5 Reasons to Make Your Bed Every Day
Making your bed can make a difference in how you start your day and positively impact your health and wellbeing. But don’t take my word for it, take it from my Jamaican aunties, a U.S. Navy Admiral and a Buddhist monk (that sounds like the start of a bad joke about a bar).
“Making your bed will…reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter.”
I'm a morning person raised by Jamaican women who would say, “cleanliness is next to godliness." This meant that our appearance had to be neat - taking daily baths was a must (no shade to celebs who may take a different approach to hygiene). This also meant that you should always keep a clean house including, ALWAYS making your bed each morning. This was practically sacrosanct.
To be honest, it was not that hard for me to make my bed every day because, as I said, I was raised by Jamaican women, so it was either make my bed or find out what the consequences were for not doing what I was told. You know, the other proverb, ‘spare the rod, spoil the child.’ But, hey, in the end, it worked out because making the bed each morning was an important habit to cultivate as part of a healthy daily morning routine.
We spend a lot of time in our beds. It's such a significant element of our daily lives. How we approach sleep and our sleep environment matters. Having a comfortable and neatly made bed can positively enhance that environment and the way we interact with our spaces. After all, we spend a tremendous amount of time in bed, like, nearly half our lives.
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral SEAL William H. McCraven, who is also the author of the book Make Your Bed: Little Things Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World, gave a commencement speech where he shared 10 life lessons from his Navy Seal training said the act of having to make their beds to perfection every morning sounded ridiculous but this simple task, mundane at best, meant that you would have accomplished the first task of the day. This simple accomplishment can give you a small sense of pride that will encourage you to do other tasks throughout your day.
The act of making the bed can also be an opportunity to train in mindfulness, at least according to a Buddhist monk. Think of making the bed as something you do with intention and a way for you to prepare for the day. Again, it’s a small thing that allows for the momentum for you to do the other things.
I know people who don’t make their beds. They don’t see the point of it. Clearly, they were not raised by my Jamaican aunties, and I don’t hang out with those people. Kidding! If you’re not into making your bed and are of the school of thought that leaving your bed unmade is basically just airing out your sheets and preventing dust mites, then as another saying goes, ‘to each their own.’ You do you! But, if you’re curious about some of the wellness benefits of making your bed every day then here are five reasons to get out the good sheets.
5 Reasons to Make Your Bed in the Morning
1. Start your day off with a win. Making your bed is an easy way to accomplish one of the first task of the day. It's a small win that takes a couple minutes but can have a big impact on how your day begins.
2. Gives a positivity boost to your mental wellbeing. As well as being a daily habit, making your bed can have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Apparently, bed-makers are typically happier and more successful people. Likely because the more organized your environment is, the more positively your mental state is impacted.
3. A simple way to practice mindfulness. Making your bed can be an opportunity to train your mind to be more intentional/mindful. Next time you make your bed, instead of rushing through it, slow down, be deliberate and make your bed with intention.
4. Do it for the aesthetics. Who doesn't love a well-put-together bed? Whether you keep it simple or love lots of fancy pillows and blankets, a nicely made bed can make your bedroom look and feel great.
5. Helps with the quality of your sleep. When you walk into your organized bedroom (aka your place of serenity), with the bed nicely made at the end of the day, you are setting yourself up to feel more relaxed and, if you are relaxed, chances are you will have a better night’s sleep. As Admiral SEAL McCraven said, “a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”
There you have it! Making your bed every day makes sense for your overall mental health and wellbeing. The act can provide you with a feel-good sense of accomplishment to begin your day, a sense of control and order when you're feeling overwhelmed or disorganized. It can fill you with a sense of peace and calm as you go about making your bed mindfully. At the very least, it can leave your bed looking like a place you're happy to lay in at the end of the day.
Cassandra (she/her) is a 9-to-5er and when she’s not at her full-time gig, she’s tapping into her creative superpower as a lifestyle content creator and photographer. Her experience with career burnout has turned her into a wellness warrior who knows the power of healing through slowing down and finding calm in everyday with mindfulness, self-compassion, humour and realistic optimism.
Follow her for some inspiration on Instagram: @swaggerandgreys