I made my bed today

In 2014, the commander of U. S. Special Operations at the time gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin. He said:

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another… By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.

I used to make my bed prior to meeting my husband for this very reason. Then I read something about dust mites and dead skin cells contributing to asthma and allergy problems so I infrequently made it.

Years later, my husband insisted on me making the bed in the morning if I were the last one out. We compromised that for the dust mite problem, I made the bed after I got ready to allow the bed to air out.

I started reflecting on the lessons that I learned from making my bed especially during this pandemic where our schedules and days seem to blend into each other. Making the bed ensured a task had in fact been completed.

Thankfully the concept of working from home hadn't been foreign to my team but a made bed makes me proud and comforted when I tuck in at night.

I’ve read that making your bed also causes your stress level to decrease. It seems like keeping an organized space also encourages an organized mind and life. Besides being organized, your place appears tidy and clean. Which reminds me that while growing up, my mom and grandmother would always say:

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

If anyone would come over, we ensured our kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms were tidy.