I don't like going to bed. Nor do I like getting out of it. It's a conundrum.
My office desk is exactly 7 feet away from my bedroom. Every time I leave my office to go downstairs or outside this is what I see. Comfortable bed, napping cat, linen bedding, fluffy duvet ...
It's not that much of a temptation in the summer, but in this gutter of a season we call late winter - it's as persuasive as a late night infomercial to an insomniac. I've only succumbed to the temptation once or twice and the main reason for that is not my military-like discipline. It's the fact that my bed is already made.
If it were all a jumble of sheets and pillowy down I might be more likely to swan dive into it. But it's made, so I continue on with my day instead of curling up to sleep. Pulling back the covers and getting into an already made bed in the middle of the day is pathetic. Whereas falling into one that's still an unmade mess is just practical. Smartly taking advantage of a situation, really - I mean when you think about it.
That's reason number 1 to make your bed in the morning. The other billion reasons all lead to happiness.
According to a study by Hunch.com only 27% of people make their bed. Which is too bad because
70% of people who make their beds consider themselves to be happy.
Happiness expert, Gretchen Rubin; The Power of Habit author Charles Duhigg; and US Navy Admiral William H. McRaven all believe in the POWER of making your bed.
Gretchen Rubin says making your bed is also one of the most effective and easiest triggers of happiness.
Charles Duhigg describes making your bed every morning as a "keystone habit". A way to kick start a pattern of good behaviour for the rest of the your day, week, month, life.
But most impressive is US Navy Admiral William H. McRaven's commencement speech. Here's just a little bit of it ...
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Amieke
My husband or I make our bed every day. On the rare occasion it doesn’t get done I am less likely to tidy the rest of my home and I hate getting into an unmade bed at night. Also happy!
Melissa
I never make my bed. I get up before the cats do, and there is no disturbing the cats.
And I wonder on your statistic "people with more money make their bed more". Is it really THEM making the bed, or is because they have money to hire a housekeeper, so their bed is made....
Sigrid Olsen
I do not make my bed every morning. I am up early for work and have no time. I do make my bed every day---but I am religious about one thing---I change my sheets every two days. I sometimes make my bed right before I go to sleep--but usually when I get home. I strip it down very fast, and put on beautiful vintage white muslin sheets. I sleep like a princess and for the small price of an extra load of wash, I sleep in great luxury--just as good as the Ritz in Paris if not better. I am fastidious about my sheets--as I have posted here before. I only sleep on white percale/ muslin--from the vintage mills on the East Coast. These beat anything the Georges V has in Paris. A made bed means nothing if there are stale sheets underneath--and in my opinion, stale sheets are the order after two days. Clean sheets are the cheapest greatest luxury that one can have--and yet few realize this. You can sleep as if you are in the finest hotel if you do this.
Renn from out West
Just a note on ....... make your bed....... https://jamesclear.com/great-speeches/make-your-bed-by-admiral-william-h-mcraven Worth the read. Oh the joys of climbing into a well make bed, tucking the heated magic bags in by my feet and snuggling in during this cold spell.
Jacqueline
I make my bed for 2 reasons: When I walk by my bedroom, I want it to look neat and tidy... and I love the way it feels crisp and fresh at night!
Jane C.
I kind of make my bed - just throw the covers up over the pillows. It's impossible to do a proper job with an 80 pound dog still sleeping on the bed. And I sleep in pajamas. Am I happy? Not in the winter (which I despise) and with S.A.D. and a history of depression. Ask me again in the spring. :-)
Cathy
I make my bed every day. Mostly it’s in the morning before I get dressed. Sometimes I’m having a lazy day and I make it later, even as late as 3 in the afternoon. But I make it every day. Unless I’m sick. Which then makes me very unhappy.
Trisha
I would love to make my bed every day, but hubby works opposite shift and gets in as I'm getting out. He isn't much of a bed maker, so it's a mess during the week. I do try to keep it made on weekends.
I would also love to sleep naked, but I traumatize my kids in other ways for now.
Barbara
I rarely make the bed. I’ve adopted the rule last one up makes the bed. The cat sleeps later than me and she absolutely ignores the rule.
Dianne Paul
I am very happy and have been almost always for 73 years--and yes I make my bed!!
PS Love your blog
Michele
Hi Karen,
This is your Sister From Another Mother in Denver. I’m an Interior Designer. I LOVE my home to look beautiful and clean. My husband constantly makes fun of me and says “ Hun, we do not live in a model home!” I use to make our bed every day. I have been unemployed for almost a year. I hardly make my bed now. I’ve been down in the dumps since unemployment and I’m sad. I am a direct correlation to your post!
