10 reasons to make your bed
September 6, 2006 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Today is theme day for the science and health channel for the b5 media group. Today’s theme is to create a top ten list… any kind of top ten list. So with a nod to the most recent strain of commenting, I have chosen the top 10 reasons for making your bed.
1. It helps make your bedroom look pretty and restful. It makes your room look 100 times neater. Along with having a cup of tea, and a book on the nightstand, it makes the room look way more comfortable.
2. Tucked in sheets and blankets, helps one feel more secure while sleeping.
3. Making a bed brings some order to the beginning of the day ~ and its a great feeling coming home after work to look at a pretty and restful bedroom.
4. It encourages mindfulness. I use those first few minutes of the morning to practice being “present”. Its one of the few times during the day when I am truly in the moment (with the exception of meditating, and brushing my teeth)…. all other hours of the day are spent either multitasking or sleeping.
5. It brings a sense of accomplishment. On the not good days, when all I am able to do is make my bed and have a shower, before I crawl back into bed; at least I feel like I have done something….and so I won’t feel like a complete sloth.
6. Its a lot more fun (and much safer) to bounce on a made bed….less rumpled covers to trip over.
7. A made bed helps keep your feet warm….good for people who can’t or won’t wear socks to bed.
8. It reduces the chance of bedbugs…..ok I don’t actually know if this is true. The idea of there being something creepy that crawls around on 4 or more legs in my sheets is highly disturbing to me. I would much rather have those bugs on the outside of all covers.
9. Saves you time when actually going to bed, because there is no repositioning of the blankets.
10. It makes you feel better….and sleep better.
Most people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome spend A LOT of time in bed. I shouldn’t speak for everyone, but I spent a lot of time asleep. I very quickly discovered, that when I made my bed I was much more restful. Even now, if I don’t make my bed, I will spend hours tossing and turning instead of falling asleep, and usually end up getting up and making it anyway. Yes, I am just that neurotic.
All it takes is 5 minutes. Surely you have an extra 5 minutes to spare, to tuck in your sheets. Try it for a week. Trust me, I know what I am talking about.
I TOTALLY feel better when I make my bed. I think it’s an order and symmetry thing.
Love the Top 10 List idea!
I may not get much else done, but I DO make my bed first thing in the morning. It keeps my husband from going back to sleep. HA! Now, if I can just get my kids to make theirs …
Great list!
Now, that’s a list I can get into! I’m generally up first, and I’ve been known to make my half with my wife still in it!
I know… I know. I have a problem. I should seek help.
Well I agree with the first reason, it definitely makes the bedroom look nicer. See, the problem is that my husband uses separate covers. So making the bed means putting his blankets away, and then making the whole bed with decorative pillows, etc. And there’s no point tucking in sheets when I can’t sleep with them anyway (since husband will push all my covers to one side). Is this TMI?
WOW! or as we say in my tribe, “Wowie Bzowy!!!” ok I cant believe I just said that…
The response I have had from this little post of mine, is awesome. Maybe I should think about making this a semi regular feature.
Now lets see if I can address everybody in one comment.
Sheila - I am with you sistah! The difference in my quality of sleep is huge when I make my bed in relation to the times when I don’t. I wish I could convince everyone to try it.
Hsien (from yesterdays comment), try the bed making for one week…it will change your life, at least your sleeping life. If I am ever out your way, I will come and make all the beds in your house, and then you will have to adopt me as the housepet….because you wont let me return back to canada ~ all of your sleeps will be that much better.
Heather- I am glad we share at least one habit, oops make that 2, since I also seem to share your habit for making excuses to not exercise
Cory - I think its only considered to be a problem when you make your bed more than once a day, especially when you don’t take a nap. Ok I confess…I sometimes do that.
Jennie - have you ever tried something like putting matching comforters side by side and folding them in half, so they look like sleeping bags, but when you lay them out, it looks like a made bed. s Its a really good idea for when your mate is a blanket hog. That way you each get your own.
Ok I think I am done….this feels like a post in itself.
Hope you all get some really good rest tonight.
this is nuts! realize this: this is your life and it’s ending one minute at a time. is it worth it?
what do you suggest for a girl with a boyfriend who constantly steals the blankets? we have been together for over 10 years, living together steady for over 5, so sleeping together is nothing new. he doesn’t do it maliciously, he rotates rotisserie style and the blankets get wrapped up around him, and i wake up after who knows how long freezing my lil butt off. it’s really starting to bug me. Can you help me? i don’t want to end up sleeping separately.
p.s. we always have a made bed to sleep in.
These 10 reasons make we want to throw up. I feel like an efficient man because I haven’t made my bed in 6 years (minus once at a friends house over Christmas). Making your bed is a waste of time. 5 minutes a day might not seem like a lot, but add that up over 6 years and it’s a lot of good times and alot of great things done, not just for me, but for humanity. Plus i am so happy when i look at my messy bed. ahhh
Help me, to help you. Making the world better one minute i’m not making my bed at a time - living the dream
Justin,
you have a very popular opinion. Doesn’t make you right any more than me, though.
I don’t think making your bed is a waste of time, it brings order and mindfulness to your day. Plus I (and a whole lot of other people) sleep better when our sheets are all tucked in.
I know all about the bed bug argument - bed bugs like neat beds to lie around in….but I will still take the risk, and make my bed every morning.
Glad you like looking at your messy bed. I suppose you must enjoy it, since looking at a made one, will bring on uncontrolable vomiting.
Thanks for bringing your opinion to the table.