Your Shift Work Bed. Why You Don't Have To Make It As Soon As You Get Up!

As kids growing up, most of us are taught to make our beds the moment we get up. And this is a good thing yes?

Well actually – no.

You see you really shouldn’t make your bed as soon as you get up, because dust mites thrive in warm and damp environments and by making your bed – you’re giving them exactly what they need to have a party and multiply.

Now if you’ve ever eaten food in bed and left bread crumbs on your sheets, then you know it’s not fun sleeping on itchy sheets. So add in some microscopic critters (aka Bed Bugs) – and you’re not going to get a very good night’s sleep at all.

You should simply follow the golden rule of – Leaving Your Bed Uncovered.

Now I can hear you saying “What the?”

Well by leaving your bed uncovered and letting in lots of fresh air and sunshine into your bedroom, the number of dust mites in your bed will rapidly decrease.

Now for most people, this is going to be hard to do – except for those lazy people out there who don’t make their beds at all … and you know who you are!!

So what this means for you is that you’re going to have to resist the urge to make your bed look perfect the moment you get out of bed. Obviously if you’re a super clean and neat person this is going to be hard for you to do.

But hang in there. Give your bed a chance to breathe and get some fresh air and you will sleep so much more soundly as a result.

Not only will your bed feel so much better when you jump back into it, but it will also help reduce any allergies and asthma as well.

So don’t feel guilty about not making your bed as soon as you get up – you’re actually doing it a favour which is ultimately going to help you get a much better night’s sleep anyway … which is great news when you work shift work!

16 Comments

  1. Grandma Yellow Hair

    Audra I love your blog and thank you so much for finding me so I could find you. lol
    Wow I have been a slacker lately with my bed but maybe thats why I am sleeping better no little creatures bothering me except for my Tinkerbell who crawls on me all the time.
    I tried your follow button and it would not let me follow you. Before I leave your site I will try again. If I can't get on I will have to the next time I visit.
    Just so happy I found you or you found me.
    Maggie

    Reply
  2. ModernMom

    Thanks for the guilt free morning!! This makes such sense to me!

    I'm so glad you stopped by my blog and decided to follow:) FOllowing you right back.

    Reply
  3. Jyun

    Amazing. I happen to fall into the lazy category for this 😀

    Reply
  4. Matty

    I never make my bed. It wasn't for this reason, but it makes me feel good that I get another benefit out of it.

    Reply
  5. Dragonfly

    Ewwww – dust mites 🙁

    Reply
  6. karen

    Hi! thanks for visiting my blog. Yours is most interesting.. The work/life balance is something I'm often doing battle with, especially running our own business.. Thanks for the bed-making advice today!

    Reply
  7. Lynn

    Wahoo! Freedom! This makes total sense and I'm glad you wrote this. I may link back to this in the future.

    My best, Lynn

    Reply
  8. Haddock

    Thats informative.

    Reply
  9. Erin H.

    This is harrrrd to do! I'm manic about making my bed! But I'll try to make it the last thing I do before I leave the house, after reading this!

    Reply
  10. Lynn

    I don't think i told you, but I stopped covering my bed immediately after getting up. It feels fresher at night now. Thanks!

    My best, Lynn
    *swing by my spot, I am hosting a mega giveaway extravaganza this week!

    Reply
  11. Kristin

    Yeahhhhhhhh, I'm pretty ok with not making my bed. Ah ha ha

    Reply
  12. Chonna

    Wow. I’m shocked! I always assumed an unmade bed would only allow dust to gather in the sheets. I have awful allergies so I’ve always made my bed right away. I will have to try this out. Thanks for the tip, hopefully I’m on my way back to healthy breathing!

    Reply
  13. Henry

    I am glad that I found this web site. Interesting article. Thanks a ton for helping to bring awareness to this issue. I have checked over a few of your other articles and found some great information too. Henry

    Reply
  14. Kelsey

    I am so glad that I came to this web site. Useful post. Looks good to me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I have checked over a few of your other articles and found some great information too. Kelsey

    Reply
  15. Caryn

    OMG wait until I tell my mother this one. She won’t believe it. All the years she scolded and screamed at me for not making up my bed. To think I was right all along.. LOL
    Thanks for the info 40 years too late, but still very valuable 😉

    Reply

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