The Rise of Bed Rotting: How and Why Americans Are Doing It

Have you ever heard of “bed rotting”? It’s the practice of spending long stretches in bed with little to no physical activity, such as watching TV, scrolling on social media, or just resting.

Our survey of over 1,000 Americans found it’s more common than you might think. We explored who’s doing it most, what they’re up to while there, and whether all this time in bed is helping or hurting people’s well-being.

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How Common Is Bed Rotting?

Bed rotting is a popular practice across America, but the concept isn’t new. A similar tradition, known as hurkle durkling, has been part of Scottish culture for centuries. See below how often Americans engage in this trend and why.

The average American spends 364 hours a year bed rotting, which adds up to about 15 days. Gen Z leads this trend, with 89% spending about 498 hours (21 days) doing so each year.

Women (67%) were slightly more likely than men (64%) to engage in bed rotting. Interestingly, hybrid workers (73%) were more likely than in-person workers (68%) and fully remote workers (63%) to bed rot.

Morning hours (6 a.m. – noon) were the most popular time for bed rotting at 42%, followed by evening (5-10 p.m.) at 22%, afternoon (noon – 5 p.m.) at 19%, late-night (10 p.m. – 2 a.m.) at 15%, and overnight (2 a.m. – 6 a.m.) at just 2%.

Gen Z (27%) was more likely to bed rot in the evening compared to other generations, while afternoon bed rotting was most common among baby boomers (29%).

More than half of Americans (57%) have taken a PTO or sick day specifically to bed rot, and the same percentage have canceled plans with friends and family to do so. Gen Z (62%) was the most likely to have canceled social plans for bed rotting.

Scrolling social media or watching content was a major reason why Gen Z (63%) bed rots compared to millennials (46%), Gen X (41%), and baby boomers (17%). Gen Z (65%) was also the most likely to bed rot simply because it feels comfy.

Despite its popularity, 53% of Americans said they feel guilty after bed rotting, with Gen Z (61%) and millennials (57%) experiencing this the most.

Bed Rotting Activities and Entertainment Choices

What are people actually doing when they’re sprawled out in bed for hours? Our survey reveals some clear favorites for this cozy downtime.

Many people reported watching shows (76%), scrolling through feeds (71%), or taking a nap (71%) while bed rotting. And although TikTok gets the credit for making “bed rotting” a buzzword, people actually turn to other apps more often while lounging in bed.

YouTube was the go-to app among Americans for bed rotting (65%). Gen Z used it the most (83%), spending 3.2 hours on YouTube per bed-rotting session. They were also the most likely to bed rot while on Instagram (69%) and TikTok (61%), for about 3.2 to 3.3 hours per day.

When spending long hours in bed, most people watched TV shows and movies (63%). Many also enjoyed comedy and memes (46%), TikToks (38%), and YouTube Shorts (37%). Some used the time to catch up on the news (36%) or scroll through Reels (34%).

Bed Rotting and Well-Being: How Habits Compare

Bed rotting is often seen as a form of self-care, but our survey reveals notable differences in well-being between those who engage in it and those who don’t.

People who don’t spend extended periods in bed rotting reported higher satisfaction across various aspects of life and work. For example, 74% of non-bed rotters said they feel productive at work, compared to 61% of those who bed rot.

Energy levels follow a similar pattern, with 66% of non-bed rotters feeling good about their energy, while only 40% of bed rotters say the same. The trend continues for overall life satisfaction (68% vs. 47%) and mental well-being (67% vs. 44%).

While these findings show a connection between bed rotting and lower well-being, it’s unclear whether bed rotting contributes to these differences or if people who bed rot are already more likely to experience lower satisfaction in these areas.

Inside the Bed Rotting Phenomenon

Bed rotting isn’t just a passing TikTok trend. It’s become a real part of how many Americans, especially younger people, spend their downtime. Our findings suggest it might be worth reconsidering those extra hours under the covers.

People who skip the bed rot reported feeling more energetic, productive, and satisfied with their lives across the board. As we continue our love affair with screens in bed, finding the right balance might be the key to keeping both our comfort and our well-being intact.

FAQs

What does being bedridden do to your body?

When you stay in bed too long, your body starts to change in many ways. Your muscles get weaker and smaller, with leg muscles getting the worst of it. Your heart doesn’t have to work as hard, which sounds good but actually makes your heart weaker over time.

