What a good job you have done! I’m 72 and started Swedish death cleaning a year ago. After a few weeks, I told my family that each box and bag of things leaving my house is a weight off my shoulders. I love it.
I am an elder orphan so I have no family and many of my friends have passed. I have been Swedish Death Cleaning for the past 5 years and becoming a minimalist as I did not want my items to be cleaned out by a stranger and put in the trash. I have intentionally giving my items to younger people whom I know will enjoy them and even need them as they are starting out. I have gotten rid of all the family photos and all sentimental items, even the bronze baby shoes. My affairs are in order and it has been such a relief. By no means am I hermit, I still have my car, house, and am very active. I have been very intentional on what I want on my bucket list and how to do it along with how I want to help others in the last season of my life.
@@LuckyCharms_4 When my mom passed I saw picture after picture of obituaries. My mom had a terrible time letting her friends go. She even got sick from 3 years of grieving. I sat down and took many hours going through the pictures and remembering but knowing no one else would care. I told myself if I held on to the pictures I was not honoring these people as I wanted them to know I was at peace with them leaving. What greater honor and gift could I give to my past then to not cling to people I will never see again. Then I remember how sick my mom was from here holding on. Making peace and acceptance seem better than clinging and possibly getting sick like my mom. So no I did not scan them.
Following your lead. I have small fire in the winter and burn old photos and letters that no one will ever want. Also sending photos and memories to old friends.
My grandmother passed away 2 years ago. She was a child of the great depression and kept everything. As we cleaned out her place, sadly throwing away half and donating most of the rest, it dawned on me how little my children will want after I'm gone. Younger generations really don't want the stuff, they want memories and relationship, but not the stuff.
Very well said: “they want the memories, not the stuff” - and that’s not because they don’t appreciate or care about the person. I think sometimes people feel offended when they try to pass something along and the person doesn’t want it. But if the memories tied to an object are specific to you, it makes sense that someone else wouldn’t have those same emotions tied to it. ❤️
Funny I’ve been telling my husband how much I desire to go through stuff and donate or toss in order to have control. We have nobody to leave things to. For me I’d simply not like to leave a mess to those who will be in charge of closing out our home . Hubs just isn’t interested. I however will continue to gently death clean for the joy and freedom it will bring to me.
I Swedish death cleaned 7 years ago, after my own mom passed, I wanted to not have my daughter deal with this… I never had a lot of possessions, but I was surprised how much I did donate, sell or threw away… It’s an amazing gift to give for your children… I feel light and free. Last Christmas as I put away my Christmas decor I decluttered and I am now down to one tote of Xmas decor ,I kept only what I love, and I donated the rest. I was 65 when I began my decluttering, My husband even decluttered his possessions after awhile. Swedish death cleaning is only keeping what you love and need, you will be surprised how much you do get rid of and how much you value what you decide to keep
I started SDC’ing last 4th of July weekend when nobody was around. Concur with all the points you brought up. Incredibly liberating and my place looks lighter and brighter and twice the size. Most surprising and rewarding was the reaction from my grown children who had always insisted that Nah, nobody wants all your crap: I started clearing out the “crap” all of a sudden they were able to see family things that “Hey, don’t get rid of that, I’ve always loved it and want to have it when you’re gone!” The lesson: be brave, be thoughtful, be caring; clear out your trash and find the treasures.
What an excellent video. I’m in my late 50’s & we started seriously decluttering about 6 years ago. I joke that it will only take a weekend for family to clean out our house after we’re gone lol. I love the lightness. My one weakness though is Xmas decor. It’s gotten out of hand but it’s all so darn cute. Thank you again for this insightful video!
Thank you so much! This process is so fascinating to me. I have seen videos where people are throwing tons of things into garbage bags and calling it a Swedish Death Cleaning - and to me that just seems like a thorough decluttering session. SDC is a much more thoughtful and intentional process. ❤️
I’m 65 and I started Swedish Death Cleaning a few months ago. You said the word: Dignity; for me that sums it all up. Thank you for another relevant video.
This is such an important video and your insight, wisdom and tips are critical in providing either a loving and “easy” transition or one that is traumatic for those left behind. Sharing your stories all through your life with your family is the glue of your legacy. Having 2 parents w Alzheimer’s and then being the one to sort and solve all the issues is not something I would wish on anyone. My dad had no plan, although we knew his wishes well in advance. Everything went in a dumpster. My mom had detailed plans, but she wanted us to keep everything. In the end most was donated except the things that meant the most to us. We had all those lovely stories and memories gathered in our hearts from the retelling from both our parents which mattered far more except for a few extra “treasures”. Now as a “single”, I’ve created a detailed list of everything necessary for my brother, and I’ve already given my nieces and nephews anything they want I’m not using. They can keep or sell it as they choose. I’ve minimized all my own things, and when I go to Jesus they will not be burdened but will have a storehouse of our shared stories and memories. 💝🎈
I’m sorry to hear that both of your parents were afflicted by Alzheimer’s. That must have been very difficult for you. What a blessing to have all the stories and memories that you are then able to pass to others. ❤️
Thank you for sharing, I am 62 and my Swedish death cleaning is all done. It is awesome, I only keep and manage articles that I need and used the rest it does not exit any longer. All my pictures are digital, now I really can enjoy my life without baggage. With gratitude 🙌😎🙏
I need to put hundreds of bits and pieces of crafts forward to others and get my affairs in order I’m only 64 but it’s been on my mind to take action! The book is great. I think I will Re read it and take action this month! Thanks for the encouragement. Xolori
Excellent video, as always! I read the book--also checked out from my local library--and even for a thin book there was so much fluff and padding in it (long stories and even recipes). You distilled down all from the book that was practical and shared it so engagingly. Living life as a minimalist will make death cleaning almost effortless, especially if we can give treasured things away before we shuffle the mortal coil.
