Reader testimonial from Johanna
Several times in the past, when I try to make positive changes in my life, I tend to bite off more than I can chew. However, thanks to Crystal’s blog, over the last 12 months I’ve started simplifying and instead, making one small change at a time. I have seen the Lord bless many areas of my life by committing my work to Him, no matter how big or small.
Small Step #1: Praying First Thing in the Morning
Recently, I made a small change in my spiritual life: pray early in the morning before I do anything else.
I felt the Lord leading me to get up early before the kids wake up and spend time alone with Him. I dragged my feet for a few months, but then I knew I was only hurting myself if I did not humbly obey my loving Lord.
For the last few weeks I have been choosing to pray before I do anything else in the morning, even if it is only five minutes before my children wake up. Talking with the Lord in the early morning has filled my heart with joy. I am glad I was finally obedient. What a difference praying with Him every morning makes!
Small Step #2: Making My Bed Daily
The second small change I made recently might sound silly, especially since I am a grown adult, but here it is: making my bed daily. Okay, you can laugh now, but this has been a bad habit of mine for almost 14 years, ever since I’ve been married.
For much of my married life I have struggled with making our bed and keeping my part of the bedroom clean. Even though I kept the rest of our house clean, I struggled with keeping my own bedroom clean. I chose to believe that if the rest of the house was clean, then I can have a messy bedroom.
That is when I decided to intentionally make the small change of making my bed daily. Once I saw how nice the bed looked all made up, I wanted my entire bedroom to look nice, as well!
Not only did my bedroom look great, but my husband was thrilled about it, and I liked how it made me feel. It’s been a month now, and I still enjoy walking into my bedroom and seeing my beautifully made bed with a clean bedroom everyday.
It only takes me sixty seconds to make my bed. I am not sure about you, but sixty seconds is worth the reward of how I feel with a nicely made bed.
I hope this inspires you, like Crystal inspired me, no matter how small of a change you desire. Success is difficult to be achieved unless we take one step at a time. Keep it simple, and make one small change.
Johanna Henderson is first and foremost a lover of Jesus Christ. She is happily married to her husband of almost 14 years and is a mother to three incredible boys. Johanna is a graphic designer and marketing consultant. She enjoys writing, co-leading their church Teen Group and Women’s Bible Studies Group.
I started making my bed daily two years ago when we rented the world’s teeniest apartment for six months while we were house hunting. We had a bedroom/office/living and dining room! So needless to say, I was in there all day if I was home. Having the bed made immediately made the whole place look cleaner. When we finally found our dream home, I continued the bed-making habit. Even though sometimes I do not go into my room all day, at night I feel better getting into a made bed. And no matter how crazy the day went, I feel a little accomplished if even all I got done was make the bed that day!
I love it when my wife makes our bed! And come to think of it, that looks a lot like my room.
Nice job babe!
I started making my bed a year or so ago. I see my bed throughout the day, and sometimes I need it for a flat surface for things like laundry. Also it’s easier to start the night with an equal amount of covers instead of trying to find our own corners. 😉 Honestly, if I get my bed made, my dishwasher emptied, and a load of laundry started each morning, I am off to a good start. I started doing Bible work in the evenings because the words make a lot more sense to my brain at night than in the morning.
I just want to say that I’ve been married almost 15 years now and have never made an effort to make my bed daily (only when I knew company was coming). I’m not sure why, but in the middle of December I just decided that I would try to make an effort. Here it is the middle of January and I’m still at it!! I think I’ve skipped only once, and that was because my husband was sleeping in and I needed to leave the house before him 🙂
Our master bedroom is right off the living room, so I see in there all day. If anyone comes over, they see in there. Guests sometimes have to use my bathroom.
I have always made my bed, but it probably started because I had to make it every day before school when I was growing up!
