How making my bed got me through lockdown…and beyond
Do you make your bed in the morning?
For me it was always a “depends on my mood” situation… sometimes I would, sometimes not. I never gave it much thought and was certainly never present when completing this seemingly basic task.
That changed last summer, just after the first lockdown hit and we all found our daily lives disrupted in a way we had never known before.
At the time I was working as Head of Customer Service in a global engineering company. I felt lucky in many ways. The company continued to trade, my job was safe, and as I sent my whole team to work from home I continued with much of my work routine heading in to the office each day, a sense of normality continued.
Except. it wasn’t normal. The office was quiet, the evenings were long, it was difficult to stay motivated and continue my self development, apathy started creeping in.
This is when I started to learn about routines, and the importance of keystone habits that can shape our lives and that we can fall back on when times are tough. I threw myself into this idea, setting morning and evening routines based on some of the practices of the inspiration people in my podcast and kindle libraries filling my information diet. A morning routine is helpful to set the right tone for the day, and my evening routine helps to reflect, switch off and ensure I recharge.
The morning routine I followed at this time was that of Tim Ferriss, a routine he says helps to maximise his productivity and also boost his positive wellbeing. It consists of:
Making his bed
Meditating
Writing in his journal
Drinking tea and a small breakfast
Exercise
During the first lockdown I followed this routine pretty much to the word, I definitely saw the benefits that Ferriss describes; my motivation increased, my self confidence improved as I practiced gratitude and found flow with exercise.
Over time I have adapted my morning routine to tasks that feel more natural to me and what I need on an individual day. There are honestly some days when my routine is missed, but I know that when I am feeling low this routine is a super positive habit to turn to and reset.
One thing I have not dropped is the intentional bed making. Why? Making your bed seems like such a mundane, unimportant task. No-one will see it, what does it matter? Here’s what I learned about why it matters…
You start the day right. We can begin our day with the positive mindset of taking control, completing an early task, and approaching each moment in the correct way.
It can be a great setting for a grounding exercise to practice some informal mindfulness. You may not even notice you’re practicing mindfulness, I certainly didn’t until I reflected later. Connect intentionally to the mental and physical aspect, let thoughts come and go as the covers settle.
It promotes self discipline and pride doing something well just for yourself
It brings a smile to see an ordered bed when you get home and get in bed to recharge.
"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." - Naval Admiral William McRaven.
Raising my awareness of simple tasks like making my bed and having keystone habits has played a major part in my self development, and is something I know I can always return my attention to when I need a lift in any area of my life.
What are your daily habits? I’d love to know the benefits they bring you…
