How does "death cleaning" help you declutter your life?
Dec 18, 2024
Discover the intriguing practice of death cleaning, a concept popularized by Margareta Magnusson. This approach encourages individuals to declutter their lives while contemplating their legacy. Learn how it merges emotional preparation with practical organization. The podcast explores the meaning of döstädning, its roots in Swedish culture, and its significance in the realm of minimalism. Why not start thinking about what truly brings joy and purpose in your belongings?
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Death Cleaning Origins
Death cleaning is a decluttering method for people entering life's final stages, preventing hoarding.
It gained popularity in 2018 with Margareta Magnusson's book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Magnusson's Inspiration
Margareta Magnusson coined "death cleaning" after experiencing the emotional toll of sorting through deceased loved ones' belongings.
She aims to reduce the burden on others and destigmatize conversations about death.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Death Cleaning Steps
Start death cleaning by informing loved ones, allowing them to help and reminisce.
Begin with less sentimental items, then give cherished possessions to loved ones, and finally discard the rest, including digital files.
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In this book, Margareta Magnusson introduces the concept of 'döstädning,' a Swedish term meaning 'death cleaning,' which involves clearing out unnecessary belongings at any age to avoid leaving the task to others. With Scandinavian humor and wisdom, Magnusson provides a radical and joyous method for putting things in order. She suggests which possessions to get rid of (such as unworn clothes and unwanted presents) and which to keep (like photographs and love letters). The book includes personal anecdotes and stories from her life in Sweden, making the process of decluttering uplifting and fun rather than overwhelming.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Marie Kondo
In this book, Marie Kondo introduces her revolutionary KonMari Method for tidying and organizing. Unlike traditional methods that focus on cleaning room by room or a little at a time, Kondo's approach involves categorizing items (clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items) and discarding those that do not spark joy. The method promises lasting results by changing the way one thinks about and interacts with their possessions. Kondo emphasizes the importance of handling each item, thanking items for their service, and finding a designated home for each item to maintain a tidy and organized space. The book also delves into the psychological and lifestyle benefits of tidying, suggesting that it can lead to greater clarity, confidence, and a more intentional way of living[1][3][5].
Back in 2010, Japanese writer Mari Kondo changed how we think about organisation and decluttering with her bestseller The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Behind the book’s grand title is a simple premise: anything that doesn’t bring you joy should be thrown away.
Since then, a new and somewhat similar trend caught on in the late 2010s: death cleaning. It’s mainly designed for people entering the final stages of their life, and making sure they don’t overboard before passing away. People started talking about death cleaning in 2018, when Stockholm-based artist and widow Margareta Magnusson published a book called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Since then, the trend has started catching on. The name comes from the Swedish döstädning: a combination of the word “dö”, which means death, and “standing”, which means cleaning.
How did Magnusson come up with the term? Where does death cleaning fit in alongside other minimalist trends? From what age do people start death cleaning? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !
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