A friend of mine also shared with me how making her bed every morning made such a HUGE difference in her day. And I’ve heard Crystal talk about it as well. So I tried it for over a month and honestly, it did nothing for me. I’m wondering if for those of you that this makes such a difference do you see your room throughout the day? Once I make my bed and go downstairs I’m rarely upstairs until it’s time to put kids to bed. I don’t see my room again until I’m ready to go to bed. Just wondering if I pasted my room more if it’d make me feel different?
I do the same in the mornings…..to keep myself grounded with my relationship with God…..if I don’t do it I feel a definite difference in how my day is going by the end of the day…..although I’m happy you can and I really would love to, my bed will have to stay messy for a few more years….my kids constantly jump on it while I’m making it so with a couple of monkeys I stand back and say why bother…..lol……but I will in a couple of years!!!!
Thank you for the encouragement to pray every morning…the Lord has been tugging on my heart to do that and I just need to do it. Thank you for the inspiration!!
Making the bed was one of my first new habits to implement in 2013! I’ve been complaining a lot lately about my kids not keeping their rooms tidy, but realized if I don’t take care of my own space, why on earth would I expect them to take care of theirs? A happy by-product of this has been how much better I feel about things when I come home and change out of my work clothes in a room that doesn’t look like it belongs in a frat house. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration to keep up with this new change!
Im humbled by your post and very grateful! Thank you.
My bed usually only get made on the weekends because my husband works midnights and is sleeping in it through the week days! lol Love this inspirational post, though 🙂
I don’t make my bed either. And I don’t feel guilty.
Sometime last year I started making my bed too. I am not consistent, but when I do, it makes me smile. It helped to finally find some pillows that I though would go well with the bed. Even if I feel like I’ve done nothing else that day, a bed that’s made makes my day a victory.
Crystal – do you have blog outside of this one?
Not anymore (unless you count eReader Girl), but over the last year on MSM, I’ve blogged on the big difference small changes can make and that’s where this reader testimonial stemmed from.
Thank you for sharing. I started praying in the morning and making my bed as well. I find Crystal’sblog to be very inspiringalso. I am even thinking about blogging journey- organization for the type B.
Katie
Johanna, your bedroom looks GREAT! And congratulations! Plus–I’m glad I’m in excellent company, after a little over 14 years of marriage—and you have inspired me. 🙂
Ooooooooo…and, Katie: Please DO!!! This Type-B sister would really benefit from that!!
I’ve started it! 🙂
http://organizationforthetypeb.blogspot.com/
I always make our bed. Mainly because I can’t stand rumpled sheets. Plus the cat will sprawl out on it and it will smell like cat when we go to bed.
My small step is that I put on makeup everyday…even if I am running late. I will at least put color on my eyes and some lip gloss. Even though I don’t have an office to run to or well, anywhere to go to for that matter, makeup makes me feel just put together!
I also love making my bed and walking in and seeing it throughout the day. I know you are not alone as an adult who struggles to make the bed. Until a couple of years ago I was never very consistent about making the bed. Now I’ve been consistently making the bed for a couple of years and love it!
I have found that the earlier in the day I make my bed, the more productive I am. The same holds true for getting dressed. If I get up on time, get dressed right away, and make my bed, I ALWAYS seem to get so much more done than on the days that I’m still in my pjs at lunch time.
I totally agree! I’m so much more productive when I take these few small steps first thing in the morning!
maybe that can be my next one small change 😉
Good for you!
Totally with you on making the bed. It takes so little time and makes the whole room look better. In fact I planned my blankets to make bed-making easier – no flat sheet, and a blanket in a comforter-cover. All I need to do is yank the covers up, put the pillows on top, and it’s ready to go. I can even do this while I’m still in bed.
That reminds me, I need to go and make my bed now! =)
Me, too, hahaha….lol
I’m inspired! I’ve been married for 12 years ( on the 27th) and I rarely make my bed. In fact, I was just in my room getting dirty clothes out and thinking that I really need to clean it up! Thanks for the inspiration, Johanna!