Whether you call it Wednesday, rot day, duvet day, or playing hooky, The Harvard Independent has credited Gen Z with coining the term “bed rotting.” It refers to spending the day in bed scrolling through social media or watching movies. While there is ongoing debate about its pros and cons, one thing is clear: in a time of political, social, and economic unrest, there is a growing and valid desire for mental rest.
In today’s world of relentless societal pressure, it often feels impossible to find authentic, intentional moments of relaxation. A Refinery29 article declares, “bed rotting is gross, but so is life,” which raises the question: what exactly is so gross and socially unacceptable about bed rotting?
Take Bravo’s Summer House, for example. In the most recent season, Amanda Batula, Paige DeSorbo, and Ciara Miller received backlash for spending their weekends horizontal. Originally, the show centered on young professionals escaping their fast-paced New York lifestyles for weekend partying in the Hamptons. But as the cast matures into their 30s and 40s, we’ve seen a shift in priorities. It is no longer about partying all night. Instead, rest has taken center stage. Ironically, it is a generational divide between the younger women who are opting for rotting, while the older housemates are still raging.
While critics might argue that bed rotting makes for boring television. I would argue it is the most realistic portrayal of adulthood we have seen in a while.
In one of the show’s best PR spins, the three women responded to trolls by bringing the bed to the party, literally. They hosted the first annual “Snoozefest,” dressing up as “bed bugs” and decorating the backyard with sleep-themed items.
Like these women, many of us are pushed by a culture that glorifies hustle and undervalues rest. This constant pressure leaves people exhausted and prone to burnout. According to a 2024 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), nearly a quarter of Gen Z reported engaging in bed rotting, and 51% spend 30 minutes or more just trying to fall asleep at night. These staggering figures suggest a correlation between using the bed as a multi-use space and struggling to sleep.
But rest is not only about sleep. It also raises questions of access and privilege. Not everyone has a separate, quiet space to “rot,” and limiting the idea of rest to sleep alone ignores broader mental health needs — especially when Forbes reports that 53% of Americans rate their quality of sleep as fair or poor. We need to stop treating rest as laziness or weakness. Instead, we should start promoting rest as a core part of productivity, not its opposite.
So yes, go outside and enjoy the summer. But on those rainy days, take it as a sign to be a bed bug. Lie down, log on to your preferred form of media, and soak up the benefits of slowing down.
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