With 3.2 million views of the TikTok tag ‘bed rotting’ and copious videos, it seems Gen Z are embracing a slower pace of life, with self-care happening in bed. Creators are sharing their morning routines and experiences of bed rotting for self-care, but the trend has come under fire for its potential health implications. Content creator Vanessa Hill describes it in her video as: “When you do literally nothing but laying in bed. It is the end of optimisation.” According to psychologist and The Beekeeper House founder and CEO Robert Common, “Bed rotting is the practice of spending an extended amount of time during your normal waking hours, or even a whole day, lying in bed. You could be watching films, scrolling on social media, talking on the phone, eating, or anything you would normally do if you were at home relaxing. “This differs from bed rest to recover from illness or injury, and is often used as a method of dealing with stress or anxiety, or as a self-care tool,” he explains. This is a shunning of hustle culture and productivity in the pursuit of self-care. “Although bed rotting might be the hottest self-care method trending on TikTok, the idea behind it isn’t new,” says Common. “People have been taking ‘duvet days’ for a long time now, and many companies even have policies around this, allowing staff an entitlement to several duvet days per year. “What we are seeing with this trend is more a case of social media driving conversations among young people. It could be especially appealing to Gen Zs, as many report feeling more stressed than other generations, so taking time away from it all to recuperate mentally could be especially appealing,” he explains. But, is it actually self-care or is it doing more harm than good? The benefits There are some positive aspects to this grimly named practice. “Taking some mental downtime to recharge has many benefits,” says Common. “We live in a very fast-paced world, so stepping back, reconnecting with yourself, recharging your batteries and rebuilding some mental and physical energy is always a positive thing to do. In fact, it’s something that more of us should be scheduling into our routines if we can. “Having this downtime puts us in a stronger position to reassess our goals and find the motivation to reach for them, manage our commitments and explore personal interests and hobbies without burning ourselves out,” he explains. Damage to mental health and physical wellbeing “Spending the odd day here and there throughout the month bed rotting is unlikely to do you any damage – quite the reverse. However, as with all things in life, balance is key,” explains Common. For example, “If bed rotting becomes a dominating factor or behaviour in how you spend your free time, this could be an indicator of depression or burnout. If you suspect you’re experiencing these – or other underlying health issues – it’s important to seek appropriate support to help identify the root causes, and find healthy ways to manage them,” he says. Other practices may be more beneficial. “Whilst rest is important for wellbeing, exercise is also a powerful tool for maintaining good mental and physical health, so ultimately, it’s about not being on either extreme of the spectrum.” Impact on sleep Bed rotting can impact the amount and the quality of sleep you get, too. “An important factor of good sleep hygiene is reserving your bed for sleeping only,” Common says. “Watching Netflix, scrolling on your phone and eating are some of the most obvious activities that go hand-in-hand with bed rotting, but it can make it harder to follow a good sleep schedule. “It’s also important to expend enough energy during the day to fall asleep on time, and maximise the benefits that come with proper sleep,” he says. So, while a few duvet days here and there could be counted as self-care, bed rotting too often may leave you worn out and unhappy. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Beekeeping has gone viral – but how easy is it? Women in certain professions ‘may be at higher risk of ovarian cancer’ – study Everything you need to know about sleep in pregnancy

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A restaurant reviewer has received her own damning assessment after she penned a brutal critique of what was clearly a lovely restaurant. The unnamed commentator awarded the establishment a one-star rating, which she accompanied with a lengthy explanation of why she’d been so unimpressed. She began her Yelp review by condemning the “cheap management and customer service” before, surprisingly, dedicating an entire paragraph to how fantastic it all was. “I heard the food was very good so I went to try. Me and the [boyfriend] got the calamari, spaghetti alle vongole, and gnocchi. All were very delicious,” she wrote. