'Bed rotting’ is a popular trend among Gen Z Americans, according to a new survey, but an expert says it may not be a good habit for those looking to improve their sleep.
Many people struggle to get a good night’s sleep, and a new survey suggests a large number of folks are looking to viral social media trends in an attempt to improve the quality of their shut-eye.
The survey, commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, found that over one third of respondents, or 37%, have tried at least one social media sleep trend — with the most popular trend being “bed rotting.”
“Bed rotting” refers to the action of staying in bed for long periods of time — potentially a whole day or longer — while engaging in activities other than sleep with the goal of rest and relaxation. This might include reading, playing video games, scrolling online, binge-watching a TV show, snacking, and more.
Nearly a quarter of Gen Z respondents (24%) admitted to practicing this trend, while 14% of all respondents said they’d tried it. Over half (51%) of respondents meanwhile said they spend more than 30 minutes in bed before attempting to sleep, and 27% said they do the same in the morning before getting up.
But while there’s nothing inherently harmful about “bed rotting” every once in a while, Anne Marie Morse, DO, Geisinger sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the AASM, says it’s important to remember that the bed should be primarily reserved for sleep — especially for those struggling to get a good night’s rest.
So if you’re attempting “bed rotting” as a way to improve your sleep quality, she says this trend may not be right for you.
“It is critical to differentiate whether the reason for experimenting with new ’sleep trends’ is because of existing difficulties with sleep or unsatisfactory wakefulness, as utilizing trends like ‘bed rotting’ may actually worsen the sleep problem you may be experiencing,” she said in a statement.
If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, Morse instead recommends maintaining healthy sleep habits such as a consistent sleep schedule where you go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Not getting into bed unless you’re tired and nearly ready for sleep is also a good practice, she says.
The survey asked a total of 2,006 adults in the United States whether they’d tried any of the eight sleep trends included in the questionnaire. Gen Z was most likely to report having tried one or more, with 55% of this age group saying they’d attempted a social media sleep trend.
In addition the “bed rotting,” the trends included in the survey were mouth taping (5%), sleeping in 90-minute increments (9%), livestreaming your sleep (7%), watching others livestream their sleep (8%), drinking magnesium or the “sleepy girl mocktail” (9%), drinking lettuce water (6%), and the scandinavian sleep method where each bed partner has their own blanket (10%).
“As an avid social media contributor, I attempt to be a resource for all things sleep across platforms, and it is exciting to see increasing awareness and socialization about optimizing sleep, rather than the continued stigma, perpetuation and even championing of ‘getting away with’ less sleep,” Morse said. “Sleep problems are common and treatable; however, the right solution for the specific issue at hand is necessary.”
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