Latest news with #TheGentleArtofSwedishDeathCleaning
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
What is Swedish death cleaning? It's not as morbid as it sounds
So we all like to think we keep an orderly house, everything in its place and a place for everything? But what if you died tomorrow? Would your loved ones know where to start sorting out your belongings if you passed on unexpectedly? Well, a concept known as Swedish Death Cleaning promises to show us all how to leave a tidy house and home, and save a lot of trouble for those we leave behind. Pic: Shutterstock But what is it all about, and how do we learn how to do it? The general rule of thumb is that people in their late middle age, and for now we are going to call this late 50s to 60s, need to start getting rid of all that stuff they are keeping for no good reason, except maybe sentimentality. And let's face it, the kids probably don't want your concert tickets from Slane 1986 or your old love letters (God forbid). Time to open up the attic and get to work Pic: Shutterstock Hire a skip and get ruthless with the crap that you have been storing for decades. Margareta Magnusson, author of the book 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning' advises everyone to 'Visit your storage areas and start pulling out what's there, because who do you think will take care of all of that when you are no longer here?' 'Plus, you'll be able to better enjoy your life when you have less mess and clutter to deal with.' In Swedish, the exercise is döstädning — a combination of the word 'dö' (which means death) and 'städning' (which means cleaning), she explains in the book. Pic: Shutterstock 'Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up, it is about a permanent form of organisation that makes your everyday life run more smoothly,' she explains. And you may even find the process itself enjoyable, she adds. 'It is a delight to go through things and remember their worth'. So do your kids a favour, get up into that attic, drag out the boxes of old love letters, ticket stubs, scrapbooks and memorabilia and get ruthless. Your loved ones will thank you for it.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Parks and Recreation's Amy Poehler and Mike Schur Reteaming for Dig Comedy Series at Peacock
Ten years after Parks and Recreation wrapped on NBC, Amy Poehler and Mike Schur are breaking ground on a new TV collaboration. The pair is behind Dig, a new comedy ordered to series at Peacock on Wednesday. Poehler and Schur will co-write the pilot episode and serve as executive producers, while Poehler will also star in the project. More from TVLine ADVERTISEMENT An adaptation of Kate Myers' 2023 novel Excavations, Dig follows four women working at an archaeological dig in Greece, all of whom are at wildly different crossroads in their lives. 'When the team uncovers a long-buried secret with the potential to rewrite history,' the logline reads, 'they find themselves at the center of a high-stakes international conspiracy.' Dig marks Poehler and Schur's first creative team-up since Parks and Recreation, which ended in 2015 after a seven-season run on NBC. Other Dig EPs include Myers, J.J. Philbin, Morgan Sackett, Dave Becky, David Miner, Sharon Jackson, Kate Arend and Jordan Grief. Since Parks and Recreation concluded, Poehler's TV credits have included Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and the animated series Duncanville and Dream Productions (where she voices her Inside Out character of Joy). Schur, meanwhile, has since created or co-created NBC's The Good Place, Peacock's Rutherford Falls and Netflix's A Man on the Inside, now in production on its second season. Does Dig sound like it's up your alley? Hit the comments! Best of TVLine Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Why I'm embracing Swedish Death Cleaning at 57
My house is currently an assault course of bin liners, each one bulging with an eclectic mix of dog-eared books, burnt saucepans, half empty jigsaw puzzles and more. Much more. And it's all because of Döstädning, roughly and spookily translated as Swedish death cleaning. Popularised by the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson, Döstädning technically involves decluttering and organising all your possessions to make it easier for anyone else who might otherwise have to take on the task. In other words, not leaving it to your kids to do once you're dead. To be clear, this goes well beyond the realms of Marie Kondo or even darlin' Stacey Solomon. Instead the brief is to ruthlessly curate what matters and what doesn't. Empty nesters In my case that means chucking out three decades worth of stuff I no longer want, need or even remember how I came to possess in the first place. After all, these days there's just my husband Martin and I living in our once-bustling Manchester home. Our older two sons are married and living in London, our youngest son has moved abroad and our daughter is away at university and has already indicated that post-graduation, her hometown is unlikely to feature in her plans. The last drawer That said, I hadn't planned to embark on a top-to-toe purge of our possessions. But then a kitchen cupboard proved to be the last straw – or, more specifically, the last drawer. Thanks to stacks of unwritten greetings cards and leaflets relating to appliances which sparked out years ago, it was almost impossible to open. At that ligament-wrenching moment I knew it was time to get my life – and drawers – in order. Yet this grand clear out is