A Few Good Reasons For Making Your Bed

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

A few days ago, I was writing my list of tips for how to keep your surroundings uncluttered, and I included the extremely important tip, "Make your bed." But I realized that making your bed is an act important enough to deserve being its own resolution.

Now, it's true that some people thrive on a little chaos. They find a disorderly room to be comfy and casual. When one of my friends was growing up, her mother made such a big deal of keeping the house clean that now my friend has gone far in the opposite direction. Very far. Most people, however, even if they may find it tough to keep things tidy, prefer to live in orderly surroundings.

I love a calm environment, and making the bed is one of the quickest, easiest steps to keeping our bedroom orderly. Also, I get a real feeling of accomplishment from having completed this small task. It's nice to start the day feeling that I've crossed something - however minor - off my list. It starts me off feeling productive, disciplined, and efficient.

Especially if you're feeling overwhelmed, picking one little task to improve your situation, and doing it regularly, can help you regain a sense of control. Making your bed is a good place to start. It might help you build momentum to keeping other, more significant resolutions.

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Interested in starting your own Happiness Project? If you'd like to take a look at Gretchen Rubin's personal Resolutions Chart, for inspiration, just email her at grubin, then the "at" sign, then gretchenrubin dot com. No need to write anything more than "Resolutions Chart" in the subject line.

Comments

[dadw5boys]

DON'T MAKE THE BED !!!!

OPEN SHADES AND LET SUNLIGHT HIT THE BED.

SUN LIGHT KILLS BED BUGS !!!!!

[Pearlswan]

And dries out the sheets too! I read somewhere that its actually healthier to air out the bed all day and make it in the evening before you get in it again. But the room looks neater and in order when the bed is made. Hmmmm...hard choice to make. There must be a compromise here somewhere.

[AlittleWisdom]

I make my bed everyday...because I'm grateful I have a bed to make...

[cayuse]

As good as this all is, it is not as good as you lying in your own bed that you make.

Maybe there is no difference?

[PDXTransplant]

I never made my bed as a child, but once I moved out of my parents house I started making my bed and 35 years later I don't think I have ever missed a day of making it. Once I jump out of bed in the morning that's it for the bed - I make it and that's it. I could never stay in bed no matter how sick I am - I would rather make my bed and go to the couch. Saturday is changing my bed day and I love Saturday night when the sheets are crisp and clean and smell wonderful. Oh the simple things in life.

[curiousasheck]

It's quite simple you make your bed so everyone around you doesn't have to do it for you while thinking "what a lazy, inconsiderate, disorganized slob".

[cinemaven]

My darling mom-in-law bought us a down duvet and two cotton covers before we were married. I'd never used a duvet so when she visited for the first time after we married, she laughed to see our bed made military style (a la my neat freak mother) with blankets and sheets and perfect corners. She pulled the bed apart to show me the benefits of a duvet... no sheet, no blankets no corners, just a fluffy cloud spread across the bed.
That was the last day I made a bed to my mom's satisfaction. From then on, it was a quick shake of the duvet and where it landed, it lay for the day, wrinkles and body dips and all. I couldn't believe how much warmer and more inviting it was to snuggle under cotton and down without being weighed down.

For our first Christmas, I bought all of my sisters duvets and converted them... my mom didn't succumb for about 10 years but one day I walked into my parents room and there was a slightly lumpy duvet spread a little less haphazardly than mine normally was but definitely no hospital corners.

[TruthAndTheory]

It's so nice to come home and enter your bedroom to see a nicely made bed. It makes you feel like you'll get a good night's sleep. Getting into an unmade, messy bed, is like wearing used clothes out of the hamper. They'll suffice, but how does it make you feel?

[Tamoomoo]

I agree with you! I love sleeping on clean sheets in a clean bedroom. It helps me relax better.

[Oonagh]

Exactly....

