At the University of Texas at Austin commencement in 2014, Navy Admiral William McRaven shared a 10 Lessons from Basic Seal training with the graduates that day.
The first lesson: Make your bed.
He says:
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.
He shares other lessons and stories from Navy Seal training – “When you’re neck high in mud, start singing.” “Never, ever ring the bell.” And other stories from his training.
But the simple lesson — make your bed — rings true to me. Like brushing your teeth, making your bed (in my experience) brings with it an outsized benefit to my happiness.
Maybe Admiral McRaven is correct and it starts the day with positive momentum that you can carry through your day. Maybe I just like the way my room looks with a well-made bed. Maybe sleeping in a made bed is more comfortable.
Whatever it is, I find that when I need a boost, making my bed makes a difference.
I hope it makes a difference to you, too!
On the Banks 