Personal Experience

I can hear my mother when I read the challenge, "Make your bed!!" How pointless, it'll just get messed up again when I go back to it tonight. I didn’t make my bed when I was a teenager, and my room was a total disaster. Then, one day, my mom got tired of it and started doing it herself because she was the embodiment of tidy and clean. Can I hear “sorted!”

There was a lack of self-respect in that, but also a strong desire to be the complete opposite of my mother, who spent her days making sure everything was perfectly in place. All the cans were lined up with the labels facing out, the sheets and clothes folded better than in stores, DVDs sorted and catalogued in a notebook, and clothes hung in order on the clothesline from smallest to longest, showing how many washes were done. It all seemed totally ridiculous to me. So, I rejected all of that. I refused EVERYTHING. That included making my bed, especially before school. Ugh, school. I loved learning but hated everything surrounding it.

Fast forward a decade-ish later, I had just moved to Vancouver after finishing my studies in social work, hoping to do Outreach with the homeless in the Downtown Eastside. After struggling to find a place to stay, I finally found a great spot, which of course cost a fortune. I had my stuff, my apartment... now I just had to find a job to pay the $1300/month rent.

Before anything, my environment had to be perfect. It had been a while since I could fully decide on my apartment’s setup because of travel, living with others, living in a van… but that’s where it all happened! Oh my god, I almost couldn’t handle the excitement. Once everything was in place, I was exhausted, and tomorrow I’d start my job search. I had already done some research, but tomorrow I needed something quick, better to have a little money than none at all. I had experience in restaurants, so I was sure I could find something quickly there.

Day 2: I get up, make my bed, add some cushions and a throw at the foot of the bed. I take care of the other stuff and go print out my CVs. I’m going to find a full-time job by the end of the day.

I got a job as a hostess in a pub. Minimum wage. Not enough.

The next day, I started my new job. I’m still eagerly waiting for an interview for a professional position.

Day …:I make my bed, fluff the cushions, add the throw... and leave for work.

Wait... it’s been days, weeks, and I’m making my bed as soon as I get up.

One day, I get a call for an interview with a big organization that works with the homeless. It's not the exact job I want, but it means I’ve got my foot in the door, one step closer to the outreach job I really want. I land the job, on-call, but the thing is, you have to increase your hours to get more calls. I’ll take them all!

Every day, despite the struggle of juggling an on-call job and one I didn’t particularly want, I feel a consistent sense of accomplishment. My bed is made. I wake up each day with one task completed. Without even thinking about it, I’m also starting to pick up the laundry on the floor and do the dishes...

I make my bed every day. It doesn’t always make me want to do a deep clean, but it starts my day with a small success.

After a while, as I started keeping my new apartment neat, the work in my head began to happen. Things aligned better, and I realized maybe I didn’t want to stay with my fiancé because, frankly, it had been over for a long time. We were just dragging along on the misery train. The end of that relationship lifted such a weight off my shoulders. It wasn’t negative toward him, it was simple: we shouldn’t be together, we wanted different things in life.

That clarity from making a small gesture led to something bigger and cleared my mind. It was one of the best, yet simplest things. Aesthetically, it was much more pleasing to the eye. It invited me to go to bed because it looked comfortable, and the sight of things neatly arranged and straight reduced my stress. As we know, stress blocks mental clarity, and that clarity helped me make a move in my life, sleep better, and eventually, along with going to bed at the same time each night, land my dream job!

 

How to Keep It Up

• Schedule It in Your Planner: It sounds simple, but putting it in your planner will ensure it gets done. When it’s on your to-do list, you’re more likely to follow through, especially when you build your day around these small wins.
• Pair It with Another Habit: Combine making your bed with another established habit. If you already brush your teeth every morning, add making your bed to the routine right after. This helps form a smooth, automatic morning flow.
• Use Positive Reinforcement: Look at your bed as your first accomplishment of the day. When you see your made bed, it feels like a small victory that builds momentum for everything else you do.
• Do It Right Away: The second you wake up, make your bed. Don’t give yourself time to think about it, or you’ll talk yourself out of it. Just get it done.
• Don’t Stress About Perfection: Making your bed doesn’t mean it has to look perfect, you’re not in the army. You’re just making it enough to give the room some order. Done is better than perfect.
• Keep It Simple: You don’t need to fluff pillows or fold sheets like you're on a hotel commercial. Just pull the covers over and make the bed. The simpler it is, the more likely you'll stick with it. Eventually, if you want to make it fancier do.
• Track Your Progress: Every time you make your bed, mark it off in your planner where it says “Challenge”. Tracking your progress can help hold you accountable, and checking off a task is its own reward.
• Make It a Non-Negotiable: Treat it like brushing your teeth, something you just do. If you think of it as something optional, you’ll skip it. Keep it firm and non-negotiable.

 

The Facts

• Daily Habits and Productivity: In this article from 2022, Jon Krohn explores how establishing simple daily habits, such as making your bed, can set a productive tone for the day. The act of completing a small task first thing in the morning fosters a sense of accomplishment and helps build momentum for tackling bigger goals. (LINK)
• The Mental Health Benefits: The simple act of making your bed can improve mental health by providing a sense of order and control as noted in this 2023 article. It highlights the connection between physical order and emotional well-being, a tidy environment can promote calmness, reduce stress, and improve productivity. The small success of making your bed can have a ripple effect on other areas of life, leading to better emotional regulation and mental clarity. (LINK)
• Sense of Accomplishment: Completing small tasks like making your bed can provide a sense of achievement, setting a positive tone for the day. An article on Patient.info in 2022 discusses how making your bed each morning can start your day off on a positive note, offering a sense of accomplishment and increasing productivity. (LINK)

 

Abrasive Truth

Don't even get me started on the "Why bother making my bed if I’m just going to mess it up later?" excuse. I know how easy it is, I used it for years. If your life’s philosophy is to never do anything because it won't last forever, it's very lame. Seriously, what’s the point of existing like that? You don’t have to be perfect at everything, but you have to start somewhere. Making your bed might seem small, but it’s a win, and wins stack up. Get your space right, and watch how everything else starts falling into place.

 

Podcast

Art of Manliness: Podcast #307: Make Your Bed, Change the World