I once heard Admiral McRaven speak, and I found it unusual that he started his speech about making your bed. As a Navy Seal Admiral, he will have seen and done a lot during his service. It made me realize that a simple act like making your bed was a discipline that helped him in his career. Admiral McRaven's message was to inspire others to embrace a routine to start the day. I truly expected a stronger message, but in hindsight, it was a strong message.
Making your bed has a different meaning for each of us. Some people won't come out of their bedroom without their bed being made. For them it is very important that making their bed is the first thing they do. For me, making my bed just falls into one of those tasks that needs to be done at some point in the morning. There is nothing going to happen in my world, like bed making, before I have coffee. Making my bed is part of a process that occurs at a random time in the morning. Once the process starts, it is like mania has set in and it all gets done. I make the bed, straighten the bedroom, polish the taps in the bathroom, put in a load of wash, do dishes, decide on what supper will consist of, and whatever other tasks that need to be done. I have another routine that trumps my morning routine. Every night, before I go to bed, I make sure the main living area is neat and tidy.
If you think about it, people that make their beds everyday are easy to pick out. Every time you see them, they are neat and organized. I worked with a nurse's aide and every moment of every day, she was neat, tidy, always in a good mood, and had amazing work ethics. She kept every patient room neat and the beds were always made. I heard her tell someone, in her personal life, that in the morning the last person out of their bed made it. This was one of their rules in their marriage and it obviously worked for her. Like the Admiral said, it encourages you to do another task and another.
I must admit there was a time where I didn't make my bed every day. It was usually when I was working nights and for some reason I enjoyed getting into a messy bed. The state of my head was all about getting some sleep. I have had a period in my life where I felt wild and reckless, and I rarely made my bed. It defined my independence at that time, of not following any rules. I am over all of that, and I have to say I enjoy a neat bedroom more than a sense of recklessness. It only takes a few minutes to make your bed, pick up your clothes, open the drapes and feel good about how your bedroom looks. If you can bring in new energy by opening the window it is just bonus.
A thought just crossed my mind since I am writing about making a bed. I know we have all seen those people out in public, often in Walmart, that are still in their sleep pants. They look like they have just gotten out of bed, thrown on a coat and boots and are now shopping. I feel it is doubtful they have taken the time to make their bed, before leaving. Maybe they are like me and plan to get right back into it.
I describe my bedroom as a sanctuary. I have rules that I follow to keep it in the state I want it to be. Rule #1: a bed should always be comfortable. Putting money into a mattress, good quality sheets and blankets is money well spent. My standard is, I want to feel like I am staying in a luxurious hotel every night. Rule#2: every guest room should follow #1 rule. I heard once that you should sleep in every bed in your house. That way you know what your beds feel like to your guests. I want my guests to lose themselves in the bed. Their comfort is important to me. I love to hear that my guests had the best sleep. When they sleep late, or they say they didn't want to get out of bed, it is a sign the bed was great. Rule#3: only put-up pictures of the people that sleep in that room. For some reason that I can't remember, your bedroom is not a place for a picture gallery of family. Rule#4: keep my bedroom calm and free of clutter. Clutter is never good for my mind, so certainly not something that is the first thing I see when I wake up. Rule#5: a bedroom should be one of the nicest rooms in your home. When you walk into your bedroom you should get a sense of calmness, not chaos. The state of your bedroom is the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning. Everything should have a place and be in its place. If there are clothes lying around, or the closet is too full, it's purge time. Rule #6: wash your sheets and turn your mattress often. There is simply nothing nicer than getting into a bed with fresh sheets, especially if they have been dried outside.
I have a spare bedroom, which means I have a spare bed. I have developed a 24-hour rule for that bed. I can use it for an area to put my latest purchases or things that need to be dealt with, but only for 24 hours. After that amount of time, I clear the bed off. The closet is the spot where most of the things go, the rest goes into the cupboards they belong in. My Bestie taught me a trick years ago. When she buys a gift, she puts it in the gift bag or wraps it. There it is, pretty with the card signed. There is no trying to find the gift or forgetting about it. It is right there all dressed up ready to go. My guest bedroom was once my "treatment room", so it was always organized. Now that the room is back to a bedroom. When I walk by it, I think to myself, I like the way it looks, I would like to sleep in there.
I am writing this post in my sanctuary. It is early, still dark out, I am drinking coffee, watching TV and writing all in my bed. I write the best in early morning, and often propped up with my pillows. I bet some of you are perplexed by that, but it works for me. I will make my bed later, as part of the process of tasks that I will do in a manic state.
A feeling of accomplishment is important for a sense of well-being. I have given up on changing the world. I am all about changing a wee part of it, but that is as good as it gets for me. I would love to have changed something within you as you finish reading this post. It might be as simple as making your bed. Sorting your clothes, buying a new bedspread and linens or even more radical in giving your bedroom a total overhaul. The new year will see a huge shift in my bedroom. I am going to get rid of the carpet, I am going to paint, and I am going to create another look. I had the same decorative items sitting around for years and I donated them to the Christmas store. They were meaningless to me and were only there to be dusted and fill the space on the dresser. What does the new year and your bedroom mean to you? Do you see yourself emptying every drawer, closet or space? What do the things in your bedroom mean to you? If you desire to wake up in a sanctuary, I hope this post has inspired you to create one. By making your bed, you may not change the world, but you can change your world.
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