Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
There are many simple pleasures in life, but few are as simple and bring as much joy as making my bed.
There are a few reasons for this, but the most important are as follows:
- It involves ordering
- It takes very little time
- It provides a stable foundation
Order First Priority
Order in your life is critical.
First, it gives you mental clarity. Your brain can become overwhelmed and overloaded if there is chaos in your personal space.
Your space should be a sanctuary and your bedroom is a place where you spend around a third of your life. Your bed also takes up usually 20-30% of the floor space in your room.
Order also paradoxically creates space for creative chaos. If you spend your time ordering the small things in life, this will give you vital space for you to express yourself freely.
Efficient Time Use
Making your bed takes around a minute. For the benefit it has on your mental wellbeing as well as the stability it brings to your home, it really delivers value.
It is true that this time accumulates as you will be adding a minute of time to this task everyday of your life, but for the 10 fold benefit it provides, it is an excellent use of time.
Stability
When I start my day each morning, I don’t know if I’m going to have a challenging day or even if the world will end. I do, however, know that I can start my day in the same way.
Routines are comforting and making the bed is one of those routines that will always be my one certainty. There is also evidence that routines increase the rate of success in life for people of all ages.
An Inspiring Speech
In his famous commencement speech, Admiral William McRaven urged graduates to “make your bed”.
Making your bed each morning means you’ve already accomplished something.
It builds momentum, reinforces discipline, and reminds you that even in a chaotic world, you have control over the little things.
It’s about more than tidiness—it’s about starting the day with purpose, attention to detail, and a small but meaningful win.
“If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never do the big things right.” — Admiral McRaven
Start small. Make your bed. Change your life.
Summary
Making my bed is something that I will do for as long as I live.
If you have a child, you should always give them that chance to make their bed on their own and take pride in that one small task everyday.
If you don’t make your bed everyday, try it and leave a comment if you’ve found any positive benefits.
