A Slumber Party For One: Self Care Savior or a Bed-Case Scenario?

Photo Caption: When 'rest' turns into avoidance.

Leah Dahilig and Rodas Alemayehu

May 7, 2026

“Bedrotting”, a viral trend of spending days under the covers, has awakened a worldwide movement among teens and even some young adults. With exams coming up, the alluring use of rotting has increased dramatically. Research conducted at South CTA reveals a total of 76% of students admitting to bed rotting, while 64% obtain an average of 6 hours or more on their phone. These numbers raise a critical question: Why has this become the go to coping mechanism, and what is it doing to our mental health?

For many, the bed is seen as a sanctuary from academic pressure. Azalea Benjamin (15), a freshman attending South CTA in the Finance and Business program, expresses the ups and downs bed rotting has brought to her attention. As a student who prioritizes straight A’s all her life, Benjamin views the habit as time for her to relax.

“I usually bed rot when I'm feeling lazy, so I overall see it as something that doesn't negatively affect my mental health.” Benjamin conveys. “When it comes to stress, I usually try to avoid it by painting. I think in a way it affected my bed rotting now because I tend to do it less.”

While students like Benjamin use it as a temporary rest, others potentially use it as a way to avoid tasks that need to be done. Bed rotting has both negative and positive affects, but it depends on how a person perceives it. Throughout all students, it has become the go to coping mechanism due to the technology we have in this day of age. Social media, streaming, and gaming platforms have taken over for a prime cause of mental health. Benjamin is a prime example of how students should distinguish different ways of preventing their mental health during these stressful last weeks.

Similarly, another student, Edidiya Sebsibe (14), in the bio-med program, further talks about how “bed rotting” can become both a coping mechanism, and a harmful habit when dealing with stress. When asked about what causes this behavior, Sebsibe stated, “Just not trying to do my homework, trying to avoid it.” This response tells us that bed rotting is often tied to

procrastination rather than to actually rest. Instead of recharging students, it can become a way to escape their main responsibilities.

Sebsibe also shared that they spend “about a range of 10-1 4 hours a day” on their phone, mainly using apps like Tiktok and calling her friends. This extreme amount of screen time, combined with staying in bed for a long period of time, creates a bunch of distractions.

Sebsibe acknowledges that there is a negative academic impact of this habit, stating that bed rotting would likely be “a big factor in worsening my skills before taking any tests.” This shows awareness of the consequences, but the behavior continues due to stress and lack of motivation.

When asked whether bedrotting helps mental health, Sebsibe explained, “Sometimes it makes it worse… and it causes me not to get up, walk around, or touch grass.” This shows how what may begin as a type of rest, can quickly turn into a reduced amount of physical activity and isolation, which is a negative affect overall.

However, the interview also reveals healthier coping tips. Sebsibe mentioned that after a stressful day, they may “sleep it off, talk with my mom, eat food or snacks,” showing that there are more productive ways to manage stress. Overall, the interviews explain the idea that while bedrotting may feel comfortable in the moment, it contributes to a loop of avoidance that can harm both mental health and academic performance over time.

Page updated

Report abuse