Okay but seriously, make your bed!

Two months ago, I started making my bed every morning. I was never a believer in little changes. If you know me, you know I don’t like to do little things, I like to do big things. Dramatic things. Small changes are like gnats to me - they feel pointless and annoying.


I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that you should make your bed every morning. Start the day right or whatever. Military offices are especially into this idea. But my brain was always like, meh, that doesn’t really matter or make a difference. It might make a little difference but I want to make a BIG difference.


LOL. Live and learn. And I have been LEARNING.


Most of what our brains do is automated. How much do you actually think about driving when you’re driving? Your brain knows how and it just follows the well-worn “how to drive” grooves to get you from point A to point B without you even noticing.


It’s the same with relationships. There’s a reason many people report falling back into old patterns and relationship dynamics when they come home for Christmas. Suddenly they’re twelve again. This is not some mysterious phenomenon; it is literally the wiring of your brain in action.


Changing brain patterns doesn’t happen overnight. You can’t force a total makeover here. You have to make small changes - interrupt the regular flow of your wiring. Because when that flow is interrupted, all sorts of other new things are possible.


I don’t know what results have and will come from making my bed every morning. What I do know is that it’s nice to get in to a made bed at night, that the room feels more peaceful, and that I feel like I accomplished something at the end of the day even if my kids were especially needy and my to-do list was untouched. 


What I do know is I’m priming my brain for growth that wasn’t available to me two months ago.


Have you made a little change lately? Try it this week. And instead of seeing it as some new habit to embed, just think of it as doing something different - one small adjustment to your day. I’d love to hear about it.


Warmly,
Monica