Photo by Christopher Jolly on Unsplash

Do This One Thing Everyday.

I’ve spent the past 10+ years helping people reduce clutter so they can live a simpler and more organized life. It’s a topic I’m passionate about, and as a result, have been putting my own advice to the test for decades.

If I am being really honest, pandemic life has really taken a toll on my mood and motivation.

Where I used to be up and out early, I now find myself sleeping later, staying in sweats longer, and most days my energy level is maxing out at a solid 70%. As a result, I’ve had to become super intentional about practicing what I preach.

When our daily routines are turned on their axis, it impacts all aspects of our lives. From working at home, to virtual learning, it’s easy to understand why people are finding themselves in a mental rut. When that happens, it’s our physical space that often pays the price.

If you find yourself procrastinating on mundane tasks or simple daily activities, this one small habit can make a huge difference in your mood.

Make the Bed Every Morning.

I know you’ve heard it all before, but it’s worth repeating. The simple act of making the bed every morning does these 5 things:

1. Creates a Habit. Getting into a routine is the first step in combating procrastination. Doing the same act day in, day out, builds mental muscle memory and gives your brain an action step to start the day.
2. Sets the Tone. Typically, people are either bed makers or not. If you subscribe to the “what’s the point? I’m just going to get back into it at the end of the day” mentality, then you’re going to want to lean in: Whether you are the only person that is going to see your bed or not is not the point. It’s about creating a start and an end to your day. Especially now, when everyday feels like groundhogs day, taking the extra step to making the distinction between yesterday and tomorrow is important for our mental well-being.
3. Increases Productivity. Once you complete one task successfully, it snowballs into bigger wins. In an era where we don’t have to wear pants to work, it’s easy to fall into a rut. I am here to tell you that checking “made bed” off of your to-do list, is the first step in creating a productive day.
4. Teaches Life Skills. This is especially important if you have kids at home. Teaching them to have respect, and take care of their surroundings is a rule in our home. As a parent, leading by example is the most powerful way to get through to your kids. Even if they fight you on it now, they will one day appreciate the boundaries and expectations you placed on them.
5. Provides a Quick Win. Even if the rest of the day is filled with one headache after another, and nothing else on your to-do list goes as planned, you can go to bed knowing that you started off on the right foot.

Author Charles Duhigg calls making your bed a “keystone habit” in his bestseller, “The Power of Habit”: “Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget.”

In other words, don’t underestimate the power of a small habit, it often leads to bigger things.

Laurie Palau is the author of the book HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized and host of the weekly podcast This ORGANIZED Life. For additional information visit www.simplyBorganized.com