(Advice) 'It's Not About Making The Bed - It's About Fighting Decay' - Getdisciplined

2017. 09. 30.
[Advice] 'It's not about making the bed - it's about fighting decay' : getdisciplined
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[Advice] 'It's not about making the

1820 bed - it's about fighting decay' search
(self.getdisciplined)
submitted 1 month ago by EuphemiaPhoenix this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2017
This advice is courtesy of my dad, who 1,820 points (95% upvoted)

used to work with vulnerable adults - it's shortlink: https://redd.it/6ui9rw
nothing particularly groundbreaking, but

for some reason the way he put it clicked
better than all the other ways I'd heard
the same idea explained. I thought I'd
share it here in case anyone else feels the
same. For the full effect, read it in a
German accent ;)
When I was a child, Oma [my
grandmother] would always complain
that I never made my bed. And I Join FXOpen Forex Broker
always thought, well, what's the point Enjoy Forex trading with low
of making the bed? At the end of the spreads and commissions. All
strategies allowed. Register!
day I'm going to sleep in it and it's
going to get messy again.
But as an adult I started to realise that Submit a new text post
with a lot of people, that attitude starts
to creep into other things. They think, getdisciplined
well, why should I do my washing up? unsubscribe 248,225 Trainees (320 here)
It's only going to get dirty again. Why Show my flair on this subreddit. It looks like:
should I sweep the floor? I'll only have Neo6102 (edit)
to do it again tomorrow. And it's true
that in the end, in the scheme of Before You Post
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1. Read the Get Disciplined Wiki
your washing up til the next day, or if 2. Read the Get Disciplined FAQ
you throw your clothes on the floor 3. Search to see if your question has already
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when you take them off.
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2017. 09. 30. [Advice] 'It's not about making the bed - it's about fighting decay' : getdisciplined
even realise anymore that other people Do not post any links or content from
your blog or website before reading this.
don't live like that.
Always include one of the tags in your
And so now I try to find a balance in post's title.
my own life. If I have two hours free,
sometimes I make a conscious choice:
Tag your Post
would I rather spend it cleaning or [Meta] for any thoughts or discussion
reading a book? And most of the time I regarding the getdisciplined subreddit.
choose to read, because you can take [Question] for questions regarding
getting disciplined and improving your life.
a lot of time keeping your house
[Discussion] for discussion of concepts
perfect, and I don't want to spend my relating to getting disciplined and
whole life tidying. improving your life.
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with regards to getting disciplined and
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[Plan] for posts asking for advice
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should I exercise if I have to keep achieving a goal.
training for the rest of my life to stay
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fit? Why should I eat better if I'm
going to get unhealthy again as soon
as I stop? Why should I get out of bed Motivation
at all, when one day we're all going to
die and nothing I do will make a
Health
difference?
Imagine you live in a house on the
beach, and at the end of the garden is Bad Habits
a wall that protects your house from
the sea. Every day a little bit of the
wall gets eroded away, and from time Improvement
to time you have to do some minor
repairs. You can ask, what's the point created by [deleted] a community for 5 years
to repair it if your work is going to be

undone soon anyway? But if you don't
do it then one day your house is going
to fall into the sea, and then you really
have a problem.
So now I think, it doesn't matter if you
sleep in the bed again at the end of
the day, because your life happens
when you're awake. And during that
time you can have a tidy bed or not,
it's not going to change the world. But
it's not really about making the bed -
it's about fighting that bigger decay. If
you keep making the right choices,
then for each one you make you'll feel message the moderators
a tiny bit better about yourself. And if FelEdorath Mod
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you add up all those tiny bits, maybe TheCourageWolf Mod

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[] Feared77 246 points 1 month ago
This is excellent discipline advice. Some people

could go into the military and make their bed
every day for years at threat of punishment and
still never figure out why they did it.
permalink embed save report give gold reply
[] PmNudes-orMotivation 64 points 1 month ago
I'm in the military and my room is a mess

until we're told of a upcoming room
inspection.
permalink embed save parent report give gold
reply
[] MyishiZaibatsu 46 points 1 month ago
Remember the SURPRISE

MOTHERFUCKERS @2am Inspections in
Basic
reply
[] Hauvegdieschisse 116 points 1 month ago
Just cleaned my whole room.

