If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed
Admiral McRaven
Start the day with a simple and easy task – make your bed.
When I was younger, I ignored the command “make your bed” as many times as I was told to do it. I didn’t need to because I’m going to sleep in it later anyway. It was pointless.
But the point isn’t to prepare you for sleep at night. It’s to prepare you for the rest of the day.
Making your bed is easy. It takes a minute to do, it can be done every day and you’ll always have a reason to do it.
It is the perfect way to get started with changing bad habits and encouraging good ones.
I say this because it teaches us a lot about how habits are created and maintained. Habits require a trigger (a messy bed), a routine (making the bed) and a reward (first task of the day accomplished and a neater room).
It also gives us a small sense of pride. You can say ‘I’ve accomplished something today’ before you’ve brushed your teeth. Since it was so easy, you might be encouraged to complete other tasks such as cleaning your desk or open the book you’ve been meaning to read.
Should you have a bad day, a made bed can offer some calmness. Maybe you haven’t accomplished the things you wanted or something has bothered you. You’ve made your bed. It’s a small victory but one you can appreciate.
If we don’t appreciate the small things in our day, the bigger moments may pass by unnoticed.
Start the day simply and make your bed.
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