Why "Bed Rotting" Feels Addictive

Bistar, bett, cama; different languages, but the same first love for many people: their bed. People’s beds aren’t just a place for sleep, but they’re also the best place for every form of comfort. Ever since we were children we have been conditioned to be soothed by the idea of our beds, whether we are ill, tired, or even anxious. Because of this association that’s deeply ingrained the bed doesn’t just become a place of rest, but it also is a place that functions as a coping mechanism. When we are feeling stressed, burnt out, or overwhelmed, the “bed rotting” begins. 

Image source: Van Gogh Studio — The Bedroom (1888) by Vincent van Gogh

Bed rotting can feel so comforting because it allows the brain to access dopamine with almost no physical or mental effort. Dopamine is associated with motivation and reward but that doesn’t mean productivity or physical activity is required. Activities like watching videos, rewatching shows, watching cat videos can still activate the reward pathways in the brain. Since we’re still receiving dopamine without burning energy, we start to favor the bed rotting. Bed rotting is low effort which makes it even more difficult to disengage from.

Although bed rotting may feel good at the moment, it doesn’t always leave us feeling better in the long run. The kind of reward we get from scrolling or watching videos is quick but also very temporary. Over time, relying on this low-effort comfort can make it harder to feel motivated to do things that actually require energy. Rest can then quickly turn into feeling drained and even more exhausted than before.