You might have heard recently about a book and new home improvement TV series called “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter”. The book by author Margareta Magnusson has been passed around at our office with great interest, and we think many of the concepts may be valuable for our clients for inclusion in their estate planning activities.
The Swedish concept of death cleaning, or döstädning, is a way of decluttering your home and belongings in preparation for your death. The goal is to make it easier for your loved ones to deal with your personal belongings after you’re gone, as well as to free yourself from the burden of having too many possessions during your lifetime.
Swedish death cleaning is not about getting rid of everything you own. It is about keeping the things that are important to you and letting go of the rest. The process can be done gradually, over time, or all at once.
There are many benefits to death cleaning. It can help you to free up space in your home, save money, reduce stress and anxiety, improve your quality of life, and make it easier for your loved ones to deal with your possessions after you’re gone.
If you’re as intrigued by death cleaning as we were, there are a few things you can do to get started:
- Set aside some time to declutter. Don’t try to do it all at once. Break it down into smaller tasks that you can complete over time.
- Start with one room at a time. This will make it less overwhelming.
- Ask yourself if you need or use each item. If you don’t, get rid of it.
- Donate or sell items that you don’t need or use. This is a great way to declutter and give back to your community.
- Recycle or compost items that can’t be donated or sold. This helps to reduce waste.
This can be a difficult process, so be patient and gentle with yourself. If you’re not sure where to start, many resources are available to help you. There are books, articles, and websites that can provide you with tips and advice. You can also hire a professional organizer to help you with the process.
Death cleaning is a thoughtful and compassionate way to prepare for the end of your life. It’s a way of saying goodbye to your belongings and making it easier for your loved ones to move on after you’re gone. If you’re thinking about death cleaning, I encourage you to give it a try. It may be one of the most important things you ever do.
If you are ready to work on your estate plan, call us at 678.781.9230 and we will schedule an appointment with our experienced estate planning attorneys at to ensure that you have the appropriate legal documents in place to make settlement of your estate easier on your loved ones.
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