Why Making Your Bed Will Make You Happier

It’s starting to come up as one of those must-dos in today’s self-help world. I read about the benefits of making your bed every morning in ‘Tools of Titans’ by Tim Ferriss, which is as self-help as it gets. But is there truth to this new age (and yet age old) adage?

Whether or not this is news to you, the answer is yes. Making your bed first thing in the morning will make you happier, and here is why.

1. It gets you straight out of your head and into your body.

By getting out of bed to engage in the activity of folding sheets and fluffing pillows, you are doing something with your hands. And in doing something with your hands, you are entering a state of mindfulness. And what does it mean to be mindful? Less fear, less anxiety.

2. It gives you something to do OTHER THAN checking your phone.

Let’s face it: you open your eyes in the morning, roll over to one side to check the time on your phone. Before you know it, 30 minutes have gone by and you know exactly what 100 people in your larger social circle have been up to in the last 24 hours.

Avoid the entirety of the above pattern, and you might just roll out of bed as a more present, less stressed version of yourself.

3. It makes you feel accomplished.

Some days, you want nothing more than to stay in bed through the morning and perhaps the entire day.

But we really tend to overlook the importance of doing things that trigger that sense of accomplishment in us. That sense of satisfaction at having completed something, no matter how small, can do wonders for our mental health.

Maybe what you need is a little kick of dopamine to get you going, achieved by 30 seconds of putting your cushions back in place.

4. It gives you a sense of calm.

And how so? While the research may not directly link the making of one’s bed to a calmer mood, it definitely does have something to say about the effects of having a clean and organized space. Having a neatly made bed in the morning will automatically make your living space look tidier on the whole. That will inevitably reduce that sense of mental and physical clutter. And what does that point to? A calmer you.

5. It creates a snowball effect of happy brain hormones.

As we talked about earlier, making your bed first thing can trigger that sense of achievement in our brains. That little aforementioned kick of dopamine has been proven to increase focus, concentration, and creativity. Take out a minute or two to make your bed, and WHO KNOWS what more goodness you could get done that day!

Try it for yourself, and slowly make it a habit. Maybe a little straightening of your sheets is just the pill you needed.