If you try to stand up suddenly after being in bed for days, you might feel dizzy or even faint. Other problems happen too: your bones get weaker, you might get constipated, breathing becomes harder as fluid builds up in your lungs, and you can develop painful sores on your skin where bones press against the mattress for too long.

How is bed rotting different from lounging?

Bed rotting differs from lounging primarily in its duration, intensity, and psychological impact. While lounging is typically a short, intentional relaxation activity that lasts for a few hours at most, bed rotting involves extended periods (often entire days) spent in bed beyond necessary sleep, where one essentially retreats from life’s responsibilities and activities.

Lounging usually serves as a refreshing break that leaves you energized and ready to return to normal activities, whereas bed rotting often produces feelings of guilt and lethargy, as evidenced by our survey.

Lounging can involve more varied activities like reading a book, writing in a journal, doing a handicraft such as knitting, having a conversation, or simply resting without excessive screen time.

Does it count as bed rotting if you’re sick?

When you’re actually sick with something like the flu or a cold, staying in bed isn’t called “bed rotting.” It’s just called resting and getting better. Your body needs this rest to heal.

Think of it like this: your body has only so much energy, and when you’re sick, it needs to use that energy to fight the illness instead of walking around or doing activities. The difference is why you’re in bed. If it’s to help your body heal from being sick, that’s good. If it’s just to avoid life when you’re not sick, that might be a problem.

What does dysania mean?

Dysania means having an extremely hard time getting out of bed in the morning. It’s not just feeling a little sleepy or wanting five more minutes. It’s a powerful feeling that makes your body feel heavy and your mind foggy, making it really difficult to start your day.

People with dysania often feel stuck, like their body just won’t cooperate with their brain’s command to get up. While doctors don’t list dysania as its own illness, it often shows up in people who have depression, chronic fatigue, or certain sleep problems.

The main difference from normal morning sleepiness is how much it gets in the way of your daily life.

Is bed rotting a mental illness?

Bed rotting isn’t officially listed as a mental illness in medical books, but it can be a warning sign that something’s not right with your mental health. When someone spends lots of time in bed when they don’t need to sleep, it’s usually a sign of another problem like depression or anxiety.

Think of it like a fever. The fever itself isn’t the illness, but it tells you your body is fighting something. Similarly, spending all day in bed isn’t the mental illness itself, but it might tell you your mind is struggling with something.

What starts as just wanting to hide from your problems for a day can turn into a habit that actually makes you feel worse if it goes on too long.

How can I move out of bed instead of lying there all day?

To stop spending all day in bed, start by creating a morning routine that forces you to get up. Like putting your alarm clock across the room so you have to stand up to turn it off. Making plans with other people early in the day helps too, because you’ll feel responsible to show up.

Try to figure out why you want to stay in bed. Are you feeling sad, worried, overwhelmed, or just not sleeping well? These root causes might need help from a doctor or therapist if they don’t improve.

Don’t try to change everything at once, as that rarely works. Instead, try getting up just 15 minutes earlier than usual, then gradually increase your time out of bed as your body gets used to the new schedule.

Is it OK to stay in bed all day once?

Taking one day to just rest in bed now and then is usually fine and might even be good for you, especially after a really busy or stressful time. Our bodies and minds sometimes need a break from constant activity and pressure.

The difference between a healthy rest day and a problem is in how you feel about it and what happens after. If you choose to take a rest day (rather than just not being able to get up), if it doesn’t happen too often, and if you feel better afterward instead of more tired, it’s probably healthy.

Just keep an eye on whether these bed days start happening more often or begin causing problems with your work, relationships, or how you feel about life.

How can I have a more relaxed morning?

To make your mornings less stressful, do some prep work the night before. Lay out your clothes, get breakfast items ready (and a lunch if you make one to take with you), and finish any urgent tasks so you don’t wake up already behind.

Set your alarm 15-30 minutes earlier than you absolutely need to get up. This extra time isn’t for doing more things. It’s buffer time that lets you wake up slowly instead of jumping out of bed in a panic. It can even give you time for a brief hurkle durkle, just appreciating the morning for a few moments.

Add something enjoyable to your morning that you look forward to, like a special coffee drink, listening to your favorite music, or a short walk outside.

Try to stay off email and social media for the first hour after waking up. This gives your brain time to focus on your own needs before dealing with everyone else’s messages and news.

Is bed rotting a symptom of burnout?