Social media has had all of us succumb to differing ideas of what self-care should be like: It may be a popular 10-step skincare regimen, intermittent fasting, Pilates, or cosmetic surgeries. We’ve always been easily drawn to trends that we think could bring out the best in us, either physically or mentally.
So what’s the newest trend for self-care these days? Oh, not much. Just Bed Rotting.
And yes, it is what you think it is.
The ‘bed rotting’ trend, which has reached over 300 million views on TikTok, refers to the idea of a person lying down in their bed for long periods of time, regardless of what they’re doing, as long as they’re purposefully and intentionally “rotting” away on their bed.
However, some professionals are claiming that this trend can be an “unproductive” way to reclaim both physical and mental health from the hustle and bustle of one’s everyday life.
“In our current culture, with too much to do, too many expectations, and too much productivity, many individuals are feeling burned out and often aren’t getting enough sleep. In many ways, this is beneficial. It’s a chance to clear your mind, recharge and regroup before returning to life in a better frame of mind,” said Dr. Ryan Sultan, a board-certified psychiatrist, to Fox News.
However, while it might seem comfortable and relaxing, overindulging in bed rotting can be more hurtful to your health than the good it can bring.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, also shared with Fox News that while bed rotting might be helpful to de-stress and rejuvenate, “prolonged bed rotting is a bad health practice.”
According to him, the practice increased the risk of depression, decreased motivation, disrupted sleeping patterns, and could lead to unhealthy weight gain.
“I am also concerned about the medical risks of prolonged bed rotting, including blood clots, blood pressure issues, and obesity,” Siegel said. “Regular exercise as a form of de-stressing is much healthier.”
So, if you’re wanting to try out the trend, along with its possible benefits, make sure to be also aware of its risks, so you won’t be rotting, for good.
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