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “I was actually so impressed that when the manager came to ask us how everything tasted I told her it was some of the best Italian food I’ve had, and I told her I’m going to post about it on Instagram where I have over 11 thousand followers and a lot of them are in the area. She seemed very happy about it.” Then, in a surprise turn of events, she continued: “I was wrong. “I thought that she would be grateful for the free advertising but when the check came there was literally no discount at all. “I thought at least one of the entrees (American for main course) would be taken off but they didn’t even take off the calamari or even the drinks!” Wrapping up her rant, she concluded: “I won’t go back there because of this. Which is a shame because the food was very good. “The manager needs to understand how to treat customers.” Her post has been met with horror, incredulity and more than 4,700 comments on Reddit since it was shared on the forum r/mildlyinfuriating earlier this week. “It’s literally the purpose of a restaurant,” one user pointed out. “They make good food. You eat it. You pay for it. Restaurant gets money. Serves the next table. Everyone is happy and moves on with their day.” “The sense of entitlement for having 11k followers on some random account is unreal,” wrote another. “I like the places that charge double to influencers,” remarked a third. “It’s not ‘free advertising’ if you’re expecting compensation in the form of free food,” noted a fourth. Meanwhile, scores of others agreed that her review had, in the end, worked in the restaurant’s favour. “I'm more likely to read a 1 star review at a place that has mostly good reviews [...] I want to know if there's a specific reason I shouldn't eat there,” one wrote. “This is effectively a 5 star review that more people are going to read than most other 5 star reviews.” Elsewhere, sceptics suggested that the whole thing was an ingenious publicity stunt. “This has got to be guerrilla marketing because the first thing I thought was ‘great food and they don't kowtow to influencers?? I want to go to there!’,” one said. And another added: “Kinda disappointed that we don't get to see the name of the restaurant. It's probably nowhere near me, but it might be nice to have a dining recommendation in case I ever travel near it.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Social media influencer Jackie Miller James is fighting for her life after entering a medically induced coma just one week before she was set to give birth to her first child. The 35-year-old content creator suffered from an aneurysm rupture, which led to severe brain bleeding and injury. According to a GoFundMe campaign established by her sister Natalie Miller, James was found immediately by her husband, Austin, at their California home. She was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter, while simultaneously performing brain surgery. The newborn, whose name was not disclosed, was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where she remained for 12 days. James remains in a medically induced coma, her sister said, and has since undergone five separate brain procedures one week after the incident. “Jackie is expected to remain in the ICU for weeks and will continue to be hospitalized for months,” she wrote. Alongside the GoFundMe page, her family included a picture of James meeting her newborn daughter while still in a coma. “Jackie’s husband and family have not left her side since the incident,” Natalie said. “They are navigating taking care of a newborn in the ICU while fighting to keep Jackie alive.” The family members added that they likely would have lost both James and her daughter if they “arrived a few minutes later at the hospital”. “Jackie is continuing to fight for her life each day and we are optimistic she can beat the odds by surrounding her with the right specialists and methods of therapy. While the road will be long, we are committed to bringing Jackie home to her daughter and husband.” The GoFundMe, which has since raised more than $170,000 towards its $250,000 goal, was started to “provide a way for family and friends to help Jackie secure the highest level of care,” including speech therapy, physical therapy, home modifications, and alternative therapies once they know the effects of her aneurysm. Jackie Miller James is known for her beauty and lifestyle social media content with 36k followers on Instagram. She and her husband Austin, who were married in April 2022, announced their baby news on Instagram earlier this year. In March, they revealed they were expecting a baby girl. “I still can’t believe it! Can’t wait to meet this angel in May,” she captioned the video. Fans have since flooded James’ comments section with well-wishes for the influencer. “Praying for you and your family Jackie and can’t wait for the day you get to see your beautiful baby girl,” read one comment under her most recent Instagram post. “Sending all the prayers possible around you and your family,” said someone else. Read More TikTok influencer hospitalised for traumatic brain injury after horse falls on her at Arizona ranch Miss Universe finalist Sienna Weir dies aged 23 from tragic horse riding accident Influencer films travel nightmare as hostel fire claims luggage and passports TikTok Influencer hospitalised for after horse falls on her at Arizona ranch Alix Earle claims she was ‘stranded’ in Italy after villa turned out to be ‘scam’ Bioré apologises after influencer references school shooting in pore strips ad

