If I’m retired, do I still need to make my bed? It’s a simple question. One that lots of you jumped on yesterday when I sent out a poll. Just over 80% of you make your bed every day, even if you’re retired. There were only a few of you (Ted Toner) that advocated for leaving it messy because it’s more comfortable to jump back in.
Prior to retirement, I made my bed every day. Nothing fancy, just yanked the covers up. Don’t get me wrong, my bed could look like it does in the picture above. I love all the pretty pillows and textiles from my friend’s store (Halliday House & Co) in Cookstown. Everything is artfully arranged/staged. But honestly, I’m just too damn lazy to maintain this “company is coming over” look on a daily basis. Special occasions only, sorry Martha Stewart.
But when I started my serial retirement last month I stopped. I even stopped pulling up the covers. And that was fine for a few weeks until I realized how uncomfortable the unmade bed was making me. Like some weird mental itch that I just couldn’t scratch; let alone figure out the cause. I just assumed it was one of those “retirement adjustment” things I was feeling.
Was There I Time When I Didn’t Make My Bed?
When I was a kid, I made the bed when I was told to. Not before. Couldn’t be bothered…way better things to do. Then in my teenage years, I worked at The Millcroft Inn in Caledon as a maid, where I made everybody’s bed. I even made Richard Gere’s bed, Lee Major’s bed, and the beds of the entire cast from Second City – yes John Candy too. Posh hotel with a cool clientele, but still beds! I’m a trained ICU trauma unit nurse. Nursing, where bed-making is a career staple! I spent years making beds…with people still in them. So no bedmaking at home for me, except once a week when I changed the linen.
Hey Admiral, Do I Still Need To Make My Bed?
Seriously, I didn’t make my bed routinely until sometime in the 21st century! Admiral McRaven of the US Navy Seals and his conviction for the benefits of the bed-making habit is what convinced me to give it a try. It turned out to be a good and useful habit.
When I knew that I was retiring(ish), I knew I would need hobbies and things to do; hence the blog. I took stock of my existing hobbies; I bolstered some and added new diversions. And I also knew I would need a new non-work routine. I think that was the real reason for that “weird mental itch” I was experiencing. No familiarity.
When I set out to find a new routine for this next chapter of life (crap, that sounds too Hallmark Moment, doesn’t it!); it never occurred to me to take stock of the daily habits, just the hobbies. I just gave the existing routine up; thinking new world order = all new habits. Quitting work really is like quitting sugar. That “weird mental itch” was habit withdrawal”.
Making the bed again made me feel almost instantly better. McRaven is right of course, all those good reasons for crossing off that first accomplishment of the day. About it setting the tone. But what he didn’t say was that there is comfort in certain habits. Retirement may cause big changes in your daily routine (by accident or by design); but it’s the little routines that you don’t change that make you feel balanced and whole!
What routine(s) make you comfortable?
Cheers,
Cynthia
Cynthia Ross Tustin retired early to pursue her passion for writing. Turns out, she's equally passionate about retirement! This author has spent 1000s of hours researching all the best that retirement has to offer. What you'll find here is a well-curated resource of amazing places to go and fun things to do as your retirement approaches. Not retired, no problem! There's plenty here for all of us that are "of a certain vintage"!