It’s 8:15 in the morning. I’ve snoozed my alarm three times, and now, I have just 15 minutes to get through my morning routine if I want to make it to work on time.
I stumble out of bed.
8:18 Teeth are brushed.
8:21 Hair is combed.
8:25 Face is cleaned, toned, and moisturized.
8:28 Business casual is on.
8:30 Finally, in the car.
Each task from my dental hygiene to my wardrobe decision is done with a sigh and an eye roll. I’ve completed five tasks within 15 minutes, but something still feels off. I skipped an important task. I didn’t make my 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,” Naval Admiral William McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations, said in a 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin.
Soon enough, that one task completed will kickstart a chain of good decisions. Tidying your blankets and fluffing your pillows makes you feel in charge letting you set the tone for your day.
Not only does it lead to better productivity, but it plays a major role in increasing your wellbeing.
“While there isn’t much research specifically studying the effects of making your bed, there is a solid body of evidence showing a clear link between living and working in an organized, clutter-free environment and having improved focus, goal-setting skills, productivity, and lower levels of stress,” reported by Sarah Vanbuskirkin in The Mental Health Benefits of Making Your Bed.
Basically, a clean space leads to a clear mind. A made bed shows that you care for yourself and your home, and that feeling of being cared for helps lighten emotional burdens.
Making your bed only takes about one to two minutes. If I had woken up at 8:13 a.m. instead of 8:15 a.m., my five-step morning routine would have ended with a smile and bright eyes instead of my usual sighs and eye rolls.
Remember, it only takes 30 days to make a habit. And a habit that only takes a couple of minutes is definitely doable. We’ve got this!
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