Most of the time, you don’t make a bed just to use it right away. You make a bed so it’s ready for later — and to create a small bit of order in the meantime. (Admiral William H. McRaven offers well-known advice about it.)

The practice is grounded in good habits, attention to detail, and setting a tidy environment — one that will be appreciated now and in the future. It’s also a small act that creates a foundation for positive forward motion.

Making the bed happens to function nicely as a metaphor, too.

Where are you doing the good work of making beds?