Laying in bed for 12 hours, especially if it's a regular habit, can lead to feeling groggy and unrefreshed, increased risk of health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, potential muscle weakness, stiffness, and even bed sores if you're immobile, and may signal underlying depression or other health problems, but short-term stays can be for rest and recovery. It's a sign to see a doctor if it's frequent, as it's linked to chronic conditions.
Well, yes and no. A good night's sleep is crucial to development during earlier years such as 13--21. So around 8--12 hours is pretty good. But it can also become excessive, too much sleep is known to cause fatigue and lack of enthusiasm throughout the day. So no, I suggest sleeping no more than 8--9 hours a day.
In extreme cases, a person with hypersomnia might sleep soundly at night for 12 hours or more, but still feel the need to nap during the day. Sleeping and napping may not help, and the mind may remain foggy with drowsiness.
The side effects of staying in bed all day include development of bedsores and body aches, especially in the lower back. Lying on bed all day is also associated with an increased risk of stress and depression, and some other psychological and cardiovascular ailments.
Being in bed for a few days produces measurable declines in cardiovascular, muscular, metabolic, pulmonary, and mental health; harms grow rapidly with each additional day and are greater in older or medically vulnerable people.
Bed rotting manifests as a routine in which the person is observed not cleaning their rooms, not going to bathrooms for defecation or urination, and not getting up or leaving a room to get food for themself.
The unhealthiest sleeping position is generally considered to be sleeping on your stomach (prone position), as it forces your neck to twist and flattens the natural curve of your spine, leading to neck, back, and shoulder pain, numbness, and poor sleep quality. An overly curled fetal position is also harmful, causing joint stiffness and restricted breathing, while sleeping on your back can worsen snoring and sleep apnea for some individuals.
Bed rotting is when you spend hours in bed during the day. Not because you're sick, but because you need a break. You might snack, scroll on your phone, or watch TV. According to a 2024 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, more than 1 in 10 people in the U.S. have tried bed rotting.
The koala is famous for sleeping around 20-22 hours a day, which is about 90% of the day, due to their low-energy diet of eucalyptus leaves that requires extensive digestion. Other extremely sleepy animals include the sloth (up to 20 hours) and the brown bat (around 20 hours), with some snakes like the ball python also sleeping up to 23 hours daily.
Trapped mucus can infect your lungs and ultimately lead to pneumonia. Too much lying down can also lead to weak muscles and bones if you are not using them. Business Insider says every week bedridden causes 1% of bone density loss which makes them brittle.
Musk goes to bed around 3 a.m. and gets about 6 hours of sleep every night. Although he's not getting eight hours a night, Musk has upped his sleeping schedule from being nearly nonexistent in the past. In May 2023, Musk told CNBC that he's no longer pulling all-nighters.
10 hours before bed: No more caffeine. 3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers).
Einstein slept nearly 10 hours a day. He was known to be a firm believer in the importance of a good night's sleep, often aiming for around 10 hours of rest. However, his approach to sleep was somewhat unconventional.
Best survival rates were found among those who slept seven hours a night. A group sleeping eight hours was 12% more likely to die within the six year period than those sleeping seven hours, other factors being equal. Even those with as little as five hours lived longer than those with eight hours or more nightly.
Addressing Mental Health: The desire to stay in bed all day can be a symptom of depression or emotional distress. It's important to recognize the signs of mental health struggles and seek professional support when needed.
If you regularly need more than 8 or 9 hours of sleep per night to feel rested, it might be a sign of an sleep or medical problem, Gamaldo says.
Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS).
KLS makes you sleep for an unusually long time. People with KLS often sleep for 16 to 20 hours a day during an episode. This is very rare.
“Bed rotting” is a Gen Z trend where individuals spend extended time in bed not for sleep or illness, but for passive activities like scrolling or watching content. 🛌 Popularized on TikTok, it is often framed as self-care and a response to stress, burnout, and societal pressure.
The healthiest sleeping position often depends on individual needs, but side sleeping (especially the left side) is generally favored for reducing back/neck pain, aiding digestion (acid reflux), improving circulation, and helping with sleep apnea by keeping airways open, while back sleeping is great for spinal alignment but can worsen snoring and reflux. Stomach sleeping is usually discouraged due to neck and back strain.
It's traditionally been a matter of practicality, with Japanese homes of a limited size and rooms used for various purposes. Space optimization can be seen as the number one answer to the question of why Japanese people sleep on the floor.
There are several reasons why you sleep with one leg bent up, also referred to as the figure 4 sleeping position. It may provide stability in bed, help with temperature regulation, or ease discomfort from pain or medical conditions.
The 3-2-1 sleep rule is a simple wind-down routine: stop eating and drinking alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working/mentally stimulating activities 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping you transition to rest by reducing stimulants and preparing your mind and body. It's often part of a larger 10-3-2-1-0 rule, which also adds no caffeine 10 hours prior and no hitting snooze (0) in the morning.
While there's no single "rarest," the Stomach (Prone) position is often cited as the least common, with only about 7-10% of adults preferring it, followed by the Starfish (back with arms up), which is also uncommon (around 5-7%), though it's a popular back-sleeping variation. Other less frequent, but notable, positions include the Log (side sleeper with straight limbs) and T-Rex arms (neurodivergent self-soothing).