Feeling Holiday Burnout? Why Bed Rotting Might Be the Reset You Need
Passions of a SAHM
December 23, 2025
After weeks of packed schedules and nonstop holiday commitments, it’s no surprise that many people feel completely drained. If you’ve spent your days hopping from malls to family reunions, cooking elaborate Noche Buena spreads, attending Simbang Gabi, and checking off endless to-do lists, the urge to retreat into bed and do absolutely nothing can feel irresistible. For many, this is where “bed rotting” comes in.
Popularized by Generation Z on TikTok, bed rotting is a modern self-care concept that simply means spending extended time in bed resting, sleeping, eating snacks, scrolling through social media, or binge-watching your favorite series. It’s unstructured, indulgent, and entirely up to you. While the term may sound unappealing, the idea behind it is actually rooted in a very real need: rest.
“At a time when we try to squeeze in as many activities as we can in a day, it’s only natural to step away from all the busyness to decompress, breathe, and simply do nothing,” says Anna Marie Lantano, MD, a psychiatrist from Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed), one of the country’s top hospitals.
Interestingly, bed rotting isn’t unique to today’s youth culture. Other countries have long embraced similar philosophies. In the Netherlands, “niksen” refers to deliberately doing nothing without guilt, while in Italy, “dolce far niente” celebrates the sweetness of idleness. These practices highlight a shared understanding across cultures: rest is not laziness—it’s necessary.
“Bed rotting, which first trended on TikTok, isn’t about being lazy if done sparingly and for a specific purpose,” Dr. Lantano explains. “It’s all about giving yourself permission to take a break from the world.”
However, she cautions that there is a fine line between healthy self-care and self-sabotage. Staying in bed for too long or using it as an escape from responsibilities can do more harm than good. “Give yourself enough time to rest without compromising your responsibilities,” she advises. “Schedule it on a day or weekend when you can truly take time off. Anything longer can make it difficult to get back into the real world. Make sure you’re not using bed rotting as a way to avoid certain people, feelings, or responsibilities.”
Equally important is how you choose to spend your time while bed rotting. Bringing work into bed defeats the purpose entirely. “Resist the urge to answer emails from your boss, catch up on a backlog of reports, or make a PowerPoint presentation,” says Dr. Lantano. “This is meant to be a mental health break.”
Instead, she encourages activities that are genuinely restorative. Watching shows or movies, listening to music, or even resting without gadgets can help the mind reset. For those who want a change of pace, she suggests reading a physical book instead of endlessly scrolling through Facebook or calling a friend instead of just sending messages. “Bed rotting doesn’t necessarily mean cutting yourself off from the world,” she clarifies. “You can use the time to reconnect with loved ones through a voice or video call.”
Sleep is, of course, a key part of bed rotting. Quality rest helps recharge both the body and the mind. Still, daytime sleep should be done in moderation. “Try napping for a few minutes after lunch,” Dr. Lantano suggests, noting that long daytime naps may disrupt nighttime sleep patterns.
Despite its name, bed rotting doesn’t mean staying completely immobile all day. Dr. Lantano advises getting up every two to three hours to stretch or walk around. “This promotes circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots,” she says, emphasizing the importance of gentle movement even on rest days.
Perhaps the most important rule of all is to let go of guilt. “Feeling guilty for ‘doing nothing’ has no place in a mental health day,” Dr. Lantano stresses. “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.”
When done mindfully and in moderation, bed rotting can be a legitimate form of self-care—one that helps you reset, recharge, and return to daily life with renewed energy.
After weeks of packed schedules and nonstop holiday commitments, it’s no surprise that many people feel completely drained. If you’ve spent ...Popularized by Generation Z on TikTok, bed rotting is a modern self-care concept that simply means spending extended time in bed resting, sleeping, eating snacks, scrolling through social media, or binge-watching your favorite series. It’s unstructured, indulgent, and entirely up to you. While the term may sound unappealing, the idea behind it is actually rooted in a very real need: rest.
“At a time when we try to squeeze in as many activities as we can in a day, it’s only natural to step away from all the busyness to decompress, breathe, and simply do nothing,” says Anna Marie Lantano, MD, a psychiatrist from Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed), one of the country’s top hospitals.
Interestingly, bed rotting isn’t unique to today’s youth culture. Other countries have long embraced similar philosophies. In the Netherlands, “niksen” refers to deliberately doing nothing without guilt, while in Italy, “dolce far niente” celebrates the sweetness of idleness. These practices highlight a shared understanding across cultures: rest is not laziness—it’s necessary.
“Bed rotting, which first trended on TikTok, isn’t about being lazy if done sparingly and for a specific purpose,” Dr. Lantano explains. “It’s all about giving yourself permission to take a break from the world.”
However, she cautions that there is a fine line between healthy self-care and self-sabotage. Staying in bed for too long or using it as an escape from responsibilities can do more harm than good. “Give yourself enough time to rest without compromising your responsibilities,” she advises. “Schedule it on a day or weekend when you can truly take time off. Anything longer can make it difficult to get back into the real world. Make sure you’re not using bed rotting as a way to avoid certain people, feelings, or responsibilities.”
Equally important is how you choose to spend your time while bed rotting. Bringing work into bed defeats the purpose entirely. “Resist the urge to answer emails from your boss, catch up on a backlog of reports, or make a PowerPoint presentation,” says Dr. Lantano. “This is meant to be a mental health break.”
Instead, she encourages activities that are genuinely restorative. Watching shows or movies, listening to music, or even resting without gadgets can help the mind reset. For those who want a change of pace, she suggests reading a physical book instead of endlessly scrolling through Facebook or calling a friend instead of just sending messages. “Bed rotting doesn’t necessarily mean cutting yourself off from the world,” she clarifies. “You can use the time to reconnect with loved ones through a voice or video call.”
Sleep is, of course, a key part of bed rotting. Quality rest helps recharge both the body and the mind. Still, daytime sleep should be done in moderation. “Try napping for a few minutes after lunch,” Dr. Lantano suggests, noting that long daytime naps may disrupt nighttime sleep patterns.
Despite its name, bed rotting doesn’t mean staying completely immobile all day. Dr. Lantano advises getting up every two to three hours to stretch or walk around. “This promotes circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots,” she says, emphasizing the importance of gentle movement even on rest days.
Perhaps the most important rule of all is to let go of guilt. “Feeling guilty for ‘doing nothing’ has no place in a mental health day,” Dr. Lantano stresses. “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.”
When done mindfully and in moderation, bed rotting can be a legitimate form of self-care—one that helps you reset, recharge, and return to daily life with renewed energy.
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