Can Making My Bed Every Morning Improve My Happiness?

“I was reading a Feng Shui article online that offered tips on how to create a happier bedroom. One of the tips included making your bed every morning. I was curious to know if this is a common suggestion in with Feng Shui consultants and why?”

— Question from online reader, Thanks in advance!

Answer: 

For the method of Feng Shui I teach, yes, this is a foundational suggestion for clients who do not practice this habit already. Let me offer a bit more psychological and spiritual explanation to help you understand the benefits.  

This habit of making your bed may seem small and insignificant, yet a greater development within your conscious and unconscious minds is developing. This simple act becomes your first accomplishment of the day and it only requires 1-2 minutes of your time. This also creates a mindset of being organized, which helps to reduce stress, increase motivation and inspiration. 

When it's time to retreat back into your bedroom for sleep, there is no need to fuss with preparing your bed, It's already been made. This creates the mindset for a zen-full night's rest. 

Looking at this Feng Shui suggestion from a spiritual perspective, making your bed sends a strong message of self respect. You choose to take the time and create a space that nurtures and positively recharges your energy, body and emotions. This is a great habit to maintain when sharing the bedroom with your partner or if you are in the process of manifesting a relationship. This suggestion is wonderful for both young children, teens, adults and seniors. 

Keep this in mind, how you treat your home becomes an extension of how you treat yourself and how you allow yourself to be treated by others.

Feel free to explore these Feng Shui Tips and discover what is best for you.   

Is it 'Good' Feng Shui to Keep Objects Under My Bed?

Question: I have a one bedroom apartment in Sherman Oaks, CA. I read in an a Feng Shui article that its not good to store items under the bed. Since space is limited, is there a Feng Shui cure that could still allow me to keep things under my bed and not negatively impact my energy? 

You always have options when implementing Feng Shui into your home and lifestyle.  You just need to be creative in how you perceive and utilize your space. While at the same time, understand the reasoning behind the Feng Shui suggestion of 'avoid keeping objects under your bed.'

To put things simple, energy rises, expands and contracts. This means, if you have a bunch of stored under the bed, it restricts energy movement (flow). Think physics. 

From a Feng Shui perspective, this could obstruct your sleeping pattern because the movement of energy cannot flow evenly around, up, over and through the energy fields of your bed and self. Taking this observation to another level, certain objects are said to carry specific energy charges that could either be beneficial or not. 

i.e.: shoes under the bed. Ideally, shoes are suggested to be stored closets if possible. Why? According to Feng Shui, shoes symbolize other people (could be co-worker's, spouse, children, friends, etc) potentially taking advantage of you.  

If you are one who keeps shoes under your bed and find that you sleep well, there is no extra worry or stress, and you do not notice other people taking advantage of you, then all is good. Again, every person's experience with Feng Shui will be unique to them. 

If you need to store items under the bed, do your best to become mindful and aware of who gave them to you, what emotional content you associate with them, symbolically ask yourself; what do they represent to you? etc.

Example of Other Acceptable Items that Could Be Stored Under The Bed:

• Extra Bedding
• Extra Clothing
• Extra Bath towels
• Small amount of books (be sure the titles and content inside the books are positive)
• If you need to keep shoes under your bed, please store the bare minimum, if possible 
• Slippers and flip flops could be the exception

Feel Free to explore these Feng Shui Tips and discover what is best for you