Like many people, I need to make my bed to start my day. This is not for everybody. Many people believe in ​“why bother,” when they are just going to get back into it when it’s time to sleep. Also, there are studies that support unmade beds, allowing them to air out. Proper hygiene is important.

I first remember making my (bunk) bed in summer camp. I didn’t want to let my bunk mates down because we got good marks and received rewards for making our beds. In my family’s tiny apartment, my Castro convertible bed was very easy to make and put away. And when I finally got my own room and my own bed, my mother was so eager to start her day, she sometimes made the bed with me in it. And when I lived in a studio apartment, a made bed was a nice welcome when I came home. 

Make Your Bed by William McRaven, a former Navy Seal, never underestimates the reward of a small task completed. It’s easy for me to make my bed and a reminder that I have some control, especially in a time where I am feeling confused about everything swirling around me.