minimalism – End of Life University

Learn how the practice of “death cleaning” can simplify your life and help you prepare for the end of life.

In this first solo episode of 2022 I share what I’ve been learning about the Swedish practice of döstädning, which translates as “death cleaning.” This idea was first shared by Margareta Magnusson in her book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter.” She describes the Swedish custom of sorting through and downsizing material possessions in later life in order to lessen the burden your loved ones will experience after you die. I’m adopting this custom this year as part of my new perspective for this New Year and I think it’s something we could be teaching our patients and clients along with educating them about advance directives. Take a listen and see what you think! Let me know if you have done death cleaning in the past or are planning to start now.

Get Margareta Magnusson’s book

Listen here:

This episode includes:

Why “death cleaning” is actually minimalism for seniors
How this practice can benefit us in our daily lives
The realization that material objects only have the value we invest in them while we are alive
The impermanence of every single possession we own
Tips for “death cleaning”
How to declutter your digital assets as well as your living space
Why you should create a grief ritual as you declutter to help you release the energy contained in your possessions

Links mentioned in this episode:

Learn more and register for The Second Annual Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies – Sunday January 30th
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Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
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Learn how a minimalist lifestyle can help you find more joy and meaning as you approach the later days of life.

podcastminimalism

In this episode I share my thoughts on why the minimalist lifestyle could help us avoid excessive and unnecessary medical treatment at the end of life. In addition there are many other benefits to living simply and with “less is more” as our goal when we get older.

Read the companion blog here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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FEATURE PRESENTATION:

The minimalist movement is all the rage right now among millennials and it has a lot of positive aspects we can learn from. The emphasis is on living simply, with less material possessions in order to have more joy and freedom in life. This lifestyle could serve us well as we approach our own end of life. Here are some ways to live more simply:

Clear out possessions that you no longer use or cherish. This idea has been described in a recent blog and book about the Swedish practice of “death-cleaning.”
Comes to terms with mortality. Recognize that life is finite and death is inevitable, therefore it is important to be intentional about how you live each moment in every day, including what kind of healthcare you choose.
Take control over your healthcare – be proactive and question recommendations in these areas:
- Medications – Ask if the drugs you are taking are still necessary, if they could be causing side effects or creating negative interactions with one another. Ask if you can try reducing dosages or the number of medications you are being prescribed. Many seniors are taking at least 5 prescription medications according to studies.
- Annual exam – studies show that the annual physical exam wastes money and time and might even be harmful. Ask if you can decrease to one physical every 3 yeats.
- Health screenings – Over age 70 it is no longer recommended that you have the following screening tests: colonoscopy, mammogram, PSA, pap smear. Studies show that excessive screening can lead to false positive results, over-diagnosis and harmful over-treatment.
Plan ahead and be prepared in order to minimize complications in these areas:
- Aging – How will you manage the physical changes of later life? Who will help you?
- Housing – Where will you live if you can’t stay in your own home?
- Terminal care – What type of treatment do you want to receive at the end of life and for how long?
- After-death care – What type of funeral and burial do you want to have?
Learn to live in the moment – so you can enjoy all of life.
Focus on what really matters – to help you eliminate the things you no longer care about.
Find purpose and meaning by living simply and with intention for the rest of your days.