Robin writes:
I spend a fair amount of time in Sweden these days, and the Swedish character has really grown on me. Swedes, for instance, tend to be very practical, unemotional and considerate of the needs of others. An example is what they call döstädning, which literally means death cleaning.
Acknowledging that we're all mortal and that death could strike at any time might sound morbid, but it's actually very sensible.
Quietly getting on with decluttering your house and life, and getting your affairs in order, isn't just being kind to your loved ones.. It can also be hugely liberating and make your life more meaningful.
My latest for rockwealth Brighton sets out eight things that the gentle art of Swedish death cleaning involves.
As anyone who has been through it knows, losing a parent or partner is one the most difficult things we ever have to cope with. Arguably, the death of a loved one is the biggest test we face. But there is one thing you can do now to reduce the burden on those you will leave behind — and that’s getting your affairs in order ahead of time. It is, in a very real sense, your last gift to your loved ones.
Some cultures are better at this than we are. The Swedes, for example, have what they call döstädning, which literally translates as death cleaning. OK, death cleaning doesn’t sound much fun, but bear with me, because it’s something that all of need to do.
Döstädning basically entails decluttering — not just your physical belongings, but also your personal and financial affairs. And it’s not only designed to benefit your family, but you as well, while you’re still alive. According to Margareta Magnusson, who has written a whole book on the subject, called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, “(döstädning) is about a permanent form of organisation that makes your everyday life run more smoothly.”
Of course, no one likes thinking or talking about death; we Brits are more awkward than most when it comes up in conversation. But, says Matthew Hutton, the author of a book called Your Last Gift: Getting Your Affairs in Order, we need to get better at it. After all, death is the one certainty there is in life, and none of us knows when the end will come.
“Whatever our age or health,” says Hutton, “we need to address these realities now.”
Like Magnusson, Hutton believes, counterintuitively, that the process of thinking about death and getting your affairs in order can actually help you to enjoy life more. “My book,” he says, “is intended to encourage not morbidity, but rather realism. I hope that it can be seen as part of living life to the full.”
So, don’t delay: get on with tidying your life and finances like there’s no tomorrow. Don’t know where to start? Here are eight steps you need to focus on.
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