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Swedish 'death cleaning' involves a lot more than just mopping and dusting

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While I’m nowhere near retirement age, I do have a lot of stuff. Like a lot.

I recently got rid of a lot of clutter and it did make me feel a lot lighter and a bit more organised (I’m anything but); and my bedroom was cleaner for a few days (I’m just a little bit messy).

Döstädning, which means “death cleaning” in English, is a new method of downsizing and organising your life, recently introduced by Swedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson.

According to The Chronicle, it’s a new approach to your belongings for people over 50 to sort out their possessions and organise their homes so their children won’t be burdened with the decision of what goes and what stays, etc when they eventually pass away. 

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Yeah it doesn’t sound like fun, or anything less than awkward to talk to your parents about, but it could save everyone a lot of time and effort in the future. So not a bad idea after all. 

"Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up," Magnusson said to The Chronicle. "It is about a permanent form of organisation that makes your everyday life run more smoothly."

No better time than now

But it’s not just for those who might be going into their twilight years, Magnusson says it’s also for all ages. "My motto is, if you don't love it, lose it. If you don't use it, lose it."

So it’s a bit like Marie Kondo’s advice for tidying up your life with the added incentive of cleaning up your life for when you’re no longer there. 

Images: Giphy

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According to this article on Marie Claire, there are a few things to know about death cleaning, namely:

- It’s an ongoing process
- As you sort out your home, you should sort out things like your will, funeral and what you’re leaving behind for whom. 
- You should tell your friends and family about your plans
- You should start with your closet
- Reward yourself after with experiences not things

Would you try death cleaning to organise your life? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter. 

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