[] P4x 73 points 1 month ago*
I actually stood up and made my bed after

reading the post... now I feel like I have to
step it up. brb
EDIT: Cleaned my living room and the

kitchen. Feels good. However, I would love to
get into the habit to keep the place cleaner. I
tend to drop stuff on the floor and then do
bigger rounds of cleaning every once in a
while. Good post. Thanks OP

reply
[] AlohaHawkImps 13 points 1 month ago
Good job, keep up the good work

reply
[] K1ngFiasco 4 points 1 month ago
Same way. I suck at upkeep cleaning and

tend to just let things go a bit and then
spend 6 hours one day cleaning my whole
apartment. I hate it but it's a tricky habit
to break since it happens so gradually.
reply
[] thlst 1 point 1 month ago
One thing that helped me a lot is to

always wash your dishes right after
use. Be it a cup, or a plate, doesn't
matter, just clean wash it. It's easy to
get into this habit, and it becomes
more pleasant to do it as you go.
permalink embed save parent report
give gold reply
[] m0llywobbles 3 points 1 month ago
You might find something like the FlyLady

system helpful--it divides your house into
"zones" for regular maintenance.
reply
[] P4x 1 point 1 month ago
Yes, I heard about that. Although, I

don't really mind doing the "serious
cleaning". At the moment I would be
happy to develop the micro habits to
keep the place somewhat tidy and not
have stuff lying around, dirty dishes in
the kitchen and so on. Put clothes
away immediately, clean kitchen while
cooking and this kind of stuff. I will try
to work on that first.
give gold reply
[] Consolatio 31 points 1 month ago
That's a really good way to frame it. I always said

that I make my bed because it's the building
block for my other good daily habits, like
brushing and flossing. When I need to sort things
I always do it on my (tidy) bed. But I never
thought about it as a way of fighting decay.
[] TheoreticalFunk 23 points 1 month ago
This. While I still don't, and likely never will,

make the bed, this still rings true.
Too many 'fuckit' moments turn what's an easy
set of tasks into a huge mammoth shitstorm.
Thank you for putting this into words... I've
always compared it to the Broken Window
Theory. Not the one about crime, which is
complete garbage, but if you look around and
things look like shit, we, as people, tend to treat
it like shit. Take care of the small things and it
won't decay further.
[] merreborn 28 points 1 month ago*
This. While I still don't, and likely never

will, make the bed, this still rings true.
I think the deeper point is, you have to draw
a hard line somewhere, about what will and
won't get done. Whether or not that line
includes making the bed is up to you. But the
trouble starts when that line is allowed to drift
uncontrolled.
reply
[] kamikageyami 6 points 1 month ago
What makes you say the one about crime is

garbage? Genuinely curious as I just learned
about this today
reply
They use that one to support the 'stop and

frisk' behavior which, if anything, likely
increases crime due to the same reason...
"If I'm gonna get treated like that, then
fuck this shit."
reply
[] layinglowbecause 1 point 1 month ago
That's an application of the theory, but

not the theory itself.
give gold reply
[] DenSem 44 points 1 month ago
See also: Broken windows theory

[] [deleted] 1 month ago*
[deleted]
[] FLSverker 30 points 1 month ago
Recently, I've heard somebody in this

subreddit refer to this as "cleaning up
after yourself", as in every room is a tool
with functional purpose. When you're done
using a room, you put it back in its
original condition, perhaps with some
"micro-cleaning" that prevents the room
from ever building up serious clutter, dirt,
or dust. An interesting strategy to think
about.
Ah, you beat me to it.

reply
[] d________ 2 points 29 days ago
That was a really compelling read, thank you!

