For the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on how much the simple act of making my bed each day has improved my life. It’s surprising how such a small habit can make me feel less stressed, more accomplished, and just generally brighten my day.
If you’d told me twenty years ago that I’d be writing a blog—and making my bed every morning—I probably would’ve laughed. Blogging? Not a chance. Making my bed? Absolutely not. Yet, here I am, doing both and realizing how much these habits contribute to my sense of peace and purpose. It’s funny how life changes, isn’t it?
I used to only make my bed when I changed the sheets, or maybe if company was coming. Who has time for that? I certainly didn’t—or at least, I didn’t think I did. I’m not exactly sure what shifted, but about a year ago, I woke up one morning and decided to make my bed. For some reason, I just kept doing it.
Over time, I discovered how much joy it brings me to walk into my bedroom and see a made bed. While piles of clean clothes, toys waiting to be put away, or laundry ready to go downstairs may clutter the rest of the house, there’s something about a neatly made bed that instantly makes me feel calmer. No matter how chaotic things get around me, a tidy bed always helps me feel more relaxed.
When you think of life-changing habits, making your bed might not be at the list of things that come to mind. It seems like such a small, insignificant task–one that’s easy to skip on busy mornings. However, this simple act can have a surprisingly big impact you and your home.
While there are many benefits to making your bed everyday, lets talk about a few that are high on my list:
It Starts Your Day with a Win
As Admiral William H. McRaven famously said in his commencement speech, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Why? Because completing this one small task sets the tone for the rest of your day. Making your bed is a quick, easy way to start your day with a sense of accomplishment.
When you make your bed, you’ve already accomplished something within minutes of starting your day. Does it always happen immediately after I wake up? Not quite. On days when I’m home, it’s often mid-morning before I get around to it—but the important thing is that it gets done.
It Boosts Your Mood
Walking into your bedroom at the end of a long day and seeing a neatly made bed can instantly improve your mood, or at least it does for me. It creates a sense of order and calm that helps me feel more at ease.
An unmade bed, on the other hand, adds to the feeling of chaos, especially if the rest of your day has been stressful. Making your bed every morning gives you a little gift to return to later—a cozy, inviting space that feels like a reward.
It Helps Build Discipline
Making your bed isn’t just about tidying up; it’s about creating a routine. When you make your bed every day, you’re practicing consistency and discipline—skills that can spill over into other areas of your life.
This small habit reinforces the importance of taking care of the little things, which can lead to greater success in the big things. Over time, it can help you develop a more organized and intentional approach to your daily life.
If you’re a parent, making your bed can also be a great way to model responsibility and good habits for your kids. While I do not police this with my own children everyday, I do think that them seeing me do it daily will help them form good habits as they grow older.
It Improves Your Home’s Overall Appearance
A neatly made bed instantly makes your bedroom look cleaner and more organized. Even if the rest of your room isn’t perfectly organized, a made bed acts as a focal point, making the entire space feel more polished.
This small effort can have a big impact on how your home feels, both to you and to anyone who visits.
How to Make it a Habit
If you’re not in the habit of making your bed every day, don’t worry—it’s never too late to start. Here are a few tips to make it easier:
- Start small: Commit to making your bed for a week and see how it feels. You may be surprised!
- Keep it simple: You don’t need to arrange a dozen decorative pillows; just pull up the sheets and straighten the covers. This is what I do most days and it works great!
- Make it a family routine: Encourage everyone in your household to make their beds each morning. Now that I have been making mine everyday (or at least most days), I think my next step is to start having my kids do theirs more often.
- The more you do it, the more natural it will feel. Over time, it will become an automatic part of your morning routine.
Making your bed every day might seem like a small, insignificant task, but its benefits go far beyond a tidy-ish bedroom. It’s a habit that can set the tone for your day and improve your mood.
So tomorrow morning, take a few minutes to pull up the covers and smooth out the wrinkles. You might be surprised by how much this quick, simple act can transform your day. Let me know in the comments if you try it or if you already make your bed, I would love to hear from you!
Happy bed-making!
4 responses to “A Frugal Way to Simplify Your Day”
Love this! I started making my bed every day when I lived in a dorm at Lindsey Wilson. My room was small so this was my way of feeling organized. It created a habit that has stuck with me 10 years later. Even if I’m running late, making my bed is a non-negotiable.
Yes! I am almost that way. If nothing else, I just parachute it like we did with the all-time favorite parachute in elementary school. Whatever works to keep me feeling at least halfway organized it what I like!
yeah girl that was the first time i’ve made my bed this year
But look how good it looks!! So pretty!