Swedish Death Cleaning
Marie Kondo asks the question, “Does it spark joy?” The Bullet Journal helps us keep a cleaning schedule with a simple list of monthly and seasonal chores. It’s not unreasonable to think that soon you’ll find yourself doing the practical cleaning exercise designed to help you prepare for death. I think I’ve been doing this exercise for the last twenty years of my life without knowing it has a name. It’s called Swedish Death Cleaning.
Swedish Death Cleaning is gentle.
Once you reach the end of middle age (I’m not sure what that means anymore), you get rid of all the stuff you’ve accumulated that you no longer need so that no one else has to do it for you after you pass. This is the philosophy behind Margareta Magnusson’s book, "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter." I’ve read it cover-to-cover and given it to my daughter to read, as well. She says, “Mom, this is you.” And I think it is.
I can remember when my grandmother moved from the home she shared with my grandfather to a studio apartment after he passed. I watched my mother sort through cans of string, sheet music (my grandfather was a pianist), and many odds and ends. I can remember the tension, and at that young age I vowed not to do that to my children. Fast forward thirty years and two kids; I am even more convinced that I won’t do that to them. For this reason, I’ve been discarding and donating during my entire life so that I leave only the most important things. And they know it. In fact, each has told me what they want of ours, which makes me know they have favorites that are meaningful to them.
A permanent form of organization.
In Swedish, the exercise is döstädning — a combination of the word “dö” (which means death) and “standing” (which means cleaning). Magnusson explains in the book, “Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up; it is about a permanent form of organization that makes your everyday life run more smoothly.” And you may even find the process itself enjoyable, she adds. “It is a delight to go through things and remember their worth.”
How Swedish Death Cleaning changes your life.
Swedish Death Cleaning Makes You Happier
Swedish Death Cleaning fits into the minimalism movement,” explains Rosellina Ferraro, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland. People may be drawn to it for the same reasons people decide to live in a tiny house or hire a professional organizer. If you pare down, you can better focus on the most important things in life.
Psychologically, minimalism is based on the idea that happiness doesn’t come from owning “stuff,” but rather from relationships and experiences. So, when you get rid of your excess “stuff,” you can better identify those things that are really important to you and what “sparks joy.”
Studies have shown people who are more focused on materialistic pursuits, like getting rich and buying things, are at a higher risk of becoming unhappy, anxious, having low self-esteem and developing problems with intimacy. The material possessions available in today’s world can be overwhelming. The idea of decluttering and streamlining our lives resonates with many because it may feel like it pushes back against materialism.
Swedish Death Cleaning Makes You Move Productive and Feel Less Overwhelmed
You may find yourself less stressed and more focused once you’re living in a clean, organized space. Having fewer things to worry about really can make life seem more manageable, from the practical chores you do on a day-to-day basis to the big projects and problems you face, explains psychotherapist Amy Morin, LCSW, a lecturer at Northeastern University and author of "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do."
In addition, multiple studies link clutter with stress and decreased productivity. One study that analyzed how sixty women described their home environments found that those who considered their spaces more cluttered, unfinished, and less restful had consistently higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol and worse moods over the course of a day compared to women who described their homes as being more restorative. We have discussed this time and again on our blog posts. The truth is that clutter equals stress.
Other research has found that clutter can actually make it harder for the brain to focus on a specific task because the visual cortex gets distracted by the irrelevant information we absorb.
Swedish Death Cleaning Helps You Cope with Your Own Mortality
Most importantly, there’s the practical aspect of Swedish Death Cleaning, the fact that eventually someone will need to deal with all your stuff, whether that’s you while you’re still able to, or your loved ones after you’re gone. Many people, once they reach a certain age, know they may end up having to deal with some disability that forces them to downsize or move out of their homes. Research shows you’re better off cleaning and paring down sooner than later, as people are less and less likely to do it the older they get. It’s physical work. It’s cognitive work. It’s emotional work.”
I have worked with many clients who “inherit” their parent’s belongings and are completely overwhelmed by the task of sorting through it all. I believe that leaving things for others to decide can be unfair, place undue stress on children during a time of grief and may even make them experience guilt for getting rid of their parent’s possessions.
Give it a Try!
If you’re looking to try this type of decluttering and organizing method, it’s important to look at what your overall goals are and then decide which steps you want to take. Pushing yourself a little harder than you’re comfortable with by getting rid of items, perhaps parting with a few more possessions than you think you can, will help you see that you can live with less. While you might think the way you are living now is best for you, you won’t know for sure unless you try something different.