reply
[+] TheSOB88 comment score below threshold (1 child)
[] invisiblelemur88 11 points 1 month ago
It's about fighting the inexorable increase of

entropy.
[] jms87 12 points 1 month ago
This is brilliant advice. I wish my parents put it as

well as your dad did. It probably wouldn't do any
good to my teenage self if they had, but it's still
better than the "my house, my rules" reasoning
(which, to be fair, they didn't use for a lot of
things).
[] EuphemiaPhoenix [S] 9 points 1 month ago
Haha, if it makes you feel any better, it didn't

do my teenage self any good either - I'm
nearly 25 and I'm still figuring most of this
out. Getting incrementally better with each
passing year, though.
reply
[] Entropydreams 9 points 1 month ago
Hey, I've got you beat by 9 years and

you've got me beat in discipline. I got
incredibly better a few years ago, I figured
30 would be a good time to start being an
adult, and now that I've done that I'm
really struggling with discipline vs. decay.
The only thing I hate worse than doing
things that feel like work is doing things
that feel like maintenance. Anyway,
thanks for posting this. This slight change

in perspective might help.
reply
[] WerkinAndDerpin 9 points 1 month ago
Reminds me of the speech from Admiral McRaven

https://youtu.be/K13p1DlsDMQ
[] sane-ish 5 points 1 month ago
I just saw that on facebook recently and was

really inspired. Facing your physical limits is a
good way to improve mental resiliency. It
almost made me wish I had tried the service.
reply
[] Pushedbyboredom 8 points 1 month ago
I think about this every time I don't want to floss.

It's not about the flossing. It's about the
discipline.
[] Ms-Lola 8 points 1 month ago
Thanks for this OP. I just had a lazy day binge

watching Defenders, eating takeout and drinking
beer with my SO. We'd left the place a mess with
takeout cartons on the table, beer bottles on the
counter and things generally out of place. I'd
decided I'd clean it tomorrow when I could be
bothered. I was lying in bed reading Reddit and
this post got me up and out of bed to tidy the
kitchen and living room. Now I won't groan when
I walk through there in the morning! I need to
read this every day!
[] bellastella212 6 points 1 month ago
I need to read this every morning. And at lunch.

And when I get home from work. Brilliant
motivation. Thank you.
[] Fleamon 6 points 1 month ago
Great advice, thank you so much op.

[] incertae-sedis 6 points 1 month ago
I'm saving this one. Thanks.

[] garnetpancake 5 points 1 month ago
thanks, this really made me understand why this

is important
[] IcameforthePie 5 points 1 month ago
Probably one of my favorite posts in this

subreddit. Thanks.
[] Playboi_Icardi 4 points 1 month ago
Reminds me of the kibble from Do Androids

dream of Electric sheep?
Somewhat ironically, I've had that book lying

around for years and have never got round to
reading it. I really should.
reply
[] GrapeAyp 3 points 1 month ago
It will mess with your head

reply
Oh, I've read quite a bit of his other

stuff so I'm prepared for that. As
prepared as you can be, anyway...
give gold reply
[] ordieth117 4 points 1 month ago
Thanks for sharing. This is good advice, written in

an easy diction.
[] LeeDalt 8 points 1 month ago
I agree 100% with the moral of this post, but a

2006 study actually indicated that a tidy bed
creates ideal conditions for dust mites to thrive
whereas a messy bed allows the mattress and
sheets to dry out during the day - causing the the
dust mites to dehydrate and die.
Don't get me wrong, your Dad (and Great-
Grandmother) were teaching a really good lesson,
but I'm a stickler for the small details.
[] ProfDilettante 9 points 1 month ago
Pull back sheets, shower/dress, then make

bed?
reply
[] thermocrynamics 9 points 1 month ago
Or... don't make the bed. As pointed out

elsewhere ITT, having a made bed isn't
really the point. Some degree of decay will
set in unless you have enough free time to
maintain everything. If the bed must be
made, then shouldn't you dust, mop, and

scrub daily as well? Draw the line
wherever you like - the point is to be
consistent so that things don't get out of
hand.
reply
[] Catgirllewis 4 points 1 month ago
Half make the bed. I roll the sheets halfway

down so it can air out. Bed isn't made per se
but it feels cleaner when you go to bed at
night. I think its a good compromise.
reply
[] SilencerLX 3 points 1 month ago
Amazing. I needed to hear this.

