” he said. “Most people look at ‘bed-rotting’ as being lazy - but If it’s done in moderation, it actually doesn’t have to be unhealthy.” 
   One thing he advises ‘bed rotters’ to beware of is throwing off their sleep patterns. “Experts all agree that your bed is supposed to only be used for sleeping and sex, so you have to be careful because it can disrupt your regular sleep cycle and may interfere with the normal amount of sleep you get. That’s why it’s important to get up every few hours, walk around, not spend the entire day [there in bed], and have actual meals outside the bedroom.” 
   Dr. Gardere did give credit to the concept as an opportunity to bond with a loved one. “If you have the time, it can be an ideal way to spend the weekend together with your partner, napping, watching TV, communicating and just spending quality time not doing anything.” 
  So go ahead and have yourself a ‘lazy day’ once in a while! 
Just keep in mind some of the toxic sides to this self-care trend before you hibernate and get cozy under the covers! 
  

DR. JEFF GARDERE – AMERICA’S PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr. Jeff is one of the most widely sought-after experts in the field of mental health. In addition to having a private practice in Manhattan, he is an Associate Professor and Course Director of Behavioral Medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City.

Dr. Jeff is also an ordained Interfaith Minister with a Doctorate in Divinity from The New Seminary. 

Dr. Jeff Gardere, better known as “America’s Psychologist”, is also a prolific author of four books and a contributing author of a half-dozen books including the brand-new text, “The Causes of Autism”. In addition to being a respected academician, Dr. Jeff has been a contributor to the FOX network, the Today Show, MSNBC, and CNN.

Dr. Jeff was the host of VH1’s Dad Camp, and recently was the psychologist on The Housewives of Atlanta. He is also the aftercare coordinator and psychologist for Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court.

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