[djwfutbol]

I understand what you mean from the psyche-enhancing act of accomplishing one small thing each day. Beyond that, however, the bed need not be it. In fact, it is kind of doubly satisfying to pick a new thing to accomplish each day.

Recently, I gave some fatherly advice to one of my sons regarding women. I said forget about the pretty face, the curves, the nice smile and the intoxicating smell of her hair. I said, "Ignore all that!" I told him that in this world there are neat freaks and there are nest builders. On a day to day aggravation level, I said, a neat freak will do the small things that will keep you from annoyance but beware, when she has cleaned everything, she will start on you!

Over the long term, the nest builder, however, will be the one to give you a life full of affection, laughter and treasure, messy bed and all. And if you just have to have something neat and orderly, well do it your own d amn self and don't complain.

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

Way to go Dad!

[ruffmama]

you are a keeper! :)

[Izadora]

I do my bed properly every morning. But my problem is the dirty dishes.
I always hate to do them. I don't like grease in my hands. That's all.
Happy 2009 to all.

[disgusted48]

use rubber gloves.

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

It makes a world of a difference.

[preculiar1]

Try using Dawn.

[Tamoomoo]

I hear you. Wish I had a dishwasher!

[yogajan]

There is an anti-clutter website (sorry I can't remember the name) that I used to read. One of their best ideas was to always to clean up the kitchen and shine the sink before going to bed. It makes the morning easier to walk into a clean kitchen. The bed is another matter; sometimes the choice between another couple minutes in bed or getting up earlier to make the bed...I stay in bed.

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

Was it flylady.net?

[brooklyncitizen]

Gee...making the bed is just a daily habit...or has become one after years of not doing this...but really it is about keeping a neat and quiet environment; can't start my day if this isn't done first thing.

[Hirnlego]

Untidy beds may keep us healthy

Failing to make your bed in the morning may actually help keep you healthy, scientists believe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4181629.stm

"A Kingston University study discovered the bugs cannot survive in the warm, dry conditions found in an unmade bed."

[dryrock]

Thank you, Hirnlego. While I agree with the general message of this article, I was taught in boarding school to turn my bed back (in a tidy way) for hygiene reasons: to let it cool and dry. We were instructed to make our beds (military style) only after Mass and breakfast. I practice this habit to this day, and it works.

(PDXTransplant - I do the same Saturday ritual and I love it too !)

[pickwickianmom]

Yeah, I had heard something like that---I think on Oprah. That's why I sort of make the bed but turn it down to air for most of the day. I know it looks lots better made, but I just can't stand the thought of all the little bed bugs lurking around in the dark under the blanket.

[flowersun]

I make my bed because if I don't it gets full of dog hair.
However, I don't always make up my husbands side

[ptillen]

And I "make" my side of the bed (that is, fold up the comforter) so as to give my cats more unobstructed access to the electric mattress pad.

[littlepuffycloud]

I 'make' my side and use my husbands sweat pants for our dog to snuggle into while he
(the dog not my husband) looks out the window. I usually do flip up my husband's side of the comforter though; just so he won't mind about the pooch snuggling into his sweats.

[kstuff]

I appreciate the freedom of choice.

[rubygreen]

I, thanks to my Mom, make the bed as soon as I get up. She has also given me the gift of "neat freak", although through the years I have gotten better. It feels so good to get into a fresh bed, and to make it easier, keep it simple. I only have white bedding, no throw pillows cluttering it up, down comforter and pillows, and, if you don't have the benefit of airing them outside, you can toss ithem in the dryer on "fluff" add a dryer sheet and it's good to go. Sweet dreams!!

Kitchen counter tops - if you have a pantry, use it, extra cabinets, or a funky piece of furniture can be added for storage. You might not want to put your coffee maker away, but a toaster, canisters, etc. It's a little more work to drag them out but the countertop looks so good. You could also add an appliance garage under your upper cabinets, that takes up counter space, but everything is put away.