[] ravelincolor 3 points 1 month ago
I love your Dad. Thank you

[] aleddito 3 points 1 month ago
FIGHT ENTHROPY
[] keepcalmandFREAKOUT 3 points 1 month ago
I've always struggled with cleaning and never

learned good habits as a child, my mom would let
everything pile up and do those major cleaning
sessions, I hated them so much. I would work the
same way until my late 20s. Now my apartment
doesn't get so fucked up anymore, I don't
remember a conscious choice to put things away
immediately, even though that Marie Kondo book
+ some serious decluttering surely helped.
Now sometimes when I put things away
immediately I notice while doing it that it is a pile
of work and requires me running from one room
to the other several times and takes up several
minutes, not just 1 or 2. Often think it's no
surprise my apartment would get so messy so
quickly with all this shit piling up. It's really more
than it looks. I think the main reason I clean up
regularly now is that the look of a cluttered, dirty
space depresses the shit out of me. Hate waking
up and seeing a mess.
[] ratsocks 5 points 1 month ago
Saved. I needed to read this today.

[] jvgkaty44 2 points 1 month ago
All true. But i dont not make the bed because im

lazy i dont make it because i get to sleep a little
longer if i dont. To me the extra sleep is more
important than making the bed.
[] FlyOnTheWall4 2 points 1 month ago
Excellent post, thank you.

[] ElXToro 2 points 1 month ago
Wo kann mann auf deutsch dass lesen ? ;D

[] cmatute 2 points 1 month ago
This is an excellent way to put it. Thanks.

[] wayneforest 2 points 1 month ago
Love
[] evilada 2 points 1 month ago
Great advice
[] starrynightgirl 2 points 1 month ago
Thank you for this post.

[] skeddles 3 points 1 month ago
Or focus your time and energy on your actual

goals rather than little things that make you feel
productive
YMMV, like with all these advice posts. For me

personally it was useful because my (vague)
goals mostly are made up of little things that
make me feel productive, and one productive
thing tends to lead to another.
reply
[] acetrainergreen [ ] 1 point 1 month ago
In order to change the world, you must first

change yourself. In order to change yourself, you
must first fix your damn room.
[] [deleted] 1 point 27 days ago
For me, I don't refrain from making my bed

because it'll get messy again tonight. I refrain
from making my bed because I don't see it during
the day and it really has no impact on my quality
of life to speak of. I can see how this mindset
might be helpful with other chores though.
permalink embed save report reply
[] DemianMusic 1 point 1 month ago
Studies have shows that your bed stays dryer and

less hospitable to bacteria if you don't make it. I
wait to make my bed until right before I crawl
into it.
Fighting bacteria is the best way to fight decay.
[] papercranium 2 points 1 month ago
Fold your blankets down neatly at the foot of

the bed, then. More air exposure than an
unmade bed, and just as tidy as a made one.
This isn't a good excuse for laziness.
reply
[] DemianMusic 1 point 1 month ago
What's lazy about it? The folded blankets

would get less air.
reply
[] papercranium 1 point 1 month ago
Did you read the study? It was about

sheets and mattresses, not blankets. If
you want to expose your sheets to the
air, fold your blankets. But it actually
isn't a problem at all for people who
wash their sheets regularly.
What's lazy about coming up with
excuses to avoid making your bed? Is
that really a question?
give gold reply
[] DemianMusic 1 point 1 month ago*
I'm not calling anyone lazy or

attacking anyone. Just stating
good reasons for leaving your bed
unmade. Some people are really
taking this personally.
Folded sheets get less air than
unkempt sheets. Unkempt sheets
stay dryer and bacteria grows
slower on them. I also wash my
sheets monthly and pillowcases
weekly.
It's pretty strange that this turned
into an attack on me, calling me
lazy. I have asthma and allergies
and I take any steps I can to
reduce my exposure. Is that so

wrong?
Also I want to touch on the fact
that you think this only affects
sheets and mattresses, but not
blankets. Really? This seems
illogical to me.
give gold reply
[] papercranium 1 point 1 month ago
You can feel free to speak to

the scientists of the study, who
didn't seem to think that mites
in blankets were a concern. I
imagine it has to do with the
lack of skin contact with
blankets, and the fact that
sweat runs down, not up.
There's a reason why it's
recommended that sheets get
washed weekly, blankets only
monthly, and top quilts and the
like as needed.
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[] DemianMusic 1 point 1 month

ago
I sweat a lot some nights.

