Resting Vs. Rotting: Peace of Mind with a Slice of Productivity Guilt

By: Brooke Erickson

We’ve all been there. Maybe it’s a slow Sunday where your to-do list is cleared off with no plans in sight. Maybe it’s supposed to be your busy day at school, and the tasks coming at you just won’t stop. Either way, what starts as a quick social media check and response to overnight notifications has become a full-on bedridden phone fest. Suddenly, it’s been hours, and despite having complete control of your screen consumption, you can’t name or remember a single thing you’ve been watching. Your eyes are glazed over, your thumb is automatically scrolling, and the side of your face has an indent from the wrinkles of your sheets. 

Who can blame you? College is exhausting; With unlimited access to any form of entertainment or information at your fingertips, and apps designed solely to suck you into the never ending scroll trap, sometimes it’s hard to snap out of it; Sometimes it’s hard to want to. 

When Sleeping Becomes Trendy

The idea- and even the coining of the phrase- “bedrotting” has, to a certain extent, become aestheticized. A range of cultural factors have contributed to this shift: the self-care boom that rose alongside and in the wake of the pandemic, a broader openness around mental health, and the wave of “authenticity” content on platforms like TikTok and Twitter. It’s no wonder we’ve all grown more comfortable (literally). What could feel more validating than scrolling and finding content of other people doing exactly what you’re doing, or rather, having that content find you? It’s the cope of it all; In your twenties, when life is framed as a stretch of infinite possibilities and endless productivity, it can often feel easier to opt out, to throw in the towel and choose to be still over anything strenuous. 

Resting Vs. Rotting

Resting is the intentional pause that is meant to restore and replenish your energy. Settling your nervous system so you can feel grounded, clear-minded, and overall steadier.

Rotting, on the not-so-distinguishable flip side, involves disassociating or zoning out. It is used as an ailment to burnout or feeling overwhelmed. This is often driven by avoidance of tasks, whether they are must-do or even meant for pleasure. The main difference is their impact; rotting leaves you feeling foggier and more drained. 

But when does this behavior become all-consuming? When the pattern becomes a motif, and we become accustomed to our days revolving around that oh so comfy sanctuary. There is nothing wrong with resting your brain. It’s vital, and in this stage of life (and era of capitalism) where we are constantly made to feel guilty for not doing enough, why should we not enjoy and indulge in our simple pleasures? 

  Personally speaking, I’ve gone through many-a-periods, especially in my sophomore year, where I couldn't wait for the function to end so I could high tail it back to my sheets. Heck, maybe I’ll just cut it short, whisper my Irish goodbye, and further allow myself to be swallowed whole by my own blankets. And while I do look at that version of myself affectionately (enough time has passed that I can dissociate from her; the girl of 2023) there will always be a part of me that wonders where those days/nights could have gone, had they not sprinted back to my bedroom. 

Don’t Get too Down on Yourself

Remember to be gentle with yourself. There is already so much incomprehensible productivity guilt that takes up space in the corners of your mind in your 20s, you don’t need to further beat yourself down for getting your necessary rest. But remember that ruts are so temporary; as cheesy as it is, getting up and doing something for yourself is the best medicine for a foggy brain. Even if that just means going for a walk. 

Types of rest: mental rest (quieting your brain)

Physical rest (letting your body recover)

Emotional rest (not performing or pleasing others)

Creative Rest (stepping back from output or consumption)

Sensory rest (limiting sounds, screens, and overwhelming visuals)

Social Rest (taking a break from people to recharge your social battery)