In an airport shop, a small book titled “Make Your Bed: Little Things that Can Change Your Life … and Maybe the World” caught my eye. What a gem! This New York Times bestseller by Admiral William H. McRaven is a true inspiration. Of course, it’s the “make your bed” part that first got my attention.
McRaven wrote this book after his commencement address to the 2014 graduating class at the University of Texas at Austin. His address focused on 10 lessons he learned from his Navy SEAL training.
Making your bed every morning, explains McRaven, is a way to start the day off right—with a task completed.
This week, I’m spending time with some of my favorite people—the folks who literally made your bed. I am at a conference of the International Sleep Products Association, the trade association of mattress manufacturers and suppliers. My first connection with this group was in 1983 when I had the privilege of working with its consumer education arm, the Better Sleep Council (BSC).
The BSC has worked tirelessly for decades to help people understand the importance of sleep—and the importance of sleeping on a good mattress.
When you make your bed tomorrow morning, give some thought to whether it might be time to replace your mattress. If it’s more than 10 years old, the mattress is probably no longer giving your body adequate comfort and support for a healthy, restorative night’s sleep. What’s more, a decade-old mattress does not contain CertiPUR-US® certified foam. Time to go mattress shopping. The BSC offers useful tips on how to find a mattress that’s just right for you.
