JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With the holidays giving you potentially more time off, you may also notice a rise in your screen time.
Although those extra hours of scrolling may be relaxing, making it a habit creates concerns for health experts.
People are calling it "bed rotting," trendy to stay in bed all day and just scroll between different apps. Even documenting themselves by filming every hour they stay on their screens.
After talking with Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO of LSF Health Systems, she says a pro of “bed rotting” is that it allows your body to rest.
“Our Gen Z folks in particular are reporting that they feel more energized after a day of bed rotting. They feel more focused, calmer," Dr. Cauffield said.
She adds it’s most popular with Gen Z because they prioritize protecting themselves from burnout and stress.
However, excessive time scrolling on your phone can highlight some underlying mental health concerns.
“if you're not getting out and connecting with other people, if it's interfering with your ability to go to work, for example, it's interfering with your relationships, then it's time to really step back and say, 'Wait a minute, this may be a sign of depression,'” she explained.
Even if it’s tempting to curl up in bed all day with the colder weather, Dr. Cauffield suggests scrolling in moderation. To distract yourself from doom scrolling, find other low-impact activities like walking or baking to do when taking a break from the screens.