LOS ALAMITOS, Calif — We have all been in the mindset of rejecting doing anything productive all day. Parents view their teenagers as lazy for watching Netflix and scrolling on TikTok. But are these occasional brain breaks and relaxation, recently coined as “bed-rotting,” actually set you up for success?
Bed-rotting can mean a range of activities, from binge-watching your favorite show, playing video games all day or taking extremely long naps. There are some pros and cons to bedrotting. Still, many students at Los Alamitos High School have a favorite way to wind down and relax.
“I love to write when I bed-rot,” said LAHS junior Aleena Evans.
Writing is an activity that helps keep our minds active while our body rests. Spending extended time in bed can often be productive rather than doing nothing.
Stress can have a big impact on the mental health of teens and young adults, especially since their brains are still in the process of developing. Research has shown that stress can lead to brain changes when individuals constantly overwork and procrastinate important activities. Taking periodic healthy breaks can help alleviate that built-up stress.
A major factor of high school stress, bedrotting can contain excessive sleep. Taking multiple-hour naps over the weekend seems like an easy fix, but at the same time, it can lead to a disrupted sleep schedule.
“Taking naps sometimes messes up my sleep schedule, especially when I spend most of the day sleeping,” said LAHS sophomore Naomi Dixon.
Many consider these habits of doom-scrolling and lying in bed for an extended time to be self-care. However, it’s easy to cross the line of too much, which can lead to worse habits of procrastination and even brain rot. On the negative side of bed-rotting, spending all your time in bed can lead to repeatedly avoiding meaningful connections.
“I love bed-rotting, but I don’t think it’s beneficial lying in one spot all day; the brain needs change and movement,” said LAHS sophomore Kaylyn Kekacs.
Overworking yourself without occasional breaks can lead to feelings of burnout. Conversely, going days without movement often slips the brain into a depressive state that is not easy for everyone to come out of. Bed-rotting is an easy and appealing option to deal with burnout, allowing the mind and body to reset and focus on future important decisions.
Staying in bed and binge-watching TV shows is the definition of bed-rotting for many teens. Taking these breaks, whether or not they improve mental health long term, can help prevent and recover from stress and burnout. However, if not taken in healthy periods, these breaks can be more detrimental than beneficial for mental health.