It really wasn’t until I was a few years into marriage when I began consciously making my bed each and every day. And only because I was completely skeptical of it!
I had read this article that claimed that making your bed would make you a happier person. Now, for reference, I’m not necessarily an unhappy person. But I figured who can’t use a little extra happiness in their lives? And, again, I was pretty skeptical that something as seemingly simple as making your bed could really make an impact on your life.
One study showed 71 percent of bed makers consider themselves happy; while 62 percent of non-bed-makers admit to being unhappy.*
But, ten years into it, and I’m a believer! There’s just something about that sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning. And walking into a bedroom with a nicely made bed, that just lifts your spirits. Even when my nightstand is cluttered and my dresser is covered in dust, taking those two minutes to make my bed instantly makes our bedroom feel tidy. And, when the rest of the house has been destroyed by kids on mid-Winter break, coming into my tidy room feels like a bit of an escape to a sanctuary!
So, if you don’t already but are ready to test out this crazy “Making Your Bed” thing, here are three quick tips or tricks ::
1. Don’t make your bed right away…and for a really gross reason!
I don’t want to creep you guys out but there are these little things called dust mites. And they are in your bed. Now, before you go burning your sheets and matters, you should know they are really everywhere. I’m sure you can even find them in Martha Stewart’s house!
Dust mites especially like beds. Something about the warmth and dead skin cells and sweat and GROSS! So, to help keep them at bay, don’t make your bed right away. I let my bed air out and dry out while I get myself ready for the day and get the two-legged and four-legged little monsters their breakfast. Then I come back and make my bed. I like to pretend all the little dust mites have migrated elsewhere by then…probably to my dusty dresser.
2. Find the right tools for your success
Just like you use specific tools in the kitchen or in your office to help streamline your work or make the task at hand a bit easier, the same is true for making your bed.
But how hard can it be? You’re just making a bed! True, except when your comforter gets all twisted up in your duvet cover. Or when your body pillow is no longer in line with the pillow case. Seems simple but now fixing the duvet cover or re-casing your pillow has just added time onto your seemingly simple task of making your bed.
Here’s a very simple little tool I started using :: Corner Keepers.
Corner Keepers do just that :: they keep the corners of your duvet or comforter cover or pillow case in place. So you’re not wasting your time readjusting everything in the morning!
Each package comes with one set of Corner Keepers to iron on to your comforter or pillow and two sets of Corner Keepers to iron on to your duvet covers or pillow cases. Once you have them attached to the corners of your duvet/pillow and the corners of the inside of your duvet cover/pillow case, you simply snap the corners together and you’re done!
These are especially helpful for my kids because, let’s face it, they would just assume leave the duvet as a wadded up ball inside the duvet cover than to straighten it all out. The Corner Keepers just eliminate the whole issue! And, because there are two sets in each package, I can attach them to two different covers — meaning I won’t be without our Corner Keepers while one cover is in the wash!
Super simple! Simple to attach. Simple to use. I like simple 😉
Speaking of kids and bed making….
3. Good habits are catchy!
They are especially catchy with kids. I’ve never harped on my kids about making their beds. I pick my battles and that just isn’t one of them. But one day they asked why I make my bed every morning when I’m just going to “unmake” it to go to sleep at night {the very question I asked myself for years}. I explained to them my reasons and left it at that.
Then they started making their beds!
Now, I’m not saying this is magic. There are plenty of days when their beds look an explosion happened and they certainly aren’t hitting military standards any time soon, but that’s ok. But the days that they do remember to make their beds, I find them tidying up elsewhere around the house or wanting to pitch in with chores without being asked. It’s baby steps but good habits aren’t created overnight.
And, hey, I even catch my husband making the bed every once in a while!!!
So, I’m challenging you to give it a shot. Take a break from the computer and go straighten up your bed right now. It’s ok if you’ll be heading to bed within the next hour. Just take that first step and see how it feels. Try it for a week. A month. And, the best part, if you don’t feel any different after trying it, go mess it back up!
*Source: PsychologyToday.com
