Make the Bed?
You’ve probably come across the advice: if you want to kick off your day with purpose, start by making your bed. It’s seen as a small act of restoring order, a declaration that you’re in control of your life. But when I was piecing myself back together after my rhinectomy, it wasn’t just the bed that needed arranging—it was me.
When There’s Nowhere to Go
When you’re working from home, battling illness, or mourning a loss, your world can shrink. Without any appointments or obligations, the urge to “get ready” easily fades away. You roll out of bed, fire up your laptop, and never glance in the mirror. I’ve been there, and I understand how it feels.
There’s a subtle erosion that happens when we stop taking care of ourselves. At first, you might skip brushing your hair for a few days days or stick with yesterday’s hoodie. Nobody might comment, but you notice. And that self-noticing matters. The longer you hide from the world, the more important it becomes to see yourself as a worthy presence.
Reflections Shape Reality
Every day, we encounter our reflections—in windows, screens, sinks. These brief moments influence how we see ourselves. Losing my nose meant losing a piece of my own identity. Every reflective surface reminded me of what was gone, like an endless loop of grief.
In time, I learned a small but powerful truth: I could reclaim bits of who I was by choosing to care about the way I looked—a freshly laundered shirt, a swipe of mascara, a favorite perfume, or a scarf that affirmed my style despite the changes. It wasn’t vanity. It was about reclaiming my presence, reinforcing the idea that “I’m still here.”
Getting Dressed as an Act of Self-Respect
There is a quiet discipline in choosing to dress well when you don’t have to. It’s an act of self-respect. You don’t need a meeting to justify putting in the effort; you don’t require an audience to deserve your attention. By taking time to clean up, dress up, and show up, you protect your identity from being swallowed by life’s challenges. It sends a message to your inner self that you matter, even when no one else is watching. And often, this simple act is enough to anchor you through the hardest days.
Why It Matters
We often think of these routines as mere surface gestures, but they lay the foundation for how we treat ourselves—and how we are seen by the world. So yes, make the bed if it helps, but if you must choose one thing, make yourself. Do it even when you’re exhausted, when it feels pointless, and when you feel invisible. Because one day, you’ll pass by a mirror—and instead of seeing what’s missing, you’ll see someone who stayed. And that will matter more than anyone ever realizes.
