What’s your post-wake up routine? Do you make your bed immediately? Maybe throw the comforter up and call it good? Perhaps you go the other direction, dedicating yourself to tightly tucked sheets and perfectly fluffed pillows? And what about the timing of this exercise? Do you do it soon after waking up? Or do you wait a while? I recently heard Michael Cazayoux discussing his morning routine on a Girls Gone Wod podcast episode and it got me to thinking about my own habits (ps. LOVE their podcast). Making my bed each morning is important to me.
By why?
The answer is simple; making the bed sets the tone for my day.
Before I had a baby, making my bed was part of my routine. As someone who works from home, my hubs would go off to work, and I would have the morning to ease into my day; coffee or tea, a few minutes of yoga, dressing for the day, followed by tiding up the room and making the bed. Like clockwork, that was how I began each day. Then it was time for breakfast and to settle into the home office. Needless to say, I enjoyed easing into my day with a bit of structure and quiet time.
Then I had a baby.
My peaceful morning routine went OUT the window! My new routine was far more gratifying. Feeding and snuggling my new babe, followed often by him napping on me was everything I could have hoped for. That’s not to say, however, that I didn’t miss commencing my day at a leisurely pace. The morning scramble was an adjustment, and the new mommy juggling act of feeding myself and the babe required some tinkering. Household chores, working out, and even showering became unknown variables. But that was reality, and my baby made it all worth it.
The only piece of my previous routine I held onto each morning was making my bed. Making my bed became the routine.
So why did making my bed trump other enlivening activities like washing my face, doing yoga, or a number of other activities?
Making my bed makes me feel good – plain and simple. It brings a sense of accomplishment to the start of my day that, albeit small, is very visible. While washing my face and doing yoga would also feel good in the moment, passing by a made bed throughout the day helps me to feel organized, orderly, and on top of my game (hah!).
After all, my bedroom is my personal retreat. I worked hard to create a space that feels good to me. I created a vision board of what I wanted the room to look and feel like. It’s light but warm, colorful, and always inviting to me. And oh by the way, I love getting into a made bed! While the rest of my house may have toys, wooden spoons, and a million little socks poking out of every nuke and cranny, my bed is tidy and ready for me to rest whenever I get the next opportunity 😉
Eventually, I know that my son will be able to reach the bed and he’ll set about staking his claim to it. But for now, I enjoy starting my day off with a small yet satisfying accomplishment.
