Blue Monday, January 20, is a day when people might find themselves feeling down – with the festive season over, new year resolutions being broken, and spring feeling very far away. TikTok trend, ‘bed rotting’ – meaning to lie in bed all day eating, sleeping, relaxing, and ultimately taking a break from being productive – might be what most people want to do on Blue Monday. But it might also not be the best course of action, according to health experts.
Some have labelled bed-rotting as a self-care method while others are quick to point out the potentially harmful effects of the trend. Jana Abelovska, Superintendent Pharmacist atClick Pharmacysaid:‘’When feeling down, the thing you may want to do the most is stay in bed all day. Whilst getting enough rest is incredibly important for your health, staying in bed for prolonged periods of time might impact your mood and self-esteem – having an adverse effect on both your mental and physical health.
“Bed-rotting can sometimes be a form of self care, as taking the time to prioritise your rest and relaxation is very important. However, using this often as a coping mechanism might have the opposite effect, as low physical activity can reduce the release of endorphins.
“Bed-rotting can also impact your sleeping schedule, as spending all day in bed on a digital device can disrupt your sleep/wake cycle. The key to boosting your mood and beating Blue Monday is to move your body and stay productive. Whilst taking some time to rest and recharge in bed is a great form of self care in moderation, it shouldn’t be the sole thing you do to escape stress.”
Jana added: ” If you plan on staying in bed to rest and relax this Blue Monday, you could try setting a limit on how long you do this. Try and spend no more than a few hours bed-rotting, and aim to get up after. This way, you will have given your body the time it needs to relax and unwind, but you won’t experience the adverse health effects.
“To boost your mood this Blue Monday, moving your body in a way that feels right to you is a great way to combat low mood. Try yoga, stretching, going for a walk, or visiting your gym. These are all excellent ways to release those feel-good endorphins, and relieve stress.
“Instead of escaping the Monday blues by staying in bed, there are other forms of relaxation that might be better for your mental health. Taking a warm bath for example, is a great way to relax and unwind, and may even help relieve stress, especially when combined with aromatherapy bath products.”