Sigrid Olsen
I hope things turn up for you Michele. Unemployment is the worst. Hang in there!
Joan Dubose
Yes, I make my bed everyday. I also iron all my pillowcases. I especially love the ones with handmade lace or embroiderey. I adore percale or linen bedding. Changing the bedding and drapes with the seasons is a must for me. It’s very satisfying to me to walk into a pretty bedroom or any room, for that matter.
P.S. Love chickens, goats, donkeys, cats and dogs. Oh well, all farm animals!
Sigrid Olsen
I have a beautiful collection of percale sheets and pillowcases. I get them at the Goodwill Bins where everyone dumps granny's linen closet. You can't believe the beautiful linens I have hauled out of there for pennies.
Kristina
I make my bed every single day without fail. But I also take a short nap everyday after lunch. I have a very strict set of criteria for napping - must be on top of the covers (keep an old quilt under the bed that I spread to keep coverlet clean) and with as much natural light as possible. I am a very accomplished sleeper, and if I make myself too comfy I zonk out for too long and end up groggy with a wasted afternoon behind me.
Anne
Me too. Extra blanket for napping on top and I don't like napping in a darkened room during the day. Thinking about the coffee I'll get to have gets me up and the second part of my day starts.
Bernard
I do "make" my bed regularly...sort of🤔
And no, I do not only do this with sheets and cases fresh from the linen drawers....
When I awaken in the morning...it is in a rush...the covers (should any have survived the night are flung practically to the floor...coffee is drank, 1st breakfast harvested from the fridge & toaster, the process of attiring for the workday completed and THEN the covers are straightened, sailed, and pulled down to the footboard in neat folds with the pillows being stripped and hung over the headboard.
Why?
The overhead fan is my buddy.
The exposed fitted sheet and dangling pillows of goosedown are continuously 'aired', while the flat sheet which is draped over the TV at the foot of the bed gets it's own refreshment from the nightly abuses they all endure.
The bed is "readied" once again after the post-work shower with fresh pillow cases, the flat sheet and duvet returned to full extension and the window opened.
By the time evening meal, cleaning, and hobby/media adventures are done...that bed is really ready to do its job.
Ann Brookens
When I was in college (we're talking 1972), I discovered that a messy room with the bed made didn't look so bad! So I started making my bed and didn't worry about the rest of the mess. So more than 45 years later, I still make my bed as soon as I get out of it- (because as soon as I open my door, the dog comes in and jumps on it!)- and I still don't worry about the rest of the mess!
And yes, I'm happy!
Catherine
Yes I make my bed every morning. I'm uncomfortable if I know it's not all neat and fresh looking. And I iron the sheets ( top and bottom) duvet cover and pillow cases. Gives the bed a lovely neat look. As for the minus 10 million degrees, about 30 minutes before going to bed, I put in a hot water bottle which is SOOOOO great at warming up my toes when I finally settle for the night. It's a low tech and ecological way of keeping warm.
From reading your readers comments, it seems that a majory of people who read you make their bed. I bet they are also happy people. Your blog is a happy place, Karen. I love your off kilter sense of humour and whimsy. Thanks, and keep it coming.
Karen
Thanks Catherine! ~ karen
SusanR
Yes, I make my bed every day, and what's more, I make it BEFORE I even get out of bed. Well, mostly. I use my feet to make sure the sheets are pushed out to the edges of the bed, from my restless husband's rolling around in his sleep, and I use my hands to straighten the blankets and coverlet on top. I also put the regular bed pillows in their resting locations, then get out and put on the pillows with shams on them. Done.
Karen
I've made my bed while I'm still in it too, lol. Then I get up and kill myself laughing at how ridiculous and hilarious a thing it is to do. ~ karen!
canadamsel
No I don't make my bed. I do sleep in the nude. Deliriously happy... but that may be because I'm retired :)
Patti
Yes, I make my bed first thing so I can put it on my "Done" list. I don't keep a "To-Do" list but a "Done" list instead. I list each task I complete...made coffee, walked the dogs, fed the cats and dogs, made the bed. Once I see how much I've accomplished so soon after leaving my fluffy warm sheets, pillows & quilts, it makes me happy so that I keep getting things done to put on my Done list. At the end of the day, I feel productive.
But, I digress......ohhh...another item for my list....responded to Karen's blog.
Renee Ryz
I make it as soon as my feet hit the floor, unless an adorable cat is too cute to move, or if I am changing the sheets that day,then I wait. For me, it just feels finished and I like how it looks. I am pretty happy aside from some bad crap that has happened the last 7 months.