Make your bed.

“Last August I got a new mattress and new bedding. This prompted me to start making the bed every morning, which I had never been in the habit of doing. I've gotten into the habit of getting up in the morning, starting the shower, and while it's warming up, I make the bed (I'm a pretty quiet sleeper so it's only a quick matter of pulling the covers up, they're still half- made). Having accomplished a small task at the start of the day is a boost, and starts me off with a positive mental outlook. Starting my day with my room put into order has had a bleed-through effect on the rest of my life. It gives me such a serotonin boost to come back to my room at the end of the day and see the neatly made bed that it motivates me to keep my room tidy otherwise.”

“Some days I took my time and made my bed look like it was straight out of a catalog. Other times, I was a bit rushed and just kind of pulled everything quickly into place. I skipped it on cleaning lady days and when traveling (one of the luxuries of hotel life, right?) There were even some days when I left it so late in the day that I essentially made my bed about an hour before getting right back into it. (Still counts!) But, for the most part, it's how I started each and every day last year. And since the act of doing so is fairly meditative, it's often just enough of the push I need to figure out the rest of my day.”