It’s the weekend. I don’t want to do anything except stay in my bed – no pressure to be productive, no plans and no stress.

With school and other social obligations, it is really easy to bury yourself in an overload of work and activities without even noticing it. A World Health Organization/Europe 2024 report – which studied 280,000 teenagers across 44 countries – shows that 63% of girls and 43% of boys feel rising school pressure and declining family support. Meanwhile, in the US, 27% of teens feel burned out, suggesting an increasing need to spend time relaxing and recharging.

Upon noticing this issue, Gen Z came up with the trend of “bed rotting”, meaning to stay in bed for an extended period of time. This time is usually spent watching TV, mindlessly scrolling or simply lying in bed.

What is important to consider with “bed rotting”, though, is that it can very easily turn into something harmful. While it has become a big trend, its markers often coincide with some symptoms of depression.

For this reason, it is crucial not to take the term literally. The lesson to take away from the trend is to find a way that you personally like to replenish your body and mind for a short period of time. This might take different forms, like gaming, painting, watching movies, spending a day in PJs, etc.

And most importantly, remembering that you shouldn’t feel guilty for not being productive.

Making sure that there is a balance between the time you spend relaxing and being productive is what the goal of this trend is. While it is important to relax and recharge after working, it is equally as important to do the work itself and making sure that the amount of time you spend “bed rotting” doesn’t start to interfere with your daily responsibilities.

It’s necessary to not only be “doing” things that recharge/relax/unplug you, but getting into the mindset that you don’t necessarily need to be doing something productive. Relaxation can allow the body to lower stress hormone levels, blood sugar and blood pressure. This not only physically sets you up for success, but also allows your mind to replenish itself.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed with the amount of academic or social responsibilities you have, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just unwind and relax – you are investing time into your wellbeing and future success.