Making Your Bed – A Small Routine that Makes a Big Difference in Your Life
Improving quality of life depends on change. Because if nothing changes in your life…nothing changes! The most impactful changes are often very small like making your bed, as Karen discovered. You’ll get a peek into her story below.
We all hear the reports that the rate of health problems such as obesity, depression, and heart disease are increasing. I believe many are in crisis. They just don’t know how to get started and stay on track.
Perhaps you’d like to exercise more, eat healthfully, or develop more resilience. But you just can’t maintain your good intentions. Rather than be in a “let life happen mode”, a “take charge of life” mode will be more helpful. Something as simple as making your bed can help.
A meaningful and fulfilling life is sustainable. It’s built gradually and purposefully. There are no shortcuts. It involves developing a daily practice of habits, rituals, and routines that get you started every morning. And they don’t have to be hard or complicated. Start with one that gives you an immediate win – making your bed!
Notice how this one simple thing helped my client, Karen. (Not her real name.)
When Karen and I met for our first session, she sighed deeply. “Mornings feel like a blur,” she admitted. “I wake up, shuffle to the bathroom, then straight to the coffee pot. And then…I just sit there, staring at nothing.”
She described her routine as if she were an observer in her own life, going through the motions but never quite feeling in control. “It’s like I’m always a step behind,” she said. “Like I’ve already lost before the day even starts.”
I smiled, knowing how simple shifts could make a difference. “Karen, let’s start with something small,” I said. “When you wake up tomorrow, throw the covers wide open and let the bed air out. Then, after you press the coffee pot ON button, go back and make your bed.”
She tilted her head. “That’s it?”
“That’s it,” I confirmed. “It takes a few seconds, but that’s your first win of the day. Instead of drifting, you’re choosing. You’re not just reacting to the morning. You’re taking control of it.”
The next week, Karen logged onto our Zoom session with a spark in her eyes. “I did it,” she said, almost laughing. “Every morning, I made my bed. And you know what? I started doing other things, too. Washing my coffee mug right after I used it. Making a to-do list before sitting down. It’s weird, but I feel different, like I’m in charge.”
I nodded. “That’s the power of momentum. One small win leads to another. And before you know it, you’re on a winning streak.”
Karen had spent too long feeling like her mornings happened to her. Now, she was the one setting the tone. And it all started with a simple decision…making her bed.
“Dream Big, Start Small” Here’s the one thing you can do today.
Making your bed is a sustainable task that sets you up for success. You can make this ritual even more meaningful in these three ways: As you smooth the blankets and fluff the pillows…
- Take three slow, intentional breaths. With each inhale, breathe in a sense of calm and clarity. With each exhale, release any tension or worry about the day ahead.
- Mindfully review and verbalize your daily intentions.
- Become more grounded by listing three things you’re grateful for.
These simple practices help you reset your mindset and step into the day with greater focus and intention. By turning bed-making into a mindful ritual, you’re not just tidying your space. You’re cultivating discipline, gratitude, and presence, setting yourself up for success every morning.
Making your bed also develops discipline. The military is noted for its discipline, which begins each day with making the bed with precisely tucked-in corners. As Admiral William McRaven, ninth commander of US Special Operations Command said:
“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. 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.”
Making your bed starts your day with an easy win. It’s a decisive action that creates order out of chaos, setting the tone for your day. It triggers and reinforces in your mind that you intend to live purposefully and productively.
Charles Duhigg says in his book, The Power of Habit, “Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget.” He calls it a “keystone habit,” something that kick-starts a pattern of good behavior. Since you do it first thing in the morning, you’re more likely to do the next practice in your routine, whether it’s exercise, meditation, reading, or journaling.
So rise and shine! Isn’t it time to start making those life-altering changes? A good life plan takes a holistic perspective that includes mindfulness around everything about you. My 7-Point Wellness Assessment can help you pinpoint what you want to work on next.