I Made My Bed Every Day for 2 Weeks—Here's What Happened

Confession: I used to hate making my bed. Since I live on the West Coast—and the bulk of my clients are based on the East Coast—I wake up a couple of hours before my live-in partner. That is if I don’t hit the snooze button more times than normal. I mean, I’m human.

By the time my boyfriend is up and out of bed, I’m already on my second cup of coffee, laser-focused on my to-do list, and have zero interest in making the bed. More times than not, we stare at our messy mattress all day and finally make the bed right before we go to sleep.

Making the bed doesn’t fit conveniently into my schedule, but it has its perks. Many bestselling books claim this simple chore can increase your productivity and decrease your stress.

“Prepping your bedtime routine in the morning is the utmost example of self-care and breeds more healthy self-care habits,” Eileen Mockus, President and CEO of organic bedding brand Coyuchi, says. “The importance of sleep starts in the morning. If you make your bed in the morning, your bedtime routine has already begun, and you are more likely to be set up for a proper night’s sleep.” 

Since I’m always looking to be a more productive, more chill version of myself, I was curious to see if this task lives up to the hype. So, I promised to make the bed every morning for two weeks and asked my boyfriend to do the same. While I can’t say making my bed has single-handedly improved my productivity—I’m lucky to not work from my bed day after day—it has changed how I feel about my home.

As a freelance journalist, I’m always working on multiple projects at once, and there’s something about juggling a long to-do list and a messy house that really stresses me out. I mean, there’s a reason why one of the first things I do each morning is reload the dishwasher. If I’m feeling really overwhelmed in the middle of the day, spending a few minutes to vacuum the living room or wipe down the kitchen counters calms me down.

While I knew how much the state of my living room, dining room, and kitchen impacted my stress levels, I never realized that my bedroom was also a major factor. However, when I started this challenge, I noticed that my mood would change whenever I walked into my bedroom. No knee-jerk reaction to tackle a bunch of chores. No looming dread. I just felt like my bedroom was my happy place—something I haven’t experienced since San Francisco issued its shelter-in-place order in March of 2020. 

Not only has making my bed each morning made my home appear more put-together, but it also makes me feel like myself again: someone with things to do, people to see, and places to go that require wearing real pants. It’s almost as if removing the visual chaos of crumpled sheets got rid of any mental clutter, too. And, once nighttime rolls around, my boyfriend and I can focus less on our bedding and more on relaxing. As it should be, right?

I used to think making your bed had to be a big production, complete with throw pillows and a blanket nonchalantly draped over our mattress. But, according to Mockus, it really doesn’t have to be.

“Similar to the way each individual chooses their clothes, everyone likes something different from their sheets and bedding,” she explains. “When you have quality bedding that gives your bed a look that you love, you will be motivated to give your bedroom a facelift each morning.” 

It’s been over two weeks since I started to religiously make my bed—and I’m determined to make this habit stick. In fact, on those days when my boyfriend and I both forget to make the bed in the morning, I’ll make it a point to go back into the bedroom and pick up the slack. I never wanted to make the bed before, but after realizing how transformative it can be, it’s a chore I’ll happily do.