Bed rotting.

What is it?

By definition, bed rotting is the art, made popular by TikTok, of, well, rotting in bed. Not getting up and starting your day, if you will. Spending the day beneath the covers, nary a foot on the floor or a tooth brushed. Perhaps that last part depends on the person.

How one bed rots varies from rotter to rotter. The spectrum extending from clean sheets and new pajamas to rooms that could be contenders for the show, Hoarders.

Again, it comes down to personal preference.

As a chronically ill girly (hello migraines and anxiety!), I am no stranger to the bed rot, especially when I wake up in a full on migraine attack and can’t imagine leaving bed island. But I have also had days where my bed rot was planned, like when I want to read a book and nothing sounds cozier than my bed, a heating pad, and a cup of tea. Perhaps there’s some doom scrolling. Who’s to say? I’m wild like that. Ha.

But when I’m not in a migraine attack, and I’ve planned a bed rot day to read and relax, I find myself wanting to, well, get out of bed.

Suddenly, the pajamas that were so warm and comfy that morning feel gross by 1pm. I have an urgent need to brush my teeth. Maybe a quick shower. Or at least wash my face and put on some moisturizer.

Even when I bed rot after getting ready for the day, I can really only rot until 1pm. I don’t know why that’s the magic hour for me. It just is.

I love the idea of bed rotting, and I love that Gen Z has turned rest into a “thing”. And I can appreciate that they’ve made it a thing that should be celebrated, not shamed. Bed rotting is both indulgent and necessary.

In a world where we are taught that time is money and that we can sleep when we die, rest has become an act of resistance. A way of saying, No, I’m not gonna live at your speed when my body wants to go slow.

There’s a reason why slow living has become such a hot interest. People are tired of living fast. And I don’t blame them! Who wants to rush anymore? All you do is end up missing what’s important because you were too busy to look around and enjoy yourself.

You get one life. That’s it. Why are we going to live it at breakneck speed if that’s the speed that goes against what our bodies want? No more of that. Let’s embrace the bed rot!

In fact, I’m doing some rotting today since the cat woke me up at 5am, and I have been working on a deficit ever since. But as usual, by 11am (a bit earlier than my usual 1pm), I’m getting that itch that maybe it’s time to start the day. There was that pack of ice cream sandwiches at Stew Leonard’s I wanted to get. And the TikTok I need to post. And my teeth feel like they need a good washing.

But first, let me take an Advil. And maybe finish one more chapter before I forgo my pajamas for leggings.

Until next week, friends.