I belong to various and sundry social media groups, but I have never bothered to join TikTok. Nonetheless I encounter snippets from that site quite often and generally enjoy the innovative posts that have come my way. One of the most unusual ideas I have learned about from TikTok is something called “bed rotting.” 

I have not taken enough time to thoroughly investigate this new trend but I get the idea that it involves spending time in bed that includes eating and entertaining in addition to sleeping. In other words it is abut staying in bed not so much to rest or recover from an illness, but just to escape for a time from the responsibilities of life. It is an intriguing concept that I suppose is somewhat similar if not precisely the same as what I have always called a “mental health day.”

I’m a rather energetic, Type A, go getter who adheres to a balanced routine of work, exercise and relaxation in generally the same parts each day. I tend to go through a typical day mentally meeting the demands of a self derived checklist of activities, grading myself on how well I have done in reaching my goals. It’s a lifestyle that has generally served me well, but now and again I wake up feeling as though I have hit a wall full force. On those days my level of motivation seems to be extremely low. I am tired and the aches and pains in my body seem more pronounced. I don’t actually have a fever or any kind of symptoms that might relate to an illness. I simply feel as though I have run out of fuel. That is when I decide that it is imperative to spend a day being uncharacteristically lazy. 

I give myself permission to accomplish nothing on my mental health days and I spend most of my time “rotting” in bed if you will. I take my meals there, read there, and periodically nap there. I might find a good movie to watch or take in every episode of a series. I vegetate alone with the blinds drawn shut and with news of the world unwelcome. 

It is not depression that puts me in that state. It is exhaustion from my attempts at creating perfect days, a perfect life. Sometimes I just need to let the dust accumulate on the surfaces and the crumbs stay on the floor. For a day I indulge in sloth without a shred of guilt. I know that it is something I must do to restore the energy that normally has me racing from one project to another. I’m like an electric car that needs a charge. I plug myself into the comfort of my bed and don’t budge until I feel the electricity coursing through my brain and my body once again. 

I’m not sure how I feel about the nomenclature of “bed rotting” because in my case an extended day in bed is more about recharging. The effect of my lazy day is stimulating. It enhances my abilities to work harder and longer. It brings me back to life. I know when I need such time alone as surely as when I notice that it is time to replenish the food in my pantry. Mental health days are a gift that I give myself whenever my energy and enthusiasm flags. 

I am known for being a bonafide introvert which means that I can be as social as anyone, but I regain my energy from being by myself or at least in a small group setting among people that I trust implicitly. I generally prefer social gatherings that are intimate rather than big parties that only allow superficial interactions. Such occasions are draining for me. They deplete my energy enough that I sometimes feel as though I am rushing toward the act of hitting a wall much more quickly than usual. I don’t always need a mental health day to recover from such gayety, but I usually spend a bit more time meditating alone after such celebrations. 

I can spend days and even weeks with a small group and not feel uncomfortable, but large reunions or travel groups bring me discomfort. I have to find quiet corners to replenish my energy and my joy. It’s one of the reasons that I have never been able to sign up for a cruise. I can’t imagine having to eat at a table with strangers and engage in a kind of forced party mode. I know such things are fun for most people, but they feel toxic to me. 

Ironically I never felt overwhelmed by working in classrooms filled with young people. My teaching work was challenging and tiring but it rarely depleted my energy, The dynamic was such that I knew how to control the pace of interaction and the joy that I felt from having an important purpose each day only added to my store of vitality. I had no need to rot in bed. 

I’ve laughed at the terminology used to describe the supposedly new trend of “bed rotting’ . Doctors and therapists are weighing in with discussions of the pros and cons of engaging in such a practice. They warn that it may be a sign of purposeful isolation or hidden difficulties that may lead to both mental and physical health issues. I tend to think that maybe it’s mostly just a way of getting away for a time.

I suppose that making a continual habit of staying in bed all day might indeed be a bad thing, but my own experience is that now and again it’s like taking a vacation without leaving home. It can be a joyful and restful experience that responds to the needs of the body and the mind to cool down and relax. It’s not for everyone, but for those of us who recharge in quiet ways, it is a godsend that allows us to get back to our Type A personality traits quickly. I for one intend to continue rotting in bed when the mood strikes me. It can be a wonderful panacea for the trials that we face.