not the prologue to putting the house on the market. We love the area, the garden, the friends who live in our little cul-de-sac and others who live close by. Anyway, memories pour out of every battered corner – of babies snoozing on our small, sun-blushed patio and get-togethers such as the karaoke party to celebrate my 30 th birthday at which we brutalised Madonna's back catalogue. Nor is this about facing mortality. Although in my 50s I'm still fizzing with youthful ambition to succeed as a journalist and broadcaster as well as enjoying the sense of freedom that comes with an empty – if cluttered - nest. A nostalgic endeavour But with longevity of occupation comes the liability of hoarding. As one of our children wryly observed on a recent visit home, 'How on earth are you – or we – ever going to clear this place out?' It was said as a joke. But given he had counted four defunct hoovers in the cloakroom under the stairs it held more than a grain of truth. One day this job will need to be done – by default or design. Why not do it now? That way Döstädning is a nostalgic rather than negative endeavour. Indeed as Magnusson writes in her book, Döstädning isn't the story of death and its slow, ungainly inevitability. But rather, as she puts it, 'The story of life, your life, the good memories and the bad. The good ones you keep. The bad you expunge.' A sense of calm There are lots of psychological benefits of Döstädning too. 'A tidy space often promotes a sense of calm, reducing stress and feelings of being overwhelmed,' Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of the Chelsea Psychology Clinic tells me. 'It also helps people feel more in control of their environment, which can be particularly beneficial during times of uncertainty. On a practical level, sorting through belongings while you're still able to make decisions prevents loved ones from having to manage it in the future, which can be an emotional and overwhelming task for them.' Start with the least emotional first So how to go about embarking on this Swedish death – or, as I prefer to term it, life – clean? Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman of the Declutter Hub and authors of Reset Your Home, Unpack Your Emotions And Your Clutter, Step By Step tell me it's important to make a plan. 'Work systematically around the house starting in the least emotional rooms first. In the kitchen and bathroom, for example, the decluttering decisions you need to make tend to be more practical than emotional so they are a good place to start.' Dr Touroni suggests taking on small, achievable goals, such as tackling one drawer or shelf at a time, all the while asking myself practical questions: 'Do I use this? Does it serve a purpose? Would I miss it if it were gone?' Author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner also suggests that I schedule a particular time to work through harder tasks. 'This makes sure it doesn't get forgotten or overlooked – and can also make you feel accomplished when you tick it off!' she assures me. Crusty toothbrushes and lidless Tupperware With such advice ringing around my head, I started small (not least that wretched kitchen drawer). But it quickly becomes addictive. In the bathroom I throw out loads of make-up (aubergine lipstick? What was I thinking?) and blitzed the cupboard under the sink – home to an unopened but battered cinnamon-scented gift set, half-empty bottles of self-tan and a pile of crusting electric toothbrushes (I once had to road test a ton for a newspaper feature). I do the same with some kitchen cupboards, binning battered saucepans, lidless Tupperware boxes and – inexplicably – a lace sky blue table runner . From there I move on to clothes, operating under the guiding principle of whether I've worn a garment since the start of the pandemic. There are times when I have struggled. There's an ice-cream maker we received as a wedding present which has never been used. I hate ice cream. Yet unflinching in its wrapping, it propels me back to that gusty November day when we got married 34 years ago. Academia spared the axe I also felt a terrible twinge of regret about getting rid of my A level notes. I studied English Literature, French and Ancient History so my files are crammed with essays and critiques, all carefully written in my pretentious teenage curlicue. It's a body of work which recalls the endless slog to secure good grades. How can I consign it all to the trash? My thoughts on Othello, Thucydides and Albert Camus go back in the cupboard to live another day. Anything relating to the children also gives me pause. Emptying out what was their games cupboard sends me skittering into a world of memories. But I crack on. Given they are now aged between 20 and 32, I imagine a Harry Potter trivial pursuit with most of the pieces missing isn't their idea of entertainment. I save the worst till last – my office. A small room tacked onto the back of the garage by the previous owner where, over the years, I have squirrelled myself away to pursue my ambition as a writer. There are piles of now hopelessly out of date reference books and desk diaries as well as heaps of newspapers and magazines bearing my work ('How to beat the time thieves' penned for one glossy back in 2006, still has lots of excellent advice.) How can I junk the fruits of my labours – even though the piles of yellowing articles are of value only to me? But this is the beauty of Döstädning. Despite the title, there's no dead in this deadline. Some decisions can indeed wait another day.
