Making Your Bed
Although making your bed may be annoying or appear to be useless to some people, it is important and it is almost an entire industry in itself. There are so many institutions, the military, the army and the navy and the travel industry that take the task of bed making very seriously and even to some extent, their bed making practices help to define who they are and what they represent in society (great video clip below about a navy seal and why making his bed was important).
Hotel and Resort Bed Making – High Standards
Take a second to think about the travel industry and the extreme to which resorts, hotels, cruise ships, motels and even bed and breakfasts will go to keep their customers cozy. Usually, the focal point of their marketing campaigns are the beautiful bedrooms with meticulously made , luscious beds, which in effect project luxury, peacefulness and comfort. They even go as far to categorize the service around the bedroom as housekeeping. There is so much attention placed on housekeeping because a clean room and a beautifully made bed with luxury sheets are all major parts of the draw to their establishment. The travelling public demands that aspect of their stay at that establishment and anything less a definite turn off for those who expect more. As travelers, we expect extremely soft sheets, warm comfortable beds and blankets among other services in the bedroom and when housekeeping is lax or tardy, it is testament of a poorly run establishment for those who expect more.
The hotel industry really understands the importance of having beautiful, comfy beds and they do not just make beds. The housekeeping staff is trained to make beds into works of art by creating figures from towels, flowers and materials native to the area to enhance the beauty of the bedroom. They usually apply an added piece of artwork to help transform and renew the experience of the room each day. I tend to think of the way my mother made my bed when I was younger but with the exception of the added touches of art.
5 Benefits Of Making Your Bed:
- Sense of Accomplishment
- Better Looking Room
- Much More Inviting
- Looks Organized
- Shows Responsibility
Is making the bed an important part of your day to day routine?
According to WebMD, in 2011, there was a survey commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and it suggested that people sleep much better when their bedrooms are comfortable and clean. This group’s first ever “bedroom poll” surveyed good sleepers and bad sleepers. They asked how the bedroom environment affected their ability to get a good night’s sleep. The survey included answers from 1,500 randomly selected adults in the United States between the ages of 25 and 55.
42% of the peole surveyed had identified themselves as being “great sleepers”.
Other findings:
- 90% of the people surveyed said that having a comfortable mattress and a comfortable pillow were important when trying to get a good night’s sleep, while slightly less rated comfortable sheets and bedding as being important.
- 70% of the people surveyed said they made their bed every day (or almost every day). These people that made their bed were 19% more likely to report getting a good night’s sleep on most days.
- Between 66% and 75% of people surveyed said that a cool room temperature; fresh air; and a dark, quiet, and clean room as important for a good night’s sleep (we also recommend sheets that keep you cool, like bamboo sheets).
- 60% of the people surveyed said that they changed their sheets weekly or more often and roughly 75% of the people said they got a more comfortable night’s sleep when their sheets had a fresh scent.
Having soft, comfortable, clean bed sheets and accessories is an integral part of beautiful bed making. One can assume that if someone takes time to acquire good quality bedding, they will also take the time to make their beds each and everyday. It also demonstrates the appreciation the investment. Making a bed exhibits a degree of taste, comfort and pride in your home, that ideally should lead to a peaceful nights sleep.
Check out the video (start at 4:45 and watch until 6:12) below to see what Naval Adm. William McRaven had to say about making your bed each morning (commencement speech at University of Texas 2014):
