Why TikTok’s Bed Rotting Trend isn’t Good for You or Your Mattress

TikTok is a social media app that’s done a lot of trendsetting in the past few years. This ranges from dances to lifestyles to health trends. Some of these fads have been positive, encouraging viewers to take care of their mental health. One of the latest is TikTok’s “bed rotting” trend. However, this craze has unfortunate consequences for both you and your mattress that you might not be aware of.

What is Bed Rotting?

Bed rotting is a self-care trend where a person stays in bed all day. Not to catch up on sleep or because they’re sick, but to simply decompress and not have to engage in their usual daily activities. Typically, people spend this time scrolling social media, watching TV, or reading a book. 

Many members of Gen Z feel overwhelmed and are experiencing burnout, and it’s understandable why bed rotting has become notable. For many, the bed is a safe space. If you live in a loud or active household, your bedroom might be where you can get the most privacy and peace. Add in the comfort that naturally comes with a good mattress, plush pillows, and warm blankets, and it’s no surprise that someone might want to spend hours in their bed in an attempt to recharge. 

The Negative Effects of Bed Rotting

It’s good to take time for yourself. When the world is overwhelming you, it’s a good idea to relax in a comfortable place away from the pressures of daily life. In moderation, it can be truly beneficial to your mental health, and the bed is generally a safe space for people. 

However, as comfortable as your bed might be, and as tempting as it sounds to just spend all day in bed, bed rotting has negative effects you might not be aware of.

Throws Off Your Sleep Cycle

For starters, bed rotting isn’t doing your sleep cycle any favors. Studies have shown that people have an easier time falling asleep when their bed is only used for sleep. The psychology behind this is known as stimulus control. The idea is that a stimulus or cue (such as your bed) may elicit specific behaviors (sleepiness) depending on your conditioning (using the bed only for sleep). This is why people with sleep disorders like insomnia are encouraged to get up and do something else when they can’t sleep, then return to bed when they’re tired again.

When you spend hours in bed playing on your phone, watching tv or partaking in non-sleep activities, this conditions your mind to associate your bed with waking activities, not sleep. This makes it harder to fall asleep at your usual bedtime. As a result, you’re actually more tired from spending hours bed rotting than if you’d spent fewer hours in bed just sleeping.

This matters because sleep is essential to both your mental and physical health. Not getting enough sleep every night can affect your blood pressure, immune system, and even your cognitive functions. Furthermore, studies have shown that sleep deprivation can cause increased anxiety and distress in otherwise healthy adults. This makes mental health issues like general anxiety and depression even worse. So while you might think bed rotting is good for your mental health, it can actually have the opposite effect if done too much or too often.

Puts More Strain On Your Mattress 

You might not realize it, but bed rotting is shortening your mattress’ lifespan. Considering how a mattress is a fairly expensive purchase essential to your sleep, this is a bigger deal than you think. The average person spends between six and eight hours each night sleeping on their mattress. This means that there’s usually 16-18 hours of the day where it’s not in use. During this time, your bed is doing its own decompressing. 

When we sleep, all of our body weight is concentrated onto the mattress, which puts pressure on the materials. This can lead to sagging and uncomfortable pressure points. When we’re awake and out of bed, the materials inside the mattress can once more expand. As a result, your mattress lasts and remains comfortable for longer. But when you’re bed rotting all day, you’re not giving your mattress the time or opportunity to recover and decompress.

To an extent, you can counteract this by regularly flipping or rotating your mattress. However, when it’s already undergoing so much extra wear-and -tear from overuse, the lifespan is still significantly shortened. This means you’ll need to replace your mattress far sooner than planned.

Dirt and Odor Build Up Around You

The more you use your bed, the dirtier your mattress gets. Sweat, dead skin, and other body excretions seep into the mattress materials as you sleep. Ordinarily, this isn’t a big deal as you’re only using the bed for a limited period of time. Bed rotting exacerbates this issue and can potentially make it a hygiene issue.

When you spend your whole day in bed, so does your sweat and dead skin. This can lead to stains and unpleasant odors in your mattress. Unless you’re changing your sheets and cleaning your mattress frequently, this is going to become noticeable sooner rather than later. 

Also, a dirty mattress isn’t just gross–it can increase the number of allergens you’re exposed to. Dust mites, mold, and bacteria thrive in the warm, moist conditions of a mattress that is frequently in use. So while you rot in bed, bacteria and pests are growing at a faster rate. These increased allergens can make your sleep quality worse, or even cause respiratory issues in the long-term.

Alternatives to Bed Rotting

Bed rotting is nice in theory or as an occasional act of self-care, but when done too much or too often, it’s a detriment to your health and the lifespan of your mattress. So consider alternatives that might have a better impact. Reserve time in bed for sleep and find a different place to scroll on social media as you “rot.” The couch, a recliner, or even a futon somewhere can easily serve the same function without putting wear and tear on your mattress or damaging your sleep cycle as much.

Overall, the benefits of TikTok’s bed rotting trend should be taken with a grain of salt, while the negative effects should be taken seriously. Consider indulging in other forms of self-care, like meditation, planning a weekend away, or watching a movie on the couch. And most importantly, be kind to yourself.