Globe and Mail
20-02-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
Swedish death cleaning and the art of decluttering before you die
Andrea Halford, centre, looks through photo albums with her stepfather, Paul, and mother, Katharine, in their Hamilton home on Feb. 17. Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail When Andrea Halford's father passed away suddenly eight years ago, she found herself not only grieving but also overwhelmed by the sheer volume of belongings he left behind. His four-bedroom home was packed with piles of furniture, over 80 photo albums, a collection of more than 100 elephant figurines in various forms, and much more. 'There was so much stuff that I didn't know what to do with,' said Ms. Halford, now 40. 'I didn't want to get rid of anything. I was very attached emotionally to all the things.' Watching her struggle, her 74-year-old stepfather, Paul Charles, and her mother, Katharine Edmonds, 76, realized they didn't want to leave her with that same burden again when they pass away. In their own home, they saw the cat-scratched dining room table, drawers filled with silverware and countless other things they no longer needed. Slowly, they began getting rid of items. This practice – clearing out possessions to ease the burden on loved ones after death – has a name: Swedish death cleaning. While it could be seen simply as a thorough spring cleaning, experts say it can be a crucial part of estate planning. Andrea's father died suddenly eight years ago, and she was left to deal with all of his belongings in his home, including many photo albums. Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail Rooted in Swedish culture, this decluttering approach encourages people to sort through their belongings, keeping only what's meaningful or useful and ensuring their heirs aren't left to deal with a houseful of unwanted items. The concept was popularized by Margareta Magnusson in her 2017 book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, which made its way onto several bestseller lists, including The New York Times. It's important, in particular, for those in or about to reach their retirement years who have accumulated a lifetime of possessions, said Julie Witherell, a professional organizer and owner of Julie's Organizing Services in Halifax. Ms. Witherell has seen firsthand the difficulties that families face. 'A lot of people are afraid to get rid of things that belonged to a loved member that passed away because they feel like that person is a part of that object,' she said. 'They feel like they're throwing that person out in a way.' Ms. Halford couldn't get rid of most of her father's things for five years after he died. She would look at his couch and remember their conversations, flip through photo albums, and feel unable to move forward. 'I was stuck thinking the objects were the memories,' she said. The Halfords have since adopted the philosophy of Swedish Death Cleaning, a method of decluttering and organizing belongings to lessen the burden on loved ones after you've passed. Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail Leaving too many belongings behind can actually stunt loved ones' grieving process, trapping people in an emotional attachment to objects, Ms. Witherell said. Donna Diebel, 63, had a similar realization after a visit to Sunday mass. She recalls the priest asking, 'If you were to pass today, what might your kids want of yours?' Curious, she asked her two daughters, both in their mid-30s. One replied, 'Nothing,' and the other said, 'Maybe the table.' 'At that point, I realized – no one wants any of this,' Ms. Diebel said. Now, she declutters regularly, sorting items into three bins: keep, donate, toss. 'If I were to pass ... one less thing for my daughters to worry about is how much stuff I got,' Ms. Diebel said. Elaine Birchall, a counsellor with expertise in hoarding behaviour and the founder of Ottawa-based Birchall Consulting, works with clients in Canada and abroad. She suggests starting small with decluttering: set a 15-minute timer and sort through as much as possible. When you feel up to it, add another 15 minutes and repeat. It's also important to have open conversations with your children about what they would want to keep, Ms. Witherell said. Mr. Charles did this with stepdaughter, marking the few sentimental items belonging to him and her mother that she wanted, while also identifying valuables, like a painting, that she could sell in the future. Swedish death cleaning can also play a major role in estate planning, Ms. Witherell said. Many of the cases she handles involve wills that don't specify which heir should receive certain items, often leading to conflict during an already difficult time. By incorporating Swedish death cleaning, individuals can create a clear, itemized list of assets and explicitly state in their will who will inherit them. Ms. Witherell has noticed a common theme among her clients after they embrace Swedish death cleaning: a sense of relief. 'It helps to declutter not just their home, but their mind,' she said. 'Their lives feel like they have more joy, more peace and more intention to focus on the things that really matter.'
