The Truth About Bed Rotting

Let's talk about the days where getting out of bed feels like a literal marathon. You have heard the term bed rotting. Sometimes it feels like the only way to deal with the overwhelming weight of existing in 2025. You pull the covers up, scroll for six hours, and hope the world stops asking things of you. While I am all for a low-energy day, there is a point where rest stops being restorative and starts being a trap. As your big sibling in this, I need you to know the difference.

Actual rest makes you feel better. Avoidant behavior makes you feel heavier. If you spend the whole day in bed and end up feeling more anxious and disconnected, that is not self-care. It is a survival mechanism that has overstayed its welcome. Your brain needs more than just a lack of movement to recover; it needs a sense of agency. When the world feels polarized and chaotic, the smallest acts of control are what keep you grounded. It is about the tiny wins.

I am not telling you to go run a 5K or reinvent your life. I am saying that when you feel yourself sinking, you need to grab a life jacket. Wash your face. Put on a clean shirt even if you are staying home. Open a window and let some actual air into the room. These things feel stupidly simple, but they signal to your nervous system that you are safe and capable. They break the loop of helplessness that long-term bed rotting creates.

Structure is not about being a productivity robot. It is about building a container for your life so your emotions do not just spill everywhere. When you create a small routine, you are telling yourself that you matter. You are deciding that your environment is worth tending to. Start with one thing tomorrow morning. Just one. Make the bed or drink a glass of water before you touch your phone. Reclaim your space from the void. You are still here, and that counts for everything.