- Ken Fung, a psychologist, discusses the new trend sweeping through mainland China and how this unmotivated attitude applies to people in Hong Kong
- Every week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with questions and exercises about the story we’ve written
“Letting it rot” might seem attractive, but could damage your mental health in the long run. Photo: Shutterstock“Bai lan”, or letting it rot, is a new movement sweeping through China. The term refers to young people refusing to make an effort in life because they have lost hope. Ken Fung, director of therapy and counselling at Jadis Blurton Family Development Centre in Hong Kong, spoke to Young Post about how this so-called “slacker mindset” could be a good way to set boundaries and shared a better, healthier alternative to letting it rot.
“Such an attitude towards life is actually a response to a feeling of helplessness and indicates that teenagers are not rewarded enough for what they believe they have achieved,” Fung said. He explained that this makes them feel unmotivated and uninterested in what is happening around them, as they think nothing they do will change their lot in life.
Why Chinese youths are going from ‘lying flat’ to ‘letting it rot’
The term “bai lan” originates in basketball, where teams would stop trying to win in the face of a losing game. But, according to Fung, Chinese teens are not the only ones choosing to rot rather than work hard.
“This phenomenon is already taking place in Hong Kong due to several factors,” he pointed out, adding that it has a somewhat similar philosophy to another popular movement – “lying flat”, which essentially means doing the bare minimum to get by.
Why are Hongkongers letting it rot?
One reason is the city’s political environment due to the 2019 social unrest, which has caused many teenagers to lose confidence and trust in the authorities. In addition, seeing their more well-to-do peers leave the city and feeling like they do not have many career opportunities in an over-competitive job market all play a part in teenagers resorting to a passive lifestyle.
Although this attitude leaves much to be desired, it is a way of setting boundaries to keep oneself from getting burned out.
“Look at this as a defence mechanism and a way to distance oneself from feeling increasingly unmotivated and incompetent,” Fung said.
He noted the double-edged sword of the academic rat race – how the relentless pursuit of achievement and good performance at school results in decreased satisfaction. “In other words, the better results you get, the more hopeless you feel because there is no end in sight except to get even better results. This may lead to helplessness and dissatisfaction.”
The side effects of a “bai lan” lifestyle
While adopting a “bai lan” attitude might give one some relief in the short term, Fung cautioned that this strong sense of dissatisfaction could affect a person’s mental and physical health.
The psychologist shared that common symptoms he has noticed in his patients include frequent headaches, muscle pain or numbness, and pain or discomfort in their gastrointestinal system.
Some individuals may also sleep a lot more than usual to seek solace from their sense of helplessness. “It is fine to take a break and rest when you are overwhelmed, but sleeping for prolonged periods will not lead you anywhere because the more you sleep, the more life feels meaningless.”
Face Off: Are Hong Kong teenagers ‘lying flat’?
Instead, Fung strongly suggested that teenagers adopt another approach to life: living meaningfully. “Again, letting it rot is the result of feeling extremely exhausted, and the only answer is to go back to the origins of this issue,” he said. This means taking charge of your life and reviewing your current lifestyle.
This is usually easier said than done, Fung said. It could require teenagers to talk with their parents about taking a breather from their hectic schedules, which are often filled with after-school tuition, sports, and other activities. Instead, teens should try to spend quality time on things they enjoy doing.
“But once you are able to free time for yourself and engage in non-academic activities you are passionate about, a ‘bai lan’ lifestyle will no longer be an option because you will be busy living life for yourself.”
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