I haven’t been making my bed.
This is the habit I’ve had since day one of this process. I read in How Not to be a Messy (one of the millions of books I’ve read about changing my slobbish ways) that if you don’t make your bed, you’re not actually serious about changing. If you keep up with all of the “why make it when I’m just going to get right back in and mess it up” excuses, you really don’t get it.
I think she was definitely right. There is something about having a made bed. It looks pretty and it feels nice when you get in at night.
And besides, it’s one of those things “normal” people think is a given.
There really is something about automatically making your bed as soon as you get up. It starts your day in a “I’m not a total slob” mode. It’s a lot more natural to go straight to the kitchen to empty the dishwasher after making your bed than it is after dragging yourself in there with your eyes still closed and a pillowcase stuck on the bottom of your foot.
But while good habits are hard to form, they are ever-so-easy to break. I thought it had become automatic to make my bed, but evidently it hadn’t. As the Christmas vacation loosi–goosiness went on and the house became more and more chaotic, I started to head for the coffee pot without ever thinking about comforters or pretty pillows. I was losing my focus.
So today is still vacation, but a little more normal than last week. I got up and made my bed. I emptied the dishwasher and cleaned the kitchen until it was actually pretty instead of just not-disgusting.
I did quite a few other cleaning tasks, and my house looks much better. I’m definitely not up to where I should be with the daily tasks, but I’m getting there.
My husband is one of those “normal” people that just automatically makes his bed and gets really frustrated that me and a lot of my kids just aren’t like that. He tries to be patient with us but sometimes it comes out. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to consciously think about it.
I’m starting my journey today 🙂 From making my bad, of course 😉
Actually I DO make my bed – as a rule. But I didn’t do it properly – when you have a dog jumping and playing on your bed, you need something special 😉
Please, please DON’T make your bed as soon as you get up. It needs to air; we sweat a lot overnight.
If you feel it’s a big deal, just fold down the duvet neatly when you get up and fold it up again at least an hour later, or when you go to bed.
Yes, I believe the bed needs to be aired out. So I neatly fold the covers down so it looks neat, and it airs out. Body oils, sweat, etc. need to dry and evaporate.
I’ve heard that too, about airing the bed out. I normally leave everything crumpled up until I can come back about mid morning and make it up properly. Which is disheartening, seeing the messy bed, but I do make it at some point during the day. That’s a good idea about folding the covers back neatly until it’s time to make it up properly. I am going to start doing that right away.