20-05-2025
Do you ‘hurkle-durkle'? Here's why it's not always a good idea
Recently, an ear infection and subsequent case of hives kept me in bed for a week. The first few days, I was tired and told myself to rest. But the rest of the week? Well, I enjoyed staying in bed, drinking coffee, and lingering over Wordle, Spelling Bee, and emails. So, the following week, I stayed in bed a little longer than usual, too.
Turns out, I was hurkle-durkling.
Hurkle-durkle is a Scottish term that originated in the 1800s. It means 'to lounge in bed when you should be up and about.' While it was meant to be judgmental, it became a TikTok self-care trend with mindful mornings that prioritize mental health over productivity. In the U.S., the practice goes one step further. Bed rotting, a term added to in 2024, refers to spending the entire day in bed under the guise of self-care.
According to a recent survey by the mattress manufacturer Amerisleep, nearly three in five Americans hurkle-durkle. Gen Zers have embraced the practice, with four out of five choosing to hang out in bed; and women are 23% more likely than men to hurkle-durkle.
