When I heard Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project, speak in January at Alt Summit, a few things stuck with me, but the major idea was to make my bed. It seems silly, but she firmly believes that ‘outer order contributes to inner calm’.
I think about this all of the time when I’m making my own bed and how it quite truly makes me happy. It actually does leave me with an inner feeling of calm. My house automatically feels cleaner, and I leave for the day feeling accomplished at 7am (which is a great day already).
BUT while I was researching for this post, I found an article published by BBC News quoting a Kingston University study that suggests making your bed may not be such a good idea. The study claims that making your bed can trap moisture and warmth – an idea environment for dustmites and bedbugs to thrive, while an unmade bed helps the pests to die.
So this has me thinking (this beautiful Thursday morning)… Which route do you take? Are you a bed maker or do you leave it unkempt? Do you think you might take the other route now?
Let me know!
Have a TERRIFIC Thursday out there!
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it makes me happy to come home to a clean bedroom, but more times than not the bed goes unmade. i guess i can take comfort in messy sheets now though
your blog is too cute, by the way!
I’m a true believer of making my bed. IT’s the first thing I do in the morning!
It terrifies me to attract bed bugs!!!!
I know! We had a minor scare the other night, but it turns out a mosquito must have just been caught in my husbands pants! haha!
In Switzerland where I grew up its tradition to open your windows first thing in the morning and hang your duvet out the window while taking a shower. Summer or winter this guarantees your room and bedding is aired out and in winter it gives you quite a fresh start to the day. I should really start that tradition again – aired out sheets smell so good!
I LOVE this tradition, Giulia!! In my future home, I want to put in swing-open windows like a lot of european homes so that I can just let in the fresh air!
Eeek… I’ll just pretend I didn’t see that bedbug stuff.
We try to make our bed every morning. The “rule” is that the last person out of bed has to do it. It makes getting into bed at night that much better.
Just started The Happiness Project. Very excited to read more tonight!
Wow! I have to say, I’m kind of grossed out about this bed bug, germs thing now.
Right now I wish I made my bed every day (before reading this) – my husband sleeps in later than I do, and I’m out of the house most mornings before he’s up (he just graduated from law school and has the summer off until his new job starts). Getting him to make the bed is hopeless…and I have pretty much given up on that.
It’s rare that our bed gets made. I always wonder what’s the point since we’re just going to get back in it and mess it up again. I’m so happy to see the article that justifies my laziness!
I would make the bed every day… but most weekdays I am the first one out of bed and my husband will NEVER make it! This was honestly one of my favorite ‘routines’ when I was home on maternity leave. I love climbing into a freshly made bed – especially if the sheets are freshly washed!
I agree – there are even other studies that suggest that the scent of freshly washed sheets (and consequently the satisfied feeling of washed sheets) helps people to sleep!
I’m a bed maker but my husband is not so my solution here is quite simple: when I leave the bed first, it won’t get made; when I leave it last, it is!
Emily
Emily – we have a very similar pattern!
Unkempt all the way, but my mind would probably feel much more organized if I made it.
I want to be a bed maker so so bad! What usually happens is I get into my unmade bed at the end of the day, get so frustrated that the sheets are all crumpled, then plea with my husband to get up and make it so that I can fall asleep. Pathetic, right??
http://projecttrophywife.blogspot.com
Eeew, I don’t want to attract bugs…but I almost ALWAYS make my bed. Like you, it helps me prepare for the day, and when I walk into my room, later in the day, on a day that I did not make my bed, I feel disorganized and messy.
Ha! I love this. My husband and i both never make the bed. ever. I am very OCD about the rest of our house being spotless (except my desk…) but the bed is a always a big mess of blankets and pillows. That said, there is nothing I love more than getting in to a freshly made hotel bed, go figure!
Kate
http://www.theforgetfulwife.com
I love a made bed sooo much that a) my boyfriend has been known to make it just because he knows it makes me happy and b) if it’s not made when I get home from work, I make it then! It clears my mind, makes the room look nice, and it’s nicer to get into a made bad at the end of the day. We also have brown sheets and a white kitty so….
If I had someone to do it, I would have clean sheets on the bed everyday! But since I don’t I am in the habit of throwing the blankets back when I get up, make the bed before I leave in the morning and I do try and change the pillowcases a couple times a week for the freshness. But a made bed is a MUST!
Blech! Bed bugs! Oh man you just scared the crap out of me. We always make the bed but maybe we shouldn’t????
So glad to know that my “strategy” of making the bed in the evening before getting into it has a function!
So glad to know that my “strategy” of making the bed before getting into it a night has a purpose!
I just started reading The Happiness Project and have been consciously making the bed every morning to help me feel more productive. Not sure if it has been effective yet but I’ve always felt making my bed makes my room feel instantly put together!
After having to make the bed every morning in our condo while it was for sale, we decided it was a good habit we would keep up in the house. That has not happened at all! Probably because I’m the last one out of bed and my husband’s the bed maker. It does get made on the weekends, though, when he sleeps in later.
It must be subconsciously protecting myself – I am pretty allergic to dust and dust mites!
One of my sons friends when he was little said, “Yes, I make my bed, at night when I go to sleep.”
I admit to being the bed making captain around here. I confess, my ship feels “righter” with all beds made.
pve
I have not made my bed since I was in 2nd grade. I honestly don’t even think I know how to anymore! I blame muscle memory deterioration…
I’m a little bit of both, I air it while I get ready and then make it just before I leave but often I’m late so I skip the last step!
My husband and I have the best of both worlds. We put the pillows in order etc but fold the duvet back over itself towards the end of the bed. That way it still looks neat and ‘made’ but also airs th bed!x
Claire.x
I am a fan of the folded down, yet made, bed…I make it then fold it in half so it airs out…I also use a linen spray that has lavender {a lot}, eucalyptus {a little} and tea tree {a little} essential oils in distilled water…It makes everything smell super fresh and those oils deter bugs, etc. It has helped raise my happiness quotient immeasurably. Small good, healthy habits of self care have changed my life…
Sweet blog you have! {sounds a wee bit like Yoda…}
Hello Erin: just discovered your blog, nice Sunday reading stuff. I had read about that university research and was really happy then… since I do not make my bed in the AM, I want it to air. But I do make it at night, just before going to bed
Living single! I often say that I wish to be like Oprah and have clean sheets every other day… but no time for that…
Have a nice Sunday! Hello from Montreal.