What is a good way to start your day right? Make your bed!

I can still hear my mom’s voice calling from the kitchen: “Don’t forget to make your bed!” At the time, it felt like the most insignificant chore in the world. I mean, who cared if the sheets were crumpled or the pillows scattered? I was just going to mess them up again at night.

But over time, that ritual became more than just a household chore. It was a lesson in discipline, responsibility, and respect — values that quietly shaped the way I approached school, work, and eventually life itself.

Later in life, I realized that making the bed was not about the bed at all. Not even the mosquito net and the banig that needs to be tucked neatly in a corner. It was about starting the day with intention. A single act of order that set the tone for everything that followed. And now, in an age where artificial intelligence can automate reminders, organize schedules, and even tidy up digital spaces, the question arises: Does this old ritual still matter?

The phrase “make your bed” may sound simple, but it carries layers of meaning that go far beyond tidying sheets. It’s a small ritual that has shaped the values that everyone must have today. That two-minute act delivers a subtle but powerful message: I am in control of my day. In a world that often feels loud and chaotic, that sense of order is priceless. And yes, even in the AI age, it still matters. Maybe more than ever.

Artificial intelligence has transformed how we live. It can draft emails, suggest shopping lists, and even remind us to drink water. It thrives on efficiency, but life is not just about efficiency. Rituals like bed-making remind us that some things are worth doing simply because they connect us to ourselves. When everything is automated, we risk losing the rituals that anchor us. Making the bed is one of those anchors.

Making the bed is also a quiet pause — a reset button that signals the start of the day on our own terms. Technology can assist, but it should not replace personal accountability. Making the bed is a daily reminder that responsibility begins with us. In short, while AI can streamline our lives, it cannot instill discipline. That is something we must practice ourselves, starting with the basics.

Although they may be too young to realize it, for children, it is a lesson in values more than having a neat room. At some point, kids learn that they are accountable for their own space. It is theirs to care for, not someone else’s. It teaches them self-respect. A tidy bed reinforces pride in their environment and, by extension, in themselves.

Bed-making will also show them that routines matter and that small habits can lead to big successes in school and later in life. Eventually, they will discover that order in the external world can help create order in the internal one. A neat bed can mean a clearer mind.

These lessons are timeless. Whether a child grows up in a household with nothing oris surrounded by books or smart devices, the principle remains the same: discipline begins with the small things.

When we were kids, our parents enforced bed-making as a non-negotiable rule. When it was my turn to become a parent, I had to adapt the ritual into a flexible habit for my children that fits modern lifestyles. Although I was raised by my parents with the mindset that rigid rules can instill discipline, I now think that flexibility allows children to internalize the value of the habit rather than simply obeying it. I thought that the best approach is to teach the principle, not the ritual. The principle is simple: small acts of order create a foundation for bigger successes. Whether that is making the bed, organizing a backpack, or tidying a digital workspace, the lesson is the same.

At the end of the day, “make your bed” is not about pillows and blankets. It is about having that mindset of starting with the basics, proving to yourself that you can take charge, and carrying that discipline into everything else you do.

AI may be able to do a lot for us, but it cannot replace the grounding power of human rituals. So tomorrow morning, when we smooth out the sheets and fluff the pillows, we should remember that we are not just making a bed. We are making a statement that says we are taking responsibility for our lives, starting with the basics. And that, in any age — digital or otherwise — is a lesson worth passing on.

The author is an executive member of the National Innovation Council and Lead Convener of the Alliance for Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN). [email protected]