5 Habits People Who Make the Bed Every Morning Tend to Have
Making your bed each morning is one of the simplest ways to reset your space and start the day with a small sense of accomplishment. It takes just a couple of minutes, but if you’re someone who never leaves home without doing it, psychologists and professional organizers suggest it may be part of a wider pattern of habits that help keep your home feeling more under control.
From resetting small messes before they grow to creating consistent routines, these habits can all contribute to a more structured start to the day. Together, they can make your home feel calmer and help reduce the sense of stress that can build up around everyday chores.
Here, psychologists and professional organizers explain why making the bed every day can signify more than a tidy sleep space, and the simple habits you can adopt to create a calmer, more organized start to each morning.
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Moriah O’Barr, Licensed Psychologist and Co-Clinical Director of Cultivating Courage Psychological Services, begins, ‘Routines are super powerful.’
They create predictability, which makes us feel safe. ‘They also signal to our mind and body that we’re preparing for something,’ she adds. ‘The routine of making your bed in the morning signals that you are getting ready to start the day, move into family, work, or student mode, and that you are transitioning from rest to active.’
Jill Katz, Certified Professional Organizer and Founder of One to Zen Organizing, agrees. ‘Making your bed in the morning shows that you have developed a morning routine,’ she shares. ‘People with morning routines are more productive since they are setting the tone for the entire day.
‘When you go through a morning routine, you are taking the time to wake up and prep so you are ready to face the day. When your routine is complete, you are announcing to yourself and the world, “I am ready to take on my tasks for the day.”‘
With that in mind, these are the other habits of highly organized homeowners:
1. They Reset Small Messes Before They Grow
Don’t let clutter accumulate.
(Image credit: Alice Lane Interior Design / Photography Nicole Hill Gerulat)
It’s easy to let small messes grow. A spill here, a pile of papers there, and suddenly you’re left needing to deep-clean your house once again.
In contrast, ‘Many people who consistently make their bed are generally inclined to adopt an attitude of “do not allow things to build up”,’ says Dr. Amy Fitzpatrick, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Bedrock Recovery Centre, who focuses on preventive medicine and behavioral health, helping people build simple daily habits that support long-term well-being.
‘This means they are more likely to clean a few dishes, fold a blanket, or even put things back in order, as these smaller resets will prevent the accumulation of clutter, which can be mentally overwhelming.’
Moreover, allowing mess and clutter to accumulate is undoubtedly one of the things people with tidy homes never do. Just make sure to find the right cleaning balance in your home to prevent things going too far the other way.
Keep a cleaning caddy on hand (IKEA’s PEPPRIG Cleaning Bucket and Caddy is perfect for this) and store cleaning supplies to maximize efficiency.
2. They Create Consistent Daily Routines
Routines create structure.
(Image credit: Future PLC / Joanna Henderson)
‘Making beds is often part of a typical morning routine,’ says Stacy Sheller, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at The Grove Recovery Community. ‘People who like to follow routines also have regular habits for things like meals, exercise, planning their day, or getting ready for bedtime.
‘Consistent routines reduce fatigue involved in making decisions and provide structure. That structure makes it easier to maintain healthy habits over time.’
This same discipline also extends into having a consistent deep cleaning schedule and an achievable cleaning and laundry routine. If you find it easier to keep on top of things with a visual reminder, use a Magnetic Wet/Dry-Erase Blackboard (available at Amazon) on your fridge.
3. They Focus on Progress Instead of Perfection
Don’t concern yourself with the ‘best’; simply being ‘better’ is enough.
(Image credit: James Merrell)
Similarly, maintaining your bed as a tidy space also demonstrates an understanding of developing consistent habits, rather than perfecting them, adds Stacey.
‘It’s been proven to assist in building an individual’s ability to take on larger responsibilities,’ she shares. ‘Many people find maintaining their daily routines helps build confidence through their ability to succeed at smaller tasks each day.’
Keeping up with your positive habits is also an easy way to break any bad home habits. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, available at Amazon, focuses on making tiny changes with remarkable results.
4. They Finish Small Tasks Instead of Postponing Them
Tackle small tasks as soon as they arise.
(Image credit: Future)
If you’ve heard of the ‘one touch’ tidying rule, you’ll know the power of dealing with tasks as soon as they arise, rather than putting them off. In fact, it’s one of the things organized people do every day.
‘The act of making the bed is one example of doing the simplest things first,’ says Dr. Amy. ‘It becomes a routine, and those habits generally will follow through with all the other housekeeping duties you may need to complete each week.
‘As an end result of this routine, it’s less mentally taxing when there isn’t anything left undone around the house.’
And, if you really don’t have time or energy, pop any mislaid items into a catch-all basket to keep them all in one place to sort as soon as you can.
5. They Create Spaces That Support Their Well-Being
Your house should feel like a comforting home.
(Image credit: That Home Studio)
Finally, shares Stacey, ‘People who tend to make their beds typically view their homes as places where they can find comfort and stability. Their focus on developing relaxing environments in addition to establishing the regularity of a daily routine could reflect this perspective.
‘The goal for people who want to have a good home isn’t to have a “perfect” house or space. Instead, it is to develop a space that has a sense of welcomingness; functionality; and will provide support and encouragement for living through each day.’
Small touches like adding one of your best candles to a space go far in making a home feel welcoming. For example, the Posie Woody Sandalwood Vanilla Glass Candle, available at Anthropologie, also adds a pop of color with a stylish glass vessel.
What to Shop
If you’re feeling inspired to make making the bed part of your daily routine, I’ve rounded up some favorites for building healthy home habits and creating a space that supports your well-being below.
Meet the Experts
Moriah is a Licensed Psychologist and Co-Clinical Director of Cultivating Courage Psychological Services. She helps clients, especially high-achieving women, evaluate and empower the habits and routines that support a healthy, balanced life.
Dr. Amy Fitzpatrick is a Chief Medical Officer. In her work, she focuses on preventive medicine and behavioral health, helping people build simple daily habits that support long-term well-being.
Stacey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She helps individuals and families build healthy routines, reduce stress, and create habits that support emotional well-being.
Have you heard of monastic bed making? This popular bedding trend is a minimalist approach.
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