What sort of environment do you lie down in at night and wake up to in the morning? Is it one that gives you peace at the end of the day? Do your surroundings give you energy to take on the day in the morning? What does that look like to you?
Four-Star Admiral, William McRaven’s book Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change our Life…And Maybe the World, is a NYT Best Seller that touts the virtues of, among other things, making your bed in the morning. He writes:
“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
I was not a bed maker for the first 25 years of my life, but after the birth of our second child, my mom came and made my bed every morning of her visit. For some reason, that was the game changer for me. It was so peaceful to pull back the covers at the end of the day and crawl under the covers to close my eyes.
After a few years I came up with the idea to put several clocks on a high shelf over the window in our bedroom. They were lovely to look at, but none of them worked. The idea was to create an environment “where time stands still”. The room became a retreat spot in our busy lives.
Is your room a retreat spot? Is your bed made? Are your dresser tops clear or piled with “stuff”? Do you have clothes hanging on doorknobs because they don’t fit in your closet? Are dirty clothes in a hamper or on the floor? Does your room give you energy or drain it?
If you think you may want to make changes, take it one step at a time. The bed is the largest piece of furniture in the room. The simple act of making it every morning will make a big impact. Because clothes are the main thing we store in our rooms, this may be the next logical step. One drawer at a time? Ten hangers at a time? Most of us in this country are blessed with too many clothes. How many do we need in between laundry days? Shoes? What do you realistically wear any more? Everybody’s situation is different, so do what works for you, but don’t be afraid to make changes. You will probably find that “less is more”
Less stuff, = more peace.
So go out there and make your bed and maybe change the world! You can do this!
Laura ~ your organizing girlfriend