Survey
When do you make your bed?
- Immediately after getting up14%
- After shock ventilation35%
- Not at all51%
The competition has ended.
When you really need to make your bed
13.1.2022
Translation: machine translated
The TikTok trend "That Girl" is meant to motivate you to always make your bed in the morning and be the best version of yourself. Sounds good. And yet, there's a catch.
Every time I see videos with the hashtag "That Girl," I shake my head. In them, women in their twenties show their morning routine and what they do to be "that girl." She doesn't have a name. But she is a person who always jumps out of bed early, drinks a smoothie before starting her extensive skin care routine and sports program. And also one who makes her bed as soon as she wakes up. For me, a no-go.
Source: TikTok.
I used to be that girl, too. I barely opened my eyes before I was already spreading out the blanket, fluffing the pillows like Mother Holle and draping the bedspread. But although I attach great importance to order and my furnishings, my bed remains unmade today. I'm in my early thirties and I've learned something.
Why an unmade nest is better
When I regularly woke up with a sniffly nose, I found out that it was caused by mites. The animals themselves are harmless, but their droppings cause, among other things, house dust allergy, which manifests itself in symptoms such as sniffles or snoring. They love wet areas such as the space between the comforter and down comforter.
A person releases up to one liter of moisture per night. This is stored between the comforter and pillow and in the mattress when the bedspread is slammed shut directly. So with my made bed, I have created a veritable paradise for the little animals all the time. Although I resisted at first, I've since gotten used to the messy bedroom. Looking at the That-Girl-TikToks, however, I wonder if I'm missing something. Why do the TikToks think it's better to make the bed right away?
Bedmakers:inside are said to be more productive and happier
From fitness trainer Sami Clarke and food blogger Katelynn Nolan to wellness bloggers Emma Godfrey and Kaylie Stewart, all the lifestyle gurus are on TikTok or YouTube. Yet while the videos are aesthetically pleasing, they somehow all look the same: These women have decorated their homes in shades of gray and earth. They drink toxic green drinks, wear pastel-colored activewear from the same luxury brand, and all give the same tips.
Source: TikTok.
These women seem to believe that making their beds has a positive impact on their day. A survey from the Hunch company may explain why. Of 68,000 people surveyed, 71 percent of bed:makers said they considered themselves lucky. In contrast, 62 percent of non-bedmakers admitted to being unhappy. The good feeling after a task is completed is said to be one reason.
According to the results, when TikTokers look at a nice bed, they are also more likely to keep the following habits. Once the first comparatively small step is taken, the next ones are already easier. But what is good for productivity does not automatically apply to health. Yet there is something these women could incorporate into their routines to balance the two.
When to make your bed
Dust allergy or not, I want a fresh-smelling bed for as long as possible. Therefore, my Millennial routine is to butt air. Just fluff the covers well and fold them back halfway, fluff pillows and open the window wide. Cool air kills mites and odors. Sometimes I throw the comforter over the window sill or over the door to speed up the process. Theoretically, that would also be a great image for That Girl video.
Source: TikTok.
Then, whoever is still bothered by it, can spruce up the nest after the shock airing. Since I'm in the home office right now, I do that every now and then when I have visitors.
What you can still pick up from That Girl
The idea behind "That Girl" to romanticize everyday things in life is well-intentioned. It's just that the execution is as toxic as the poison green in smoothies. And not just because the bed is made at the wrong time. That Girl makes the case that there should be no exceptions. You're supposed to start every day the same and be on your toes first thing in the morning. Sometimes, however, exactly the opposite does your body good. Besides, the trend is currently only aimed at a very specific (age) group that has the money and privilege to make the morning ritual so extensive with all the That Girl activities. Making the bed may be quick, but very few of them have time to write diaries and exercise. None of these girls seem to have early commutes or kids to take to daycare.
Still, TikToks are a beautiful way to document the courage to change. You don't have to film it or aestheticize it. Change your current morning routine if something about it bothers you. Nothing beats a good start to the day - with or without a made bed.
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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