Make your bed
I used to think making my bed was stupid.
I didn’t get the point of carving out time to clean a space that no one would see only to mess it up again.
I thought anyone who took the time to make their bed was stiff and a square. I couldn’t relate to them, but all along they probably had a pretty good idea about me.
I was a spontaneous slob and proud of it.
But now I’m a bed-maker. If that makes me stiff and a square, so be it. I’m a believer. There is power in completing this simple, daily task.
I listed making my bed among my habits a year ago. It couples perfectly with my new personality as an early bird.
The old me never anticipated this new version. But I like it here. I’ve adopted two healthy habits.
If waking early is what kicks open the door for me to have a more productive day, making my bed is the spark plug that powers me with the necessary energy.
With it being the first productive thing I do every day, I immediately unlock the desire to accomplish another goal. My next task could be stretching, push-ups, breakfast, the gym, cleaning or reading. After making my bed, I’m always eager to move on to the next thing.
Making my bed has become a contagious action in that sense. More than that, it’s boosted my discipline. It holds me accountable for at least one thing every day beyond fulfilling my basic needs. But because I make my bed, I instinctively want to do something else productive. That’s the beauty of it.
I didn’t become a believer in making my bed until coming across a YouTube video a few years ago. It was from the 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, delivered by Admiral William H. McRaven, who served 37 years as a Navy SEAL.
McRaven’s military background captured my attention. Men of his ilk typically carry discipline I’ve long admired. For 101 seconds in his 19 1/2-minute address, McRaven explained why a perfectly made bed means so much in the military. His words changed my perspective.
“Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter,” McRaven said. “If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.”
Soon, I gave McRaven’s method a shot.
It took me time to break my old habits. At times, my version of a made bed certainly would have offended the sensibilities of military men and women. But any effort was better than none as I built a new discipline.
Now I make my bed no matter where I am. Even at hotels. Location doesn’t disrupt the daily domino effect.
My morning routine has helped me have a more organized life. Now when I wake up, I know exactly what I want and need to accomplish. Back when I was a spontaneous slob, though, my mornings were unsurprisingly turbulent. I woke up late and often in a bad mood. I’d frequently rush to shower and rush to work — running out the door before making my bed.
None of it was advantageous, certainly not healthy.
It’s why I instruct you to make your bed each morning, Parker.
I’m not trying to be strict.
I just know that two minutes each morning has the power to help you achieve your dreams.
