Bed Rot: Why Staying in Bed All Day is a Bad Idea

After a busy day or a slightly too drunk evening, have you got into the habit of spending the next day in bed, watching TV series or reading and leaving the duvet only to go to the bathroom and stock up on sweets?

Now, this practice has a name: “bed rotting”, which can be literally translated as “rotting in bed” (which immediately sounds less good in French). While the phenomenon is not new, its sudden notoriety thanks to social networks is surprising. On TikTok in particular, more and more Internet users – often young people – are praising the fact that doing nothing productive all day while staying in bed is just not a good idea.

Sedentary lifestyle and insomnia

Questioned by Top Santé, neurologist and sleep doctor Marc Rey warns of the health risks deriving from “bed decomposition”, starting with the increased risk of developing certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, tumors and obesity. In question? Our sedentary lifestyle, further enhanced by staying in bed all day.

Another risk: that of altering circadian rhythms, and therefore disturbing sleep, as Dr. Sylvie Royant Parola, a sleep specialist, explains to Franceinfo. “ Staying in bed all day upsets your rhythms and can upset your internal clock. The morning surge in cortisol, which is the wake-up hormone, can be reduced », he explains, before mentioning the risk of insomnia when “he associates his bed with activities other than sleep”.

Consequences on mental health

If done occasionally, the practice of “bed roasting” can help recharge your batteries, because it allows you to take time for yourself, away from the constant frenzy of the outside world. But be careful not to make it a habit. For psychoanalyst Chantal Pironi, if we want to spend all our time in bed watching series rather than seeing our loved ones and practicing our usual activities, this should worry us. “Bed rot can be a symptom of depression, if associated with other signs such as loss of interest in activities that are usually enjoyable, explains Parisian. This may be the case, for example, if a person does not like watching his favorite series. »

By promoting social isolation, “bed rot” can also, when combined with very high screen time, increase the risks of depression and dementia, several studies report.

To ensure that your lazy moments in bed remain pure pleasure without consequences, you must therefore ensure that you practice regular physical activity and maintain a social life.

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