Each morning, when you open your eyes and face the day ahead, you are presented with a choice: to let the day happen to you or to take charge of it. What if the first step toward creating a better world started with something as simple as making your bed? It may sound absurd, but sometimes the smallest actions have the power to shift our mindset, and from there, everything can change. The act of making your bed is a small, seemingly insignificant task, but as covered in the bestselling book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World, by Admiral William H. McRaven we learn how the importance of small daily habits, starting with the seemingly mundane act of making the bed, carries a weight far beyond its surface.

The Power of Small Habits

Big goals, grand visions, and world-changing ideas are often the products of small, repeated actions. Making your bed every morning is one of those small actions that, although easy to overlook, sets the stage for your entire day. Why does this matter? Because life is built on small habits. The small things we do every day compound over time, and they form the foundation of who we are and how we live.

1. The First Victory of the Day

By making your bed, you accomplish something within minutes of waking up. It may not seem like much, but this small achievement sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. It’s your first victory, a simple yet powerful reminder that you are capable of completing tasks, no matter how small. The satisfaction of starting your day with a win builds momentum. It tells your brain, “I’ve done this—what else can I accomplish today?” In a world where challenges and setbacks can sometimes feel overwhelming, this first win reminds you that progress is always possible. Even if everything else seems out of your control, you can control this one thing. That small, tangible victory becomes a foundation upon which you can build your day, no matter what comes next.

2. Creating Discipline

Discipline is often the key that unlocks success. Without discipline, dreams remain wishes, and goals stay out of reach. The daily practice of making your bed is an exercise in self-discipline. It’s a decision to start your day with order, structure, and purpose. And discipline is like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. When you make your bed, you’re telling yourself that you value order, that the little things matter, and that you’re willing to put in the effort, even for something as simple as smoothing out the sheets. This act of discipline spills over into other areas of your life. You become more likely to stay organized, stick to your plans, and keep promises to yourself. Small disciplines lead to larger ones, and before you know it, you’re tackling bigger goals with the same mindset.

3. Setting the Tone for Success

How we begin our day shapes the trajectory of the hours that follow. When you start the day by making your bed, you create an environment of calm and order, which influences your state of mind. Imagine walking into a messy, chaotic room compared to a tidy, neat one. Your surroundings affect your mood, focus, and energy levels more than you may realize. A made bed symbolizes a clean start, a space that reflects clarity and control. It serves as a visual reminder that you've taken the time to create order in your life. With that sense of order comes a sense of readiness—you're prepared to face the challenges ahead. You’ve already shown yourself that you are capable of shaping your environment, and that belief spills into other parts of your day.

A Metaphor for Life

Making the bed is not just a task—it’s a metaphor for life. It represents how we approach the world and the little choices we make every day. Life is often unpredictable and messy, full of events and circumstances we can’t control. But when you make your bed, you’re taking control of the little things. And sometimes, that’s where real change begins.

1. Control What You Can

The world can feel overwhelming. There are so many things beyond our control—global events, other people’s actions, random obstacles. But making your bed reminds you that you can still control some things, no matter how small. It’s a way of asserting agency over your life, of saying, “This is something I can do, and I will do it well.” This mindset helps when life throws unexpected challenges your way. You can’t change everything, but you can always start with the small things in front of you. By focusing on what you can control, you empower yourself to face life’s bigger challenges with the same mindset of resilience and action.

2. The Details Matter

Making the bed is a simple act, but it’s also a practice in paying attention to the details. The way you handle small tasks speaks volumes about how you approach bigger ones. The little details in life often hold the key to success. If you can master the small things, the big things become more manageable. Making your bed is a reminder that attention to detail in the seemingly trivial aspects of life builds a foundation for greater success. When you commit to doing the small things right, you build a habit of excellence. Excellence isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about consistency. It’s about doing even the smallest task with care, because you know that everything you do reflects who you are and what you stand for.

3. Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Life is full of setbacks, failures, and disappointments. There will be days when things don’t go your way, when you feel like giving up. But even on those tough days, the act of making your bed serves as a small victory, a reminder that you have the power to keep moving forward. It teaches you resilience. No matter what happened yesterday, today is a new day, and you can start it with a small success. This daily act reminds you that no matter how hard life gets, you can always take control of something. It’s a symbol of your ability to bounce back, to keep going even when the world seems to be falling apart around you.

The Ripple Effect of Small Actions

The beauty of small actions, like making your bed, is that they create a ripple effect. What starts as a personal habit can extend into other areas of your life, influencing how you interact with others, how you handle challenges, and how you approach your goals.

1. Influencing Others

When you live with discipline, order, and a sense of purpose, people around you notice. Your habits can inspire those you interact with—whether it's family, friends, colleagues, or even strangers. Making your bed may seem like a solitary act, but it’s a reflection of how you choose to live your life. That mindset is contagious. Others will see your commitment to small acts of discipline and may be inspired to adopt similar habits in their own lives. This ripple effect can go further than you realize. When people around you adopt positive habits, it creates a collective culture of discipline and purpose. Little by little, the small actions of individuals begin to change the world.

2. Becoming a Leader

Leadership isn’t about authority or power; it’s about influence and example. And true leadership often starts with how you lead yourself. Making your bed is a daily reminder that you have the ability to lead your own life with discipline, order, and intentionality. When you show that you can manage the small things, others will trust you with bigger responsibilities. You set an example for others, proving that success isn’t built on grand gestures but on consistent, daily actions. The best leaders inspire others not by their words but by their actions. By mastering small habits, like making your bed, you lay the groundwork for leadership in your own life and in the lives of others.

Changing the World Starts at Home

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems of the world—climate change, poverty, inequality, injustice. These issues seem so vast, so far beyond what any one person can fix. But changing the world doesn’t always start with big, sweeping actions. Often, it begins with the small, intentional steps we take in our daily lives. Making your bed is a simple way to start. It’s a reminder that big change starts small. You may not be able to solve the world’s problems today, but you can make your bed. And from that act of discipline and order, you set a tone for the rest of your day. You carry that mindset into everything you do. You create a ripple effect that extends beyond your own life, touching the lives of others and influencing the world in ways you might not even realize. So, tomorrow morning, when you rise to face the day, start with something simple. Make your bed. It’s a small act, but it has the potential to change everything. Because in that moment, you’re not just making your bed—you’re laying the foundation for a better, more disciplined, more purposeful life. And from there, anything is possible.