Make Your Bed Every Morning For These Important Reasons!

#1

You probably know all the excuses, and may have used one (or more) yourself:

“It’s just going to get unmade again tonight.”

“I don’t have time.”

“No one is going to see it anyway.”

“It’s not important.”

“My mom isn’t here to make me do it.”

“My cat is curled up in the sheets, and I don’t want to disturb her.”

Excuses are easy, but when it comes right down to it, so is making your bed each morning. No, you don’t have to turn out a display worthy of Pinterest or Elle Decor – unless you enjoy that sort of thing, in which case have at it – but a quick fluff of the pillows and tug of the sheets and comforter literally takes seconds, and is the easiest way to make your entire bedroom look better instantly.

Beyond that, however, there are some surprising benefits to making your bed each day.

#2 Feeling of accomplishment

It may seem too small a task to matter much, but starting your day by making your bed gives you a sense of accomplishment. Taking only a few minutes of your time every morning, doing so can ignite a positive tone for the rest of the day.

#3 IT CULTIVATES MENTAL DISCIPLINE

Mental discipline, also known as self-discipline, is developed by overcoming mental and physical resistance.

When you roll out of bed on a Monday morning, sometimes the last thing you aspire to do is make your bed. This dreaded feeling is understandable, but it’s also a terrific opportunity to discipline yourself.

We tend to associate any form of “self-discipline” as harsh and restraining, but it needn’t be. Although your brain and body may resist your efforts, you can engage your mind at-will and gently bring its attention back under control. You employ your mind this way by focusing intently on one thing, and one thing only: the task at-hand.

#4 You’ll sleep better.

A National Sleep Foundation survey (pdf) found that people who make their beds every day or almost every day were 19 percent more likely to report getting a good night’s sleep than those who don’t make their beds.

#5 You’ll Appreciate It Later

Let’s be honest: a bed that’s made looks a lot better in a bedroom than an unmade bed. Housekeeping and organizational guru Rachel Hoffman says, “Taking a moment to straighten up your bedding creates an orderly and neat focal point in what might otherwise be a messy disaster.” Neater surroundings can make you feel more organized, accomplished and less stressed. Also, there’s nothing better than climbing into a neat, perfectly made bed after a long day.

#6 It can reduce stress.

Living in a cluttered, messy space causes stress, which is why Marie Kondo, bestselling author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” makes the argument that keeping your physical space in order can help you put your mental space in order as well.

"When you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order too,” she writes.

#7 Increased productivity

Making your bed should be the first thing on your to-do list each morning. It is a way of literally putting yesterday to bed and making way for the opportunities of a new day. US Navy Admiral William McRaven gave an inspirational speech to university students stating “It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.” Aye, aye, Captain.

#8 It leads to other good habits.

Once you get in the habit of making your bed, you’ll crave a little more organization because you appreciate how it makes you feel. One day you’ll take a moment to look around your room and decide that it really wouldn’t take much more time to pick up a few clothes. You’ll spend about a minute putting away a few items and be wowed! That didn’t take much time at all! We’re only up to three minutes!

This feeling is so addictive it will spill into the other rooms of the house. Before you know it, you won’t go to bed before the kitchen is clean!

Go make your bed and feel amazing!