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How different did 2013 really look in the life of Fernando Alonso? Driving a competitive car, buoyed by thousands of Spanish supporters, the two-time Formula 1 world champion looked – in eagerness bordering on desperation – to haul in the championship lead of a Red Bull driver out in front. Sound familiar? A decade on, the tune of the day feels decidedly identical. Yet plenty has happened in the 10 years in-between. Alonso has loved, left, and fallen back in love with the sport. Red Bull’s champion-of-the-day back then, Sebastian Vettel, would wrap up the 2013 world title, the last of four crowns. By the end of last year the German, six years younger than Alonso no less, retired and vacated an Aston Martin seat swallowed up by the Spaniard. Now Red Bull’s de facto No 1 is Max Verstappen, who incredibly 10 years ago at 15 years of age was just 18 months away from his F1 debut. Back then, Alonso divebombed his way from fifth on the grid to first at the chequered flag. His 2nd win in Barcelona; his first with Ferrari. The gap to Vettel was closed. But there would be no third title; in fact, from that point on there would be no grand prix wins at all. It remains 32 and counting. Not long after, Alonso departed Ferrari short of the third world championship he should have claimed. A series of near-misses with the Scuderia were followed by ignominy and embarrassment at his second coming with McLaren, amid engine issues in partnership with Honda. The scale of the downwards spiral, coupled with fruitless fighting at the back of the pack, saw Alonso call it a day himself at the end of 2018. Two years out was enough of a break, though. Not even impressive showings in IndyCar and Le Mans competed with the adrenaline-fuelled mayhem of F1. Returning with Alpine – the Renault team where he made his name and won his titles in 2005 and 2006 – Alonso was back in the midfield fight. A first podium in seven years was landed in Qatar in 2021. But as Alpine hesitated on a two-year deal last summer, Aston big boss Lawrence Stroll saw an opportunity to replace one multiple world champion with another. For both parties, and in contrast to so many of Alonso’s team tinkers in the past, it has proved a fruitful move. The Spaniard is third in the championship and has been on the podium in five of six races. Aston have given Alonso joy at long-last. His ecstasy is regularly heard on team radio, with advice to team-mate Lance Stroll not uncommon either. Simply, Alonso has a new lease of life, in what are his swansong years. Which bring us to this weekend and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. A crowd of 275,000 is expected over the weekend, the majority likely to be sporting the racing green of Aston. A storybook victor is not out of the question, after a missed opportunity last week in Monaco, but Alonso downplayed suggestions his team are in the running. “I don’t think realistically we can fight for the victory, let’s be clear,” he said. “Red Bull have been very dominant all season long and I don’t see any reason why, in Barcelona, they should not aim for a one-two. But let’s see what we can do. “Going into [any] race [in my career], I was fighting for whatever position with the mentality of getting that – the maximum from the cars. “Sometimes it’s P7, sometimes it’s a podium possibility. I know that in Formula 1 it has been a few years already, since Ferrari times, but in endurance I was going into every race winning the race and the world championship so it’s not that long ago.” It is a big weekend, too, for Mercedes. While the Silver Arrows brought in their highly-anticipated upgrade package in Monaco last week, this traditional testing track will bring a true assessment of its powers. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell wait, after a season-and-a-bit of turmoil, with baited breath. Of course, there is no doubting the clear frontrunners. Verstappen was brilliant in Monaco; his last-ditch pole lap setting in motion a win come Sunday. The Dutchman is 39 points clear of team-mate Sergio Perez in the championship and Red Bull will be eyeing another one-two here, matching last year’s result. Their straight-line speed, too, gives them a huge advantage, particularly in light of organisers ditching the unpopular final chicane, meaning cars will hit the main straight at greater pace. But Alonso is in with a shout. Aston have, beyond Mercedes and Ferrari, looked the team capable of bringing the fight to Red Bull. And there is no doubt their protagonist will be desperate to land that long-awaited victory in his homeland. Como 33 has been the phrase of the year, with even national sporting icons like Carlos Alcaraz pitching their support. Alonso claiming No 33, in Spain, would give F1 its moment of the season so far. Read More Monaco showed mesmeric Max Verstappen only has one obstacle to title – and it’s not Sergio Perez Lewis Hamilton warned not to expect instant results from Mercedes upgrade F1 race schedule: What time is the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday? Monaco showed mesmeric Max only has one obstacle to title – and it’s not Sergio Perez Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin ‘will not give up’ in push for F1 triumph Concerns Monaco GP could be ‘left behind’ as Max Verstappen wins ‘boring race’

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