It's Never Too Late to Make Your Bed

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When I was in high school, nearly every morning before I took off for school, my dad always, without fail, told me to “pull up” my bed. I can’t even express how much this annoyed me. To the point that I would get pissed. It’s not that I didn’t want to make my bed. But merely the fact that I was always running late and rushing to get out the door. I didn’t have time! But he always said it only takes 30 seconds. But time was beside the point. What high schooler, that is scrambling to get out the door and get to school before the bell, thinks about making their bed? Like that ever crossed my mind at 7:45 in the morning as I was cramming Cheerios down my throat and throwing make-up onto my face. Oh, and so you know, the difference between “pulling up your bed” and “making your bed” is pillows. “Pulling up” doesn’t require the assembly of pillows. So, I’d always ask him, “Why bother pulling up the comforter if your not going to put on the pillows?” He would just say that a pulled up bed looks nicer than an explosion of comforter and sheets. I got what he meant, but still, it just wasn’t something I’d think about. But almost everyday, I’d return home to a pulled up bed. And it usually wasn’t me that had pulled it up. I’d just shake my head and roll my eyes.

The interesting thing, however, is that when I went down to school as a freshman, I always made my bed in the dorms. And when I moved into my own place down there, I continued to make my bed. And even now, living back at home with my parents, everyday, I make my bed. Sure, there are days here and there where I’ll take off for work without performing this morning ritual. And I’ll return home and still not make it. But, I’ve come to realize that having a made bed makes me feel lighter. Maybe because once it’s made, the room looks a hundred times better. Maybe because it’s something I can control the outcome of. I’m a good bed-maker. I know that if I make my bed, it’s going to look very nice.

The other day, I got home from work, ate lunch and moseyed into my room. My bed was in shambles, so I began pulling it up. As I reached for all the decorative pillows, I glanced at the clock. It was about 3:00pm. What in the world is the point in making a bed more than halfway through the day?

It makes you feel better.

Even though you’re just going to messy it up again in a few hours?

Yes.

It’s never too late in the day to make your bed.