Have you ever stopped to wonder what leaving your bed unmade might say about you? It turns out that this small daily habit—or its absence—can reveal surprising insights about who we are and how we handle life. The simple act of making (or not making) your bed touches on much more than just tidiness; it speaks volumes about your personality and approach to the world.
The ritual of making your bed and why it matters
To many, making the bed feels like a mundane chore—a detail so small it hardly matters. Yet others see it as much more, a vital ritual that sets the tone for the entire day. William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, famously wrote a book titled “Make your bed: the little things that can change your life and maybe the world”. He argued that this simple gesture carries powerful effects. When you make your bed in the morning, you accomplish the first task of the day successfully.
That first accomplishment gives your morale a boost, nudging you to carry on with more victories through the day. Beyond orderliness, making your bed can also improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and clear mental clutter. Some even call it a moving meditation, where organizing your space also helps organize your thoughts. It may be simple, but it’s surprisingly effective.
Who really makes their bed every day?
According to research shared by Very Well Mind and the National Sleep Foundation, about 70 percent of Americans make their bed every day. However, it’s not evenly spread across the country. People living in the South and the Northeast tend to be more consistent with this habit than those in the West or Midwest. So where you live may influence whether your bed gets made.
Age matters, too. Those over 40 and people living with a partner report making their bed more often. It might be that growing older or sharing space encourages more organization and reduces the tendency to let things slide. Or maybe added responsibilities inspire us to create order in our lives, starting with our beds.
Why some choose to leave their bed unmade
So, if making your bed is so beneficial, what does it really mean when someone leaves theirs unmade? It’s not always laziness or forgetfulness. Psychology offers several explanations.
One explanation is procrastination—the tendency to delay starting even the simplest task. Making the bed might feel trivial enough to be pushed aside, day after day. Sometimes it seems pointless, or simply tiring, and so people neglect it.
For others, it’s a matter of lack of routine. Not making your bed may reflect a more relaxed lifestyle without strict schedules or rituals. That’s not necessarily negative; it indicates a freer, more laid-back approach to daily life.
Interestingly, some people deliberately leave their bed messy as a way to maintain control over their personal space. It’s as if they’re saying, “This is my domain, and I decide how it looks.” In a world filled with expectations and rules, this small act can be a form of personal liberty.
Lastly, how we care for our bed often mirrors our personality. Whether you’re meticulously neat or delightfully bohemian, your bedroom habits echo your values and priorities. This tiny detail can reveal a lot about who you are.
I remember a friend who never made her bed, and at first, I thought she was just careless. But after chatting with her, I understood that her unmade bed was part of a larger philosophy—embracing imperfection and focusing energy elsewhere. It made me reflect on how easy it is to judge someone’s habits without knowing the story behind them.
Leaving your bed unmade or crisp and tidy isn’t just about cleanliness. It’s an expression of character, routine, and sometimes rebellion. So next time you notice your own or someone else’s approach, consider what it might be saying about the deeper rhythms of their life.
What about you? Are you a morning bed-maker who loves starting the day with a small victory, or do you embrace the freedom of an unmade bed? Share your thoughts and stories below. Let’s see what this simple habit might tell us about ourselves and each other!