New York Times
06-02-2025
- General
- New York Times
5 Decluttering Books to Bring Order to Chaos
Tyler Moore was two days into a mental health leave when inspiration struck. He and his wife, Emily, were crammed into a small apartment with two young children; the 38-year-old educator was craving order. He asked his wife if they could rearrange the apartment, swapping bedrooms with their children. Mrs. Moore liked the idea but begged him to hold off. When she went out with the kids, however, he started 'imploding' their home, he said. Mrs. returned to a mess and told him they were going to need some help. They checked out two Marie Kondo books from the library: 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' and 'Spark Joy.' This, Mr. Moore said, was the first step in organizing their space. Now a tidying expert himself, Mr. Moore runs a popular Instagram account called Tidy Dad and recently published his first book, 'Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters Most.' But he still remembers the chaos in his New York City apartment, and how Ms. Kondo felt like 'an impartial person who could step in' and guide them, he said. Books can provide strategies and emotional support when we're trying to organize our lives. So we asked professional organizers and other experts to recommend their favorites. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson One day, we will be gone — but our things will still be here. This 2017 book, a favorite among all the experts we spoke to, is a call for people to declutter while they still can. 'No one wants to think about their own mortality,' said Patty Morrissey, the program director of the KonMari Club, an organizing community created by Marie Kondo. But this book helps present organization in a positive way — as a 'life review,' she said. For example, Ms. Magnusson recommends designating a 'Throw Away' box for personal items that have sentimental value — but may not for anyone else — and then labeling it so that your loved ones can discard it when you're gone. Organizing From the Inside Out, by Julie Morgenstern Ms. Morgenstern is known as 'one of the OGs in organizing,' Matt Paxton, author of 'Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff,' explained. In this 1998 book, Ms. Morgenstern presents an organizing strategy called S.P.A.C.E., which stands for: Sort, or group items; purge, or get rid of unnecessary things; assign a home, or designate a specific place for every object; containerize, or organize items with the help of bins, boxes, and other containers; and equalize, or check in regularly to tweak the process when needed. This framework, however, isn't meant to be rigid. The book 'helps us organize in a way that's right for us,' said Gretchen Rubin, host of the 'Happier' podcast. For example, Ms. Morgenstern encourages people who are chronically late to store essentials (like keys and wallets) near the door. This practical guide, full of insights, shows that there's no one-size-fits-all solution to organizing, Ms. Rubin added. How to Keep House While Drowning, by KC Davis Tidying up can be difficult for anyone, but it can be uniquely challenging for people living with A.D.H.D. and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. For those in search of judgment-free guidance, this 2022 book offers a simple approach. While Ms. Davis recommends breaking things into small, manageable tasks, she stresses the importance of not being too hard on yourself, by doing things like running the dishwasher before it's completely full. The book is also written so people can skip around, diving into the section that they need, which can be particularly useful for people who find focusing difficult. Ms. Morrissey recommends it to clients who aren't 'striving for aspirational levels of order,' but are 'just trying to get through the day.' What We Keep, by Bill Shapiro with Naomi Wax This book, published in 2018, isn't a decluttering how-to. Instead, the authors interviewed hundreds of people, including truckers and nuns, asking them whether important items symbolize pivotal moments or help them remember relationships and people who are no longer with them. Each story invites readers to consider what their own objects mean. When you start to think about 'what you've chosen to keep and interrogate the 'why' — whether for utility or sparking a memory — that is really beautiful,' Mr. Moore said. ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life by Kathleen Nadeau and Judith Kolberg This 2002 book offers people with A.D.H.D. flexible ways to approach organizing. For example, many people experience the 'out of sight, out of mind' phenomenon, where they might forget about items they don't see regularly. The authors, however, suggest transparent storage containers or open shelving to keep important items visible. It is 'even written in A.D.H.D.-friendly language,' Ms. Morrissey said, adding that it includes helpful charts and illustrations, too. This book, she added, 'is a great way to help people who struggle with the execution and completion of a task get their clutter under control.'
