Swedish Death Cleaning - a way to more harmony and balance in life?
Are you one of those people that love to be organized and never saves anything you don’t need? Or are you more like most people and have things in storage that have accumulated over time and is never or rarely used? Many of us like to keep our homes clean and organized, but still have spaces where the clutter pile up from years of accumulated belongings. This is where Swedish death cleaning (döstädning) comes in. It might sound morbid, but Swedish death cleaning is actually all about life, not death. The concept was popularized in the U.S. by the book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Make Your Loved Ones’ Lives Easier and Your On Life More Pleasant” by Margareta Magnusson.
The basic idea is to organize and get rid of things you don’t need any more now, rather than leaving it for your loved ones the day you leave this world. Hence the name: the Swedish word “dö” means “to die” in English, and “städning” means “cleaning”. So why do I say that it’s more about life than death? Well, there are many benefits in this for you, more so than for your loved ones. It’s actually not so much about cleaning as it is about organizing and declutter you home for a more balanced and organized lifestyle. The result could be greater appreciation for the things you actually value, a happier outlook on life, and more positive energy.
Just by going through the process of organizing your belongings and getting rid of things that you haven’t used in years you are likely to find those old things that have real sentimental value to you, or just being reminded of the things that you truly care about. It is also well known that organizing your home can actually make you happier. Clutter and excess belongings can make you stressed and impact your mood negatively; cleaning and organizing could relive that and actually give you a feeling of lightening the load that comes with the overwhelming thoughts of clutter and unorganized spaces.
And did you know that Margareta Magnusson’s book actually inspired a popular TV show? In 2023 the first season of “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” was released, and is currently available to stream on Peacock. The executive produced is no other than the very funny Amy Poehler of “Saturday Night Live” fame. Perhaps this is no coincidence: Amy’s brother, Greg Poehler, has a Swedish wife and has lived in Stockholm for many years. He also starred in the TV series “Welcome to Sweden” in 2012, so it is fair to say that he has a close connection to Sweden and its culture.
If you are interested in learning more about Swedish Death Cleaning and perhaps want to try it out for yourself I am here to help. Just schedule a free consultation using the button below and I will let you know what I can do for you. No commitment needed on your part, I always enjoy sharing my knowledge with people from all over the world. After moving no less than 26 times in my life (so far), I have learned a thing or two about the process of organizing, optimizing, and right-sizing!
