It's more than just making my bed everyday
Every day, without fail, I make my bed. I learned this several years ago. First thing in the morning, I make my bed. In recent years, I heard about it this habit from a commencement day speech from Admiral William H. McRaven. He also now has an easy to read small book with the title "Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe The World". It is a great read with ten short chapters on things he has learned during his time as a Navy Seal. I highly recommend it.
My recollection on the habit I have of making my bed everyday comes from from a counselor I was seeing years ago when I was in counseling to learn skills to cope with depression and anxiety. She suggested when I got out of bed, to make my bed. She said it can be harder to get back into a made bed. I have done it ever since that time period in about 2009-2010.
Some other things have followed since beginning this habit. When I was in deep depression, and, I would lay in bed all day, I would keep all my curtains and blinds closed. I even bought curtains especially made to keep light out of a room. For this period of my life, not letting the light in during the day, was key. Since beginning the habit of making my bed I have added other habits that go right along with the making of my bed to start my day.
The second thing I do after making my bed, is open all blinds and curtains. First thing in the morning, year round. This gives me an opportunity to look outside and start thinking about my very next habit that I have started in the last few years.
After I get my morning coffee, feed Daisy and Cheba, and do a couple other things in the house, I go for a walk. Without fail, everyday, whether it is warm, cold, raining, or even snowing, I go for a walk. This walk has transitioned from being a short walk, to now, every day, without fail, a mile long walk first thing in the morning.
Adding these other habits to making my bed have been highly effective in getting my days off to a good start. Going outside first thing in the morning can help me on mornings when my mind is in a battle. I still have days where I wake up....not wanting to get up. So, just getting up and making my bed, well, that might not be enough on tough days.
I will make an agreement with myself internally on those days. I will say go on the walk. When you get back if you want to lay back down, ok. Almost every time, I would say upwards of 90% of the time, I don't lay back down. Getting outside, getting my body moving, having time to think about the day ahead, I don't end up laying back down. On some days, I do. But guess what, and I believe this is the magic of the habits I have created, I never lay back down for long anymore. Maybe an hour or two at the most.
I truly believe these habits have helped me immensely to stay out of funks. I used to suffer from massive depression. Clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder. I have had periods of my life where I stayed in bed for days.....literally, days on end. With the help of professional counseling to learn coping skills like what I have described here, I can't remember the last time I have stayed in bed for more than a half a day at the most on my worst days.
So, make your bed, every day. Open your curtains and blinds, every day. Go on a morning walk, every day.
My recollection on the habit I have of making my bed everyday comes from from a counselor I was seeing years ago when I was in counseling to learn skills to cope with depression and anxiety. She suggested when I got out of bed, to make my bed. She said it can be harder to get back into a made bed. I have done it ever since that time period in about 2009-2010.
Some other things have followed since beginning this habit. When I was in deep depression, and, I would lay in bed all day, I would keep all my curtains and blinds closed. I even bought curtains especially made to keep light out of a room. For this period of my life, not letting the light in during the day, was key. Since beginning the habit of making my bed I have added other habits that go right along with the making of my bed to start my day.
The second thing I do after making my bed, is open all blinds and curtains. First thing in the morning, year round. This gives me an opportunity to look outside and start thinking about my very next habit that I have started in the last few years.
After I get my morning coffee, feed Daisy and Cheba, and do a couple other things in the house, I go for a walk. Without fail, everyday, whether it is warm, cold, raining, or even snowing, I go for a walk. This walk has transitioned from being a short walk, to now, every day, without fail, a mile long walk first thing in the morning.
Adding these other habits to making my bed have been highly effective in getting my days off to a good start. Going outside first thing in the morning can help me on mornings when my mind is in a battle. I still have days where I wake up....not wanting to get up. So, just getting up and making my bed, well, that might not be enough on tough days.
I will make an agreement with myself internally on those days. I will say go on the walk. When you get back if you want to lay back down, ok. Almost every time, I would say upwards of 90% of the time, I don't lay back down. Getting outside, getting my body moving, having time to think about the day ahead, I don't end up laying back down. On some days, I do. But guess what, and I believe this is the magic of the habits I have created, I never lay back down for long anymore. Maybe an hour or two at the most.
I truly believe these habits have helped me immensely to stay out of funks. I used to suffer from massive depression. Clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder. I have had periods of my life where I stayed in bed for days.....literally, days on end. With the help of professional counseling to learn coping skills like what I have described here, I can't remember the last time I have stayed in bed for more than a half a day at the most on my worst days.
So, make your bed, every day. Open your curtains and blinds, every day. Go on a morning walk, every day.
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