In 2017 Margareta Magnusson published ‘Döstädning, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning’ which became an international bestseller.
Death Cleaning is a direct translation of the Swedish word Döstädning. The book defines it as:
“ removing unnecessary things and making your home nice and orderly when you think the time is coming for you to leave the planet”
Here are six reasons to try Swedish Death Cleaning:
1. Make it easier on your loved ones after your death, saving them the burden of sorting out your belongings and taking care of your stuff. Destroy anything that will shock or upset your family or cause harm, such as private documents, letters or diaries. Taking responsibility for your things now is a future gift to your family and you can feel good about all the precious time you will be saving them.
Ask yourself “Will anyone I know be happier if I save this”
2. Planning what will happen to your belongings can avoid future family disputes. Audit your belongings and make a note of what should happen to them, repeating this process if you downsize your home. Ask family members now if they will want your collections or specific items. Margareta advises starting decision making with large items such as furniture, and moving to smaller and sentimental items like photographs.
3. Swedish death cleaning allows you to hold on to treasured items and enjoy them, finding meaning and memories in belongings. Sentimental items and special cards can be displayed and enjoyed once you have discarded all of the unimportant ornaments and nick-nacks. Spending one last time with objects before disposing of them can be a way of feeling gratitude for the item and acknowledging it had a part in your life story.
Margareta introduces the concept of a ‘Throw away box’ for personal items that may be of no value to anyone else. A small memory box for letters, cards and mementos that you’d like to look at occasionally, that can be safely discarded or kept by loved ones after your death.
4. Pass on useful items to others that may need and appreciate them. Margareta advocates giving items away over time in a ‘kind, quiet way’. Instead of buying presents for hosts, you could gift an item you already own.
Keen on recycling and reusing items, Margareta gives the example of passing on her garden tools to the new owners when she moved out of her home, as she would no longer need them. She also invited young people starting out in life to take any tools they would like from her shed.
Margareta’s best tips are: Learning to enjoy things without owning them and not feeling guilty for not keeping presents forever.
“Gratitude is connected to the giver, not the item"
5. Swedish Death Cleaning gives us an opportunity to discuss death and prepare for death.
Although difficult, there are many practical reasons to have these discussions. Gathering and organising important paperwork such as bank account information, insurance documents, will, investments and funeral arrangements will make things simpler for family members in the future. It makes sense to discuss and legally formalise our wishes about what will happen if we are no longer able to make our own medical and care decisions.
By starting a discussion with family members about our belongings, we could open the door to some of these other important discussions and decisions.
“Some people can’t get their heads around death, and these people leave a mess after them”
6. Swedish death cleaning is empowering. Do it for yourself and your own peace of mind. Start early because it takes time, and the task will then be smaller when you’re older. Celebrate your work!
If you or someone you know needs practical and emotional support with decluttering and organising their paperwork and belongings, Space Creators is here to help.
Call Heather on 07833 472591 for an informal friendly chat or to arrange a consultation
References:
Magnusson, Margareta ‘Döstädning, 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning’ Canongate Books Ltd, 2017
Resources:
Money Saving Expert’s 'Death Happens - Plan for It' guide covers financial and practical issues
Death With Dignity provide a Life file and a downloadable end of life checklist
https://deathwithdignity.org/resources/life-file/
Macmillan provide end of life guides covering making wills, power of attorney and care directives in booklet and audio form on their website: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/booklets-and-resources
Age UK offer a free Life book where you can write important and useful information about your life
Age UK’s guide, ‘Getting your affairs in order and thinking about your care needs’ is available online to download and in audio and large print copy:
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