It gets hot and I don't have
A/C. I take steps to help
my sheets, blankets, and
mattress dry quicker. I
keep very tidy. I cope with
my allergies the best that I
can. I very much doubt this
one allergy coping
mechanism makes me lazy.
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report give gold reply
[] miscreation00 -1 points 1 month ago
I feel like it's a bit different though. Not making

your bed does not prevent you from using it
again that night.
Not doing your dishes or washing your clothes
means that you can't use them, are going to have
to dirty more dishes/clothes, and therefore create
a cycle.
With the bed, it has no affect on your sleep that
night.
I think making your bed is great for discipline,
and a great way to make your morning start of
feeling successful.
But I can't say I necessarily agree with the
premise of this post. I also hate to make my bed,
so I never do :p so what do I know? Hah
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GETDISCIPLINED comments Neo6102 (9) |

[Advice] 'It's not about making the

This advice is courtesy of my dad, who 1,820 points (95% upvoted)

nothing particularly groundbreaking, but

to repair it if your work is going to be

you add up all those tiny bits, maybe TheCourageWolf Mod

[] Feared77 246 points 1 month ago

This is excellent discipline advice. Some people

[] PmNudes-orMotivation 64 points 1 month ago

I'm in the military and my room is a mess

[] MyishiZaibatsu 46 points 1 month ago

Remember the SURPRISE

[] Hauvegdieschisse 116 points 1 month ago

Just cleaned my whole room.

[] P4x 73 points 1 month ago*

I actually stood up and made my bed after

EDIT: Cleaned my living room and the

permalink embed save parent report give gold

[] AlohaHawkImps 13 points 1 month ago

Good job, keep up the good work

[] K1ngFiasco 4 points 1 month ago

Same way. I suck at upkeep cleaning and

[] thlst 1 point 1 month ago

One thing that helped me a lot is to

[] m0llywobbles 3 points 1 month ago

You might find something like the FlyLady

[] P4x 1 point 1 month ago

Yes, I heard about that. Although, I

[] Consolatio 31 points 1 month ago

That's a really good way to frame it. I always said

[] TheoreticalFunk 23 points 1 month ago

This. While I still don't, and likely never will,

[] merreborn 28 points 1 month ago*

This. While I still don't, and likely never

[] kamikageyami 6 points 1 month ago

What makes you say the one about crime is

[] TheoreticalFunk 8 points 1 month ago

They use that one to support the 'stop and

[] layinglowbecause 1 point 1 month ago

That's an application of the theory, but

[] DenSem 44 points 1 month ago

See also: Broken windows theory

[] [deleted] 1 month ago*

[] FLSverker 30 points 1 month ago

Recently, I've heard somebody in this

[] TheoreticalFunk 4 points 1 month ago

Ah, you beat me to it.

[] d________ 2 points 29 days ago

That was a really compelling read, thank you!

[+] TheSOB88 comment score below threshold (1 child)

[] invisiblelemur88 11 points 1 month ago

It's about fighting the inexorable increase of

[] jms87 12 points 1 month ago

This is brilliant advice. I wish my parents put it as

[] EuphemiaPhoenix [S] 9 points 1 month ago

Haha, if it makes you feel any better, it didn't

[] Entropydreams 9 points 1 month ago

Hey, I've got you beat by 9 years and

thanks for posting this. This slight change

[] WerkinAndDerpin 9 points 1 month ago

Reminds me of the speech from Admiral McRaven

[] sane-ish 5 points 1 month ago