ZOE ROGERS /OPINION EDITOR

It’s common for college students to feel like a good rotting session is needed every once in a while. Whether it be after a stressful week of school, a jam-packed day or just when you need some time to be by yourself, rotting always seems like the ideal way to decompress. 

Instead of using this time to “rot” on your phone or watch TV, you should do something more productive for your body, such as taking a nap, reading or taking up a new hobby. 

I’ve noticed that the term “rotting” has become commonly used within the past school year and has  become  quite normalized in my surrounding circles. It’s usually coming up in sentences such as: “I need to rot” or “I’ve just been rotting in bed all day.” 

Taking time for yourself and decompressing is not a bad thing. In fact, I find that I need that very often; however, labeling your time as basically “decaying” and then continuing to spend time on your phone for hours on end can be unhealthy. 

Charlie Health, an online site specialized  in providing guidance for mental health and substance use, emphasized the damages of “bed rotting” in an article  written   by  Ashley Laderer. 

“If your bed rotting habit is excessive, it can take a hit on your physical health and mental health,” Laderer stated. “Firstly, when you choose to bed rot, you’re choosing to isolate yourself from others, whether that’s your family or friends. Isolation, particularly a lot of it, can lead to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, getting used to spending so much time alone could even make you nervous at the thought of social plans and lead you to avoid them.” 

It’s natural to want to be by yourself, but spending too much time alone can often make it a habit, eventually leading to a greater concern. 

I have  fallen victim to rotting on my phone many times this year. Sometimes it just feels like the best option when you’ve been at school  all day, and all you want  to do is  turn  your brain off. I’ve found that many people — myself included — turn to social media during this time, which is definitely not what I need after a long  day of work. Laderer also provided a perspective of  the  harms of social media when you’re bed rotting.

It’s normal to want to sit on your phone and turn your brain off after classes. Photo courtesy of @Hannah Honigmann/Unsplash 

“If your bed rotting includes plenty of time on social media, this can result in its own mental health consequences, such as increased feelings of isolation or loneliness, fear of missing out (FOMO), and decreased self-esteem, to name a few,” Laderer wrote. 

Instead of turning to Instagram reels or TikTok for your decompressive activities, do something more beneficial for your body. Activities  like cooking, going  on  a walk, reading or even just taking a nap — your body definitely needs it — are simple things that are better for you than  scrolling on your phone. If people want to turn  their  brains off, they should do it with activities that help their body. 

Personally, I understand that sometimes it can be hard to do things other than the typical “rot.” I often struggle with reading on my own during the school year. I feel like I am already reading a lot in my classes, and adding more words into my brain sometimes makes it feel like it’s going to explode. But, I’ve begun to challenge myself to pick up the book that has been sitting on my bedside table and actually read it — instead of just finding entertainment on my phone. 

While rotting on your phone seems like it’s not good for your mental and physical health, it’s a form of decompression that works for some people, and many don’t feel like it negatively impacts them at all. 

Ultimately, rotting is still a form of decompressing, which is essential for your body ­­ — even if it is not the best outlet to do it. Spending hours on the phone can be the most convenient way to relax, and it’s filled with all sorts of entertainment. 

Decompression looks different for everybody. However, the downsides to this method, such as spendings loads of time on your phone and not doing the right things for your body to decompress, should still be kept in mind.  

After a   long  day of classes and  studying, it’s  natural  to want to just lock  yourself in your room and scroll on Instagram. But think about whether that is the best way to give your brain and body a break after a challenging day. We already spend so much of our lives on screens as college students. Instead, put your phone down and find something that will rejuvenate your body the right way. 

A better way to decompress after a long day instead of sitting on your phone is taking a nap. Photo courtesy of @Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.