How Making Your Bed in the Morning Is Linked to Brain Function and Stress

Habits develop when a repeated action becomes associated with a particular cue or situation. For example, a person may train themselves to make their bed immediately after getting up. Over time, this familiar sequence of actions can trigger the behavior almost automatically, reducing the need to make a separate decision each time.

However, performing a familiar action automatically does not mean that the brain's executive functions have improved, such as working memory, impulse control, or the ability to switch between tasks. Similarly, the involvement of dopamine in habit formation does not prove that making your bed increases dopamine levels or helps people make better decisions throughout the day.

Studies show that the surrounding environment can influence attention and performance on certain tasks. In one experiment, participants with relatively low levels of self-control were able to hold their breath for longer after spending time in an orderly room than in a cluttered one. No significant difference was observed among participants with higher levels of self-control. In another experiment, participants with high levels of self-control performed better on a creative thinking task after viewing images of cluttered rooms.

These findings suggest that the influence of order depends on individual characteristics and the nature of the task.

To develop a habit, experts recommend linking a new action to a consistent everyday cue and repeating it regularly in the same context.

A morning routine may also include other activities, such as getting exposure to daylight. Unlike making your bed, light exposure has an established biological basis: the light-dark cycle helps synchronize circadian rhythms, which regulate sleep and wakefulness.