Bed-Making 101…And Why It Is Important!

 My dear readers…..have you ever had something happen or words said to you that all of a sudden a light bulb go off and you say to yourself,…..

“yes, I needed that” …..or “yes, I got the message”…or in this particular case for me…..“Yes, I completely agree and I am glad someone else “gets it” too!” It is the task of making one’s bed every day.

What I am about to talk about is certainly not revolutionary….however, it is a habit that can become lax if one does not stay on top of it…no pun intended, or maybe there is.  

You see, if my bed is unmade….I feel like my bedroom is cluttered and messy.

Yesterday, a Real Estate friend of ours stopped over to chat.  She had just come from a showing and she was a bit perturbed at the home’s sellers because they did not take the time to make the bed before the showing and of course she did not feel the house lived up to it’s potential with the buyers.  They couldn’t see past the crumpled, rumpled bed linens and quickly exited the showing.

Later in the evening, “Only daughter” face-timed me as she wanted a second opinion of her latest furniture arrangement in her living room and bedroom.  She was preparing for the upcoming birthday party of her grandson and my great grandson.  She wanted to have plenty of seating without making the room look like a high school prom with all the girls sitting in chairs along all the walls.  Of course she did a great job and I told her I wouldn’t change a thing. The reason her bedroom got into the act, was because she robbed her bedroom of a couple arm chairs for the living room…. so she felt she was on a roll with furniture movement.  I have to admit, I smiled to myself when I saw that her bed was nicely made….this is something she has always done, …a lesson learned early on in her life.  

For me, there are several reasons I, personally have to make my bed each morning.

• First off is of course, the obvious…..an unmade bed makes the whole room look messy
• Making my bed each day is a positive, which starts my day off in the right direction 
• Discipline! I feel this is a good habit and a discipline that gives me a sense of well being in my life
• Climbing into a well made bed in the evening is a restful pleasure

My need for making my bed each day came from my both of my parents.  

Dad had been in the military and he was a firm believer of jumping out of bed first thing in the morning and making your bed…no excuses, no passes, no exceptions!  In fact, his favorite saying was “you can not soar with the eagles if you stay up with the owls!”  and yet another phrase he used to “urge” my two sisters and I out of bed was: “Off your bottoms and on your feet, out of the shade and in the heat”!  (I cleaned that last phrase up a bit).  And Mother insisted that our bed linens be changed once a week, which was on Mondays, as that was her wash day.  It was our job to remove the sheets and take them to the laundry room/kitchen before we went to school.  Many times we would come home from school to help in removing the crisp, clean-smelling sheets off the clothesline and then we would put them on our beds….. and Monday nights, those sheets not only smelled good, they felt good too! 

So I thank both of my parents for creating this habit in us!

The discipline I was taught as a child has made me a bit regimented when it comes to my personal morning routine.

My morning routine consists of getting up, brushing my teeth, washing my face and combing my hair AND making my bed in that order.  

Years ago, the Captain and I made a deal that whoever got up last had to make the bed…so you can imagine the scuffle of two sets of feet hitting the floor at about the same time each morning. But, we have since learned to compromise and one of us will start the bed-making process, but in the end, we both are making the bed together. (that is when the Captain is home…otherwise, I am on my own) 

The Captain also comes from a military background and he believes in fluffing to air out the sheets and tucked in and tight fitting corners. My have-to-do is to spray my pillows and bedding with lavender linen spray!

Ahhhh, what a pleasure to pull down the covers and slip into a sweet-smelling, freshly made bed in the evening…and as I kick loose those corners that the Captain tucks in so tightly…the lavender wafts over and around and gives me complete relaxation.

Now for the extra benefits of making my bed each day…perhaps you will be surprised at what I am about to say.

The simple act of making your bed each morning sets a pattern for the day. One task is completed which allows you to move to the next one. This task creates order, discipline and structure in your life, setting a foundation that builds your self-confidence and produces a desire to serve others as we are called to do.

And then,….and then, at the end of the day, your bed is waiting to be turned down, welcoming you to rest from all you have accomplished….no matter how simple or mundane….or how structured and complicated.

Wow!  No wonder I get a feeling of accomplishment when I make my bed, followed by a smile as I take a quick look around the room.  I like the way it looks, and I know that I will not be getting into an unmade, rumpled mess of sheets at bedtime.

Below is a life lesson You Tube video from a Military Admiral titled: Make Your Bed! It is only about 60 seconds long and very interesting. Click on it and I think you will be surprised.