Experts say: this is why you should always make your bed
There are a bit two camps: you have team ‘I make my bed every morning’, and team ‘why should I do that, I'm just going to crawl back in tonight’. The latter is of course not a crazy thought, but according to experts it is better to join group one. A made bed has several benefits for your (mental) health and even for your love life.
You become more productive
“Change the world, make your bed.” These are the words of American ex-admiral William H. McRaven. It may sound a bit exaggerated, but it’s really about starting your day with a productive mindset. “If you make your bed every morning, you have completed the first task of the day. It gives you a small sense of pride and encourages you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day, that one completed task will have turned into many completed tasks.” A case of ‘a good start is half the battle’ therefore.
It reduces stress
A chaos in your bedroom creates chaos in your mind. I'm not just talking about the mountains of clothes that make your floor almost invisible, but also about those blankets that are still all crumpled at the end of your bed. Research shows that this feeling of stress negatively affects your mental health, concentration, and social relationships. By neatly making your bed in the morning, you leave the house with a much more satisfied and calmer feeling, according to sleep expert Irma Leijten. And with a busy to-do list at work, it’s nice to avoid all other (unnecessary) stress as much as possible.
You sleep better
A study by the American National Sleep Foundation shows that people who make their bed have a 19 percent chance of sleeping better. You no longer have to worry about having to tidy up first, but can leave the day behind and relax under the covers; which in turn ensures that you wake up more energized. That tidy feeling in your head not only helps you start the day more calmly, but also helps you end it that way.
It improves your sex life
Especially when you first visit a (potential) new partner's home, you look for as many hints as possible that can say something about whether the other person is a good match for you. Conversely, it works exactly the same way. One of the dealbreakers is therefore also hidden in whether or not the sleeping place is made. According to a survey by the international research agency OnePoll, commissioned by the mattress brand Sleepopolis, a messy bed is a huge turn-off. People who take a moment in the morning to neatly arrange the blankets are therefore more likely sex than those who do not. So maybe it’s time to make some space in your morning routine.
Source: Women’s Health (Australia) & Lake Granbury Medical Center
