'Bed rotting' can be self-care if done right, says doctor

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December 19, 2025 | 5:11pm

MANILA, Philippines — Leave it to Gen Z to come up with new words for everything, even for lying around in bed doing whatever one pleases.

"Bed rotting," as it's now called, is what people do when they lay in bed all day sleep, eat, doomscroll, binge-watch, and everything in between.

Anna Marie Lantano, MD, a psychiatist at Makati Medical Center, says its natural to step away from the busyness of the day to decompress, breathe, and simply do nothing, especially when multiple activities are being crammed within 24 hours.

The doctor points out that "bed rotting," a term that first emerged on TikTok, "isn't about being lazy if done sparingly and for a specific purpose" and "about giving yourself permission to take a break from the world."

As such, Dr. Lantano advises being wary of how long one stays in bed a there's fine line between self-care and self-sabotage, "Give yourself enough time to rest without compromising your responsibilities."

Related: How to zzz with ease: The sweet science of better sleep

She also advises scheduling on a day or weekend with time to take off, anything longer will make it hard to get back in the groove. Plus "bed rotting" shouldn't be used as an excuse to avoid people, feelings, or responsibilities.

As much as possible, don't involve work when "bed rotting" or else it defeats the purpse of a mental health break. Instead use a laptop and phones to watch online or call a friend, or better yet don't use gadgets at all and read a book.

Sleeping is one activity that can be done while "bed rotting," but experts warn that napping during the day could disrupt regular sleep at night, thus Dr. Lantano suggests only napping for a few minutes after lunch.

The doctor also advises getting up from bed every two to three hours to walk and stretch in order to promote blood circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.

"Feeling guilty for 'doing nothing' has no place in a mental health day," ends Dr. Lantano. "Think of bed rotting as a reward for all that you do for others, and how much better you'll be once you get back in the swing of things."

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