How Making My Bed Changed My Life

There are two types of people: those who consistently make their bed and the others who don’t bother and leave it untouched all day long. I hate to admit it, but I have been the latter for the longest time until I made the decision that had the most profound impact on my life.  

You might think I am exaggerating by claiming that making my bed changed my life. But, in all honesty, it has triggered a ripple effect in how I live; it has taught me so much about discipline, the power of creating consistent habits and the importance of a daily routine.  

To make your bed is entirely up to you but if you are curious, let my journey be an example.  

Here are four things I discovered while consistently making my bed.   

1. A tidy place makes for a tidy mind    

Working from home has motivated and encouraged me to tidy up every corner of my house, including the bedroom because a tidy place makes for a tidy mind. It couldn’t be more accurate.  

While making this habit consistent took time, I had to deploy some tricks. First, I had to find a room design to love and could commit to. Cue my Pinterest boards. I also took inspiration from the best resorts I stayed in around the world. I find that I love the tropical, fresh bohemian vibe and gave it a go.   

I followed a specific colour palette. I opt for neutral and earth-tone colours. I find it relaxing and uncluttered. I stuck with three colours of the same shade and hues. It is important that you do not choose colours randomly as random colour combinations can look messy and distracting 

So, even when I had to change the bed linens and pillowcases, it matched the whole bedroom vibe, and everything looked neat and in sync.   

This habit is not only limited to the bedroom. Before I knew it, I was tackling my couch and closet.  

A solid body of evidence shows a clear link between living and working in an organised, clutter-free environment. This gives more room for the mind to focus, set goals, increase productivity, and lower stress levels. 

2. Making my bed created a chain reaction of good habits 

Making my bed daily has taught me the power of creating consistent habits. In James Clear’s best-selling book, Atomic Habits, he says: “When you want to change your life, you don’t need to think big.”  

Real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions, such as making your bed- which can lead to life-altering outcomes. 

In his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral Seal and New York Times best-selling author of “Make Your Bed: Little Things Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World”, said that “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day”.  

“It will give you a small, simple pride and encourage you to do another task and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.” 

3. It made me establish a solid daily routine   

Making my bed has influenced me to establish a solid daily routine. As a result, I’m happier and calmer, which has given me a more positive state of mind. As a result, I started looking at incorporating activities I could squeeze into my day to boost my happy hormones.    

Science has proven that your morning attitude shapes your mood for the rest of your day. Over time, it sets the tone of your life.   

So, after making my bed, I drink ice cold glass water and head straight to the shower, lather my energy-boosting, Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate, £ 22 to keep my senses invigorated. The ginger, mint and rosemary essential oils promote a feeling of enthusiasm for the day. This is followed by a lavish spritz of the calming but mood-boosting scent of Eau Extraordinaire, £38.  

4. It makes me look forward to bedtime 

Who doesn’t want to sleep on a neat, clean bed after a long, productive day?    

To induce myself into a night of deep REM sleep, I prioritise me-time before bedtime.  

It sets the mood for relaxation and calmness as I wind down. After a warm-steam shower, I do a quick spray of the Eau Ressourçante, £38 and use it as a pillow mist spray. It smells divine and fresh; it has basil and cedarwood, which evokes feelings of serenity, peace, and calmness.  

A poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation says improving your bedroom environment enhances your sleep quality. A bedroom environment promoting sleep can also improve how you feel while awake. 

Final Word: If you look at it, making your bed is not life-changing or mind-boggling; it’s an essential, no-brainer chore. But when done consistently, it is something that kickstarts a pattern of other good behaviours. It influences you to become a better person simply by doing one right thing. 

And since it’s the first thing that happens at the very beginning of the day, you’re most likely to make better decisions for the rest of your day, giving you that sense of taking charge of your day. What more if you do it every day for the rest of your days? You’re essentially taking control of your life.    

– Anne Lora Scagliusi