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It's crazy to think that a habit as simple as making your bed could lead to increased happiness, boosted productivity and fewer household arguments about cleanliness and chores.
But according to experts, that's exactly what making your bed can do. Plus, there's the added bonus of having a beautiful, organized bedroom, and the satisfaction of knowing you made it look that way. Need further convincing? Here are seven additional good reasons to make your bed -- today.
1. You'll feel like you got a better night's sleep.
People who make their beds every day or almost every day are more likely to say they get a good night's sleep than those who do not, according to a 2010 survey from the National Sleep Foundation. Forty-four percent of bed makers say they get a good night's sleep every night or almost every night, while only 37 percent of non-bed makers can say the same.
2. And it probably makes you happier overall.
Gretchen Rubin, author of the best-selling book The Happiness Project, says that when she surveyed people who made the leap to total happiness, they cited making their bed as one of the top habits that got them there. "For most people, outer order contributes to inner calm," Rubin wrote on her website. "[It's] a step that’s quick and easy, yet makes a big difference."
3. It's a "small win" that sets you up to conquer your day.
Making the bed could help make you feel happy because it's a small triumph that gives you the sense you're already dominating the day, while simultaneously preparing you to dominate even bigger struggles later. "If you’re feeling overwhelmed, picking one little task to improve your situation -- and doing it regularly -- can help you regain a sense of self-mastery," Rubin writes. "Making your bed is a good place to start, and tackling one easy daily step is a good way to energize yourself for tougher situations."
4. Plus, it makes your life feel more like Pinterest.
Chances are slim that you'll actually weave your hair into a topknot, DIY a lacquered bookshelf or make that quinoa fried rice today. But that perfect bed look from Pinterest? Totally achievable in a matter of minutes.
5. Making your bed could help you stick to your budget or workout schedule.
It's a keystone habit that paves the way for other good habits to form, Charles Duhigg writes in his book The Power of Habit. While making your bed might not cause better budgeting skills, it could make it easier for that habit to take hold. "Loads of research shows that when we focus on one small area of improvement -- standing up straighter, or watching a bit less TV, or meditating a few minutes a day -- the improvement spills over," sociologist Christine Carter writes on her blog. "It's a meaningful habit."
6. And it inspires your roommates, spouse or kids to get their sh*t together, too.
People who have tried a make-your-bed-every-day challenge note that having an ordered bedroom inspired them to pick up extra clutter around the house, encourage their kids to clean their rooms and talk with their spouses about keeping things tidy.
7. A made bed helps you power down at night.
We know that staying away from phones and laptops before bed is key for restful sleep. And if your bed is made, you may be less likely to use it as a workspace or entertainment center. "When treating people for insomnia, we encourage them to use the bed only for sleep and intimacy," Kelly Glazer Baron, a neurology expert at Northwestern University, told The Huffington Post. "Someone who gets out of the bed and makes it may be less likely to lay around and watch TV or play on their electronic devices."
And if powering down at night leads to more sleep, then you feel like a better version of yourself, indeed.