It’s recommended that adults get about eight hours of sleep every night, but for some Americans, that’s just not enough time in bed. From eating and playing our sudoku game to scrolling social media and watching TV, many daily activities are often done from the comfort of people’s beds. This extended time spent in bed on passive activities is known as bed rotting.

While experts believe the trend can be positive in small doses, as it can help you to relax both physically and mentally, it can be harmful if done too frequently. At Sudoku Bliss, we know that lying down and playing a game on your phone can rejuvenate you, but if you play that game in bed for hours on end, you may want to evaluate how much time you’re spending in bed.

As the bed-rotting trend continues, we set out to learn where in the U.S. Americans are spending the most time in bed. To do this, we surveyed residents in 40 of the largest cities in the country and asked about their habits related to being in bed. We then awarded points to responses that represented bed rotting, calculated the average score, and adjusted them on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most bed rotting. Read on to learn which cities top our list.

Key Takeaways

• San Antonio, TX, Indianapolis, IN, and Houston, TX, are home to the most bed rotters.
• The average American spends about 3 hours lying in bed each day, outside of sleeping.
• 1 in 3 Americans say they are very likely to retreat to their bed for comfort when feeling stressed.
• Nearly 3 in 5 Americans think bed rotting is a valid form of self-care.
• 75% of Gen Zers think bed rotting is a problem for people their age.
• Nearly 3 in 4 Americans consider themselves a bed rotter.

Where Americans Spend the Most Time in Bed

While some Americans only spend time in bed at night when they are going to sleep, others spend a majority of their free time in their beds. Overall, the average American spends about three hours in bed each day, outside of sleeping. To gain insight into where the most bed rotters live in the U.S., we asked about a variety of activities done in bed as well as time spent there to create a bed-rotting score.

Leading the way with a score of 98.21 out of 100 is San Antonio, TX, as residents of the city are most likely to say they’d be embarrassed if others knew how much time they spent in bed. In second place for the most bed rotters is Indianapolis, IN, with a score of 97.38 out of 100.

Coming in third place is another Texas city, Houston, with a bed rotting score of 97.14 out of 100. The gravitational pull to stay cozy is so strong for Houston residents that 1 in 6 say they frequently cancel plans to stay in bed instead. New Orleans, LA, is up next claiming fourth for the most bed rotters with a score of 96.36 out of 100. When we feel overwhelmed, we often search for a way to relieve that feeling. Perhaps that’s why more than a third of New Orleans residents say they are very likely to retreat to their bed when feeling stressed.

Looking at time spent in bed alone, San Antonio, TX, leads the way once again with the average resident spending 225 minutes, or nearly 4 hours, in bed each day. This is followed by Jacksonville, FL, residents who spend about 221.7 minutes (3.7 hours) in bed daily, and Orlando, FL, where residents spend 218.8 minutes (3.6 hours) in bed.

When asked directly if they consider themselves a bed rotter, we learned nearly 3 in 4 Americans would say “yes.” Additionally, nearly 1 in 3 people say they have been spending more time in bed recently than they did in the past. Overall, 69% of residents consider bed rotting to be a valid form of self-care, and another 41% consider it to be restorative.

As to when bed rotting is most likely to occur, we found it’s pretty spread out with nearly 1 in 4 saying they spend the most time in bed during the day on Saturdays and Sundays. After dinner and after work follow as the second and third most common time. While nearly 1 in 6 say their bed rotting happens most in the weekend evenings, 1 in 8 say they retreat to their bed most in the middle of their work day.

Top Activities Americans Do While in Bed

With all of these hours spent in bed, we wanted to learn more about the activities Americans do while cozied up under the covers. Up first, 91% of people report that they’re simply scrolling on social media. From TikTok and Instagram to X and Threads, users have many platforms that keep them engaged for perhaps longer than they intend.

Following closely behind is texting or emailing in bed, which 89% of Americans note. Watching TV, movies, and YouTube is next, claiming third place, as 84% of people say they enjoy watching their content in bed. Fourth on the list doesn’t come as much of a surprise as it seems like a natural fit—napping. Simply lying in bed (80%), reading (77%), and listening to music or podcasts (64%), claim fifth, sixth, and seventh place, respectively.

While some Americans are proud bed rotters, 1 in 5 admit they would be embarrassed if others knew how much time they spent in bed. For another 1 in 3, the amount of time they spend eating in bed is a secret they hope others never learn. In general, we found that after they’re in bed, nearly 3 in 5 people have frequently found themselves spending more time there than they intended.

Although nearly 2 in 5 Americans consider bed rotting to be a depressing habit, more than a third think it’s restorative. Leading the charge for bed rotting as a form of self-care are Millennials as their generation is most likely to report the benefits of the time spent in bed.

Play Sudoku Any Time, Any Place

While spending hours in bed scrolling on your phone might seem like a guilty pleasure, it doesn’t have to be wasted time. As our survey found, many Americans use this time to play games as a way to relax, unwind, and keep their brain active.

At Sudoku Bliss, we encourage you to challenge yourself to a game of Sudoku the next time you are “rotting” in bed. So whether you just want an easy puzzle to distract you from the busy day or you want to step up the difficulty with an expert or evil level, you can find a puzzle that’s right for you without leaving the comfort of your sheets.

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn which U.S. cities are home to the most bed rotters. To do this, we surveyed residents in 40 of the largest cities in the country and asked about their habits. We asked a variety of questions including how much time they spend in bed outside of sleeping, what activities they do most while lying in bed, their opinions on bed rotting, and more. Using these responses, we awarded points to answers that represented bed rotting habits and then calculated the average score for each city. Finally, we adjusted those scores on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most bed-rotting behaviors.