I like the way you explain, with many reasons to do this cleaning out. I worked on this process the last 3 years, I did it slowly and engaged my children and relatives also. I was surprised what some wanted to keep. We gave away to friends of our children, charities and feel good about this. We are now moving to a retirement community and I’m so glad i took the time and did this. Moving will be much easier.
｡✧*.｡A life lesson｡✧*.｡: I've stopped listening to music that have toxic context; which have improved my life fr. Ppl don't really think about how much things we see and watch actually impact our thoughts and mood. Majority of the lyrics are negative and toxic (same goes with many TV-series/shows and movies). I hope this helps someone who’s stuck with toxic content. Toxic contents are good in the way that it can open our eyes and ears about what actually is toxic/bad/wrong - so we therefore can distance ourselves from toxicity. So observe, learn and act. Toxic things/people are just distractions... toxicity prevents us from being productive and growing as persons, so we need to replace these toxic patterns with healthy patterns: We need to respond and act the opposite of toxic (we need to respond and act with KINDNESS). Our purpose in life is to live and learn from our mistakes and therefore make this world better and SAFER. Instead of thinking "Why is this happening to me?" -> think "What can I learn from this?" Peace and love.
Excellent video and perspectives to consider. I started decluttering before learning about Swedish Death Cleaning so I haven't tried downsizing from that angle yet. It would be interesting to see how much more I'd be willing to let go using that method.
I can’t believe I’m so early. Lol. I think I’m faring pretty well for someone my age (55 lol) but it’s so true. Your 55+ year old body is not your 25 year old body. I did have to get a clue about that and some days I seem to forget. But now yah. I pay attention to my body’s cues more now tho Bcuz the consequences of not doing so can be a bit more “loud.” And I think ditto for the stuff. One thing for me was legs and knees. “Reaching low” is not as easy. I can do it still but I just have to be more careful. So low areas were a major focus for me. I like that the best tho. Telling my story my way. I didn’t actually read the book but I think my process was similar. You really can’t help such things crossing your mind if you thoroughly go through all of your possessions and evaluate everything. Perfectionism tho. Lol. I don’t think I could half way do anything and be satisfied and this was no exception.
You are early! Ha ha! It’s wonderful for us to all recognize what is most comfortable in terms of physical access to spaces. I think about people who have stuffed attics and wonder if they will ever be able to see any of the things up there again if they aren’t able to climb the ladder or steep stairs. Kind of makes me sad to think about honestly. And even though 65 is the recommended staring point, I think it is more than reasonable to encourage people who are younger- in their 40s and 50s - to begin decluttering in preparation…so that by the time 65 rolls around, at least the obvious clutter is gone. Hope you have a great day today! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage Oh ikr. Can be sad but at least we can try to do a little something before then. I feel really lucky to have stumbled upon all this minimalist content. And a lot of folks could prob get some help with the physical stuff if they had to or were late to the game. My dang knee went wonky for awhile and would lock up if I did what my younger self used to do (sort of forget and spring down to squat). It was scary Bcuz I’d just be “stuck” that way and it would hurt like crap to just stand back up. So I had to just lay there and work it back. It was awful. It finally got better but there is no way now that I’m “springing down” for anything whatsoever. Lol. And yah true. Seems like empty nest is a more natural time to take inventory like that, which for many falls in that middle age range. And thanks! You have a marvelous day also! 😊
@@ArrowHillCottage Oh man. I hope it’s better for ya now. So dang creepy. I HATE feeling helpless like that. (I think at times I was embarrassed also. Outside working or such and have to get someone to carry me to a chair or such. And praying to God I could fix it). I think it’s more or less just really unsettling. To think for a moment Omg a life where I can’t even walk? But then you deal with it and it’s not as terrible as you imagined it would be.
Yes - getting older really helps a person appreciate all the little ways the body helps us out! Like when you wake up after sleeping funny and you back hurts - and every time you reach for something you think ‘I didn’t realize how much I used that muscle!’ 😂
My dad has wasted so much money on Stuff. A bunch of it burned up in a fire that burned down almost 2 cities. Just gone. Part of me is sad and part relieved because now I won’t have to deal with that stuff. I’m working on going minimalist.
No! The idea is to make sure those memories are preserved by telling people about them! Show them the physical object that ‘brings you back’ and explain why it is important in your life! ❤️
Swedish death cleaning….for 1 it mentions death for 2 you are expected to trash your treasures and things aka get rid of the things you hold dear for 3 that’s like killing yourself while your still alive
