Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I was a productivity junkie. I would obsess over my performance numbers at work and each day was an intense game to increase my performance. When I was at home, I used to think that making the bed everyday was pointless. I worked full-time and I tried to conserve every free moment that I could. I could never understand why people bothered to make the bed when they’re just going to tear up the covers and sleep in it hours later. I was always under the impression that making the bed was a waste of precious time. Apparently a lot of the population feels the same way. When Hunch.com was still around, they surveyed 68,000 people. Of those 68,000, only 27 percent of people made their own beds. 59 percent didn’t make their beds at all and 12 percent paid someone else to make it. I used to be part of the 59 percent. My opinion changed when I became a stay-at-home mom.

After I became a stay-at-home mom to my beautiful daughter, I no longer had anything to measure my productivity. When I had worked, I would feel accomplished each time I completed a task. I could track my progress, accuracy, and speed through daily reports. At home, there is no program to calculate my productivity. I decided that I wanted to make the bed every day so that I would feel accomplished. In his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, Navy SEAL William H. McRaven said, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another.” Even if I have a day where I’m not able to clean the rest of our home because I’m too busy caring for my daughter, I feel like I’ve accomplished something in the first few minutes after waking up.

Another reason I make the bed every day is because it makes the room look clean. I realized that the whole room can be immaculate but if the sheets are bunched in a messy pile on the bed, then the entire room looks messy. In the survey conducted by Hunch, they found that 71 percent of the people who made their beds were happy. On the contrary, 62 percent of people who did not make their beds were unhappy. Many factors could contribute to the drastic difference in satisfaction but there may be a correlation between happiness and making the bed. I know it helps me feel better. Once my bed is made, I feel like I’ve stepped into a catalog. It brightens my day and puts me in a better mood.

Finally, making the bed each day has been a simple and vital addition to our daily routine. In the morning, after my daughter and I wake up, I change her diaper and then put her in the crib in our room so that I can make the bed. After that, my daughter and I go to the kitchen and have breakfast. Routines are an important part of raising happy children. Making the bed gives her a sense of stability and consistency. An article about routines on MomMd quoted Dr. Peter Gorski, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He said, “Knowing what to expect from relationships and activities helps children become more confident.”

I am so grateful to have joined the 27 percent of people who make their beds. I am glad that I have the opportunity now to set the foundation for my daughter’s future so that one day she may adopt this simple habit and reap the benefits. Luckily, she’s already benefiting from my example. If a simple morning habit can increase my happiness, elevate her sense of security, and boost her confidence, then it’s certainly time well spent.

Sources:

Asher, Liza. “The Importance of Routines for Children.” MomMD – Women in Medicine! N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Dawn, Randee. “What’s the One Simple Morning Task That Will Change Your Life?” TODAY.com. TODAY, 27 Aug. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Dutton, Judy. “Make Your Bed, Change Your Life?” Psychology Today. N.p., 16 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.