I was trawling through some blogs yesterday whilst the rugby was on and I came across the blog livingwellspendingless.com, which I hadn't read before. There was one particular post which made me think.
Why do I think it's important to make my bed every day?
Well the answer lies in exactly the same reasons why I keep my house clean and these can be summarised in 10 points:
1. It looks better. I like to go upstairs and see all the rooms tidy and the beds made. I seem to have spawned children who don't see the importance, which means I am making their beds almost every morning and as much as that irritates me, I will continue to do it because that's how I like it to be!
2. I get more achieved in a clean house. I find it hard to start a new project unless the house is clean already. If I try to sit and be creative and there is mess around me, it prevents me from making progress and enjoying my creativity.
3. I'm happy to have people round to visit. Obviously I'm not going to turn people away if the house isn't tidy, but I certainly feel more relaxed and comfortable if the house is presentable! It's no good when people say to me "oh but your house is always immaculate" - of course it's not, I'm not superwoman, but I do like to present a tidy, organised home to other people.
4. I can find things. I am generally an organised person and have like with like, so it's pretty easy to lay my hands on the item I need. However, if the house has got messy (during the school holidays for example) then it frustrates the heck out of me having to wade through tut to find what I need. It's a sure fire way of stressing me out!!
5. It's better for my health. Both mentally and physically, my health benefits from clean, tidy and clutter free surroundings. I'm not sure my children all feel quite as strongly as I do, but they certainly prefer it when I have cleaned and I know they like to come home to sorted bedrooms. It's just a shame they don't care enough to do it themselves!!
6. It makes my husband happy. Don't get me wrong, I am not a 1950s housewife who puts a ribbon in her hair and touches up her lipstick before hubby gets home, but I want him to be able to shrug off the stresses of his work day by coming home to warmth, comfort, calm and order.
7. It saves money. If the house is clean and tidy, it's easier to spot any small issues and deal with them before they get out of control. As an example, we occasionally suffer from mould in one of the bedrooms, but because I give it a good sort each week, I can keep on top of it, thereby preventing me from expensive repair works. If the house is well organised, I know what's in it, so I don't go off and buy a replica item which wasn't needed. My house is my biggest ever investment and it's all ours now - all the more reason to take good care of it.
8. I am more creative. As I said in point 2, I can't work if the house is a mess, so keeping order enables me to release my creativity without restrictions. The only thing I have to be careful of here, is to avoid the thinking of "the house is all clean now, I won't get out my craft things and make a mess". That's a constant battle for me, but I'm winning!!
9. It helps me get a good nights sleep. I absolutely love going upstairs in the evening to a clean room with a beautifully made bed to curl up into. It's one of my favourite moments of the day. It certainly wouldn't feel like a treat if I had to step over piles of clothes and science experiment mugs and plates, to climb into a creased and dishevelled bed.....oh wait, I'm describing my children's bedrooms!!!
10. It's my job. This is what I've signed up for. I wasn't happy in my job in education anymore and it was making me ill, so I made the decision to go back to being a full time home maker, or whatever the latest PC term is. It suits me better and I always do my very best at whatever job I'm doing, so it stands to reason that I would want to make my bed every day and keep a clean, presentable, well -ordered home.
What are your thoughts on cleaning and making the bed?
I'm right with you on all those points and even children get round to it eventually when the are about 27 and living in their own place!
ReplyDeleteOnly 15 years to go then before they are all 27 or more!! My son is the tidiest of the four, although he seems to have forgotten where the washing baskets are of late!!
DeleteI hate cleaning ... but I do it, or all the reasons you state above and yes, my bed is always made. It's left to air for an hour with the window open after we get up, with the animals confined downstairs, and then it's made and topped off with a washable patchwork quilt that I don't mind the dogs and cat sleeping on during the day.
ReplyDeleteI just feel I can move on with other jobs when the house is neat and tidy.
That should say .... 'FOR all the reasons you state above' :-)
DeleteI can't seem to get round the beds fast enough to avoid cats sleeping on them!! I have been known to make the bed with the cat on it - our boy cat is so incredibly lazy he allows me to tug and pull the bedding from under him and STILL lies there!!
DeleteI am with you all the way, I don't like mess or clutter, I look at running the home as my job also, but unlike any other job I have every had I absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteYes, funny that. If any other job I'd ever had were this repetitive, it would probably have driven me mad, but I do find it satisfying too.
DeleteHi, I just happened across your blog while bloggy browsing and I agree with you - the bed needs to be made. Tidiness does not come easy to me but when everything is in its place there is a great feeling of satisfaction to be had. Long may the bed making continue!
ReplyDeletexx
Having my house in order, brings me a sense of peace too. Everything could be chaotic on the outside world, but everything will be fine as long as I keep my home clean and tidy! Welcome to my blog - I hope you visit again :)
DeleteI always make the beds. I just couldn't get into an unmade bed, it wouldn't feel right. (Mrs L H )
ReplyDeleteNo indeed - positively slovenly!! Even if I'm ill, I will still try to make the bed even if I fall straight back into it!
DeleteWe have two asthmatics in the family and I was always under the impression that it was healthier to leave the beds airing all day with the windows open slightly, so that's what I do, then fluff the duvets back up and make the beds later on. I always plump up the pillows each morning and tidy away pyjamas, hot water bottles, dirty laundry etc. Once upstairs is tidy, I can forget about it for the rest of the day. The one room I can't bear to be cluttered is the kitchen. Ours is tiny so it's even more important to keep everything washed up and tidied away or there's no room to work.
ReplyDeleteYes I think airing the bed is 'healthy' and certainly recommended, but by late morning, I like to have them all made up again. I'm like you - I have to have a clean and tidy kitchen! I can't bear it if the hob and table aren't wiped down after the meal along with the washing up etc.
DeleteI agree with your points.
ReplyDeleteI too air the bed before making it, but it does get made, cushions, throws and all. It takes two minutes to have it looking lovely. When I started to get rid of my hoard and get my house in order the bedroom was the first place I started. One of the first routines I established was to make the bed every day. Even when the rest of the house was still a right old tip it was lovely, and very motivating, to see a beautifully made bed.