“The way you start your day dictates how the rest of your day will go,” said Laura Caribe (‘25), an Appleby dorm resident whose bed is decorated with fluffy animal plushies, soft silky sheets, and a mattress she often compares to a cloud.
For many people, their bed is their sanctuary. It is a safe place you can always return to after a day endured or enjoyed. The action of making your bed itself is a small habit that has the potential to change your day for the better. Studies find that those who regularly make their bed, increase the likelihood of getting a good night’s sleep by 19%. Yet many realize the importance of this small habit far too late in their lives. Here are some tips that can help you get on track.
First, get out of bed. This may seem obvious, but for many, this is the most challenging step. After all, we all have those mornings where we dread the anticipated sound of our alarm and convince ourselves we have time to crunch just a couple more minutes of sleep. You hit the snooze button and maybe hit it a couple more times. When you finally decide to wake up, you still feel tired despite those extra minutes of sleep.
To prevent this, you must wake up earlier than usual to give yourself more time to prepare for your day ahead. By waking up earlier, you allow yourself to slow down when making your bed and finishing up whatever you need to get done.
Once you are out of bed, you can begin the process of making your bed. Begin by removing any pillows from your bed that may get in the way. After this, you can smooth out your sheets and blankets, so they are evenly spread across your bed. Once you finish spreading your blanket, you can then place your pillows neatly on top.
“Even though it seems like a such a small task, your room looks completely different after,” Laura said.
What is most important is that you practice making your bed each morning. What begins as a small task to start your day accumulates into a morning that sets you up for success. So, decorate your bed to create your own sanctuary, add plushies, sheets you love, and watch as your space becomes clean and productive.
