Swedish Death Cleaning

*******This is copied from Tara Alexander’s email. Totally Rewrite. Look up details of Swedish Death Cleaning ***********

I love to clean and keep things neat and tidy. But I struggle with this, too. As I start to move into a different part of my life, I’m now organizing differently. I’m not quite at the Swedish Death Cleaning phase, but I do like to live a life that’s lighter and easier. 🙂

If you’re not familiar with Swedish Death Cleaning … Swedish death cleaning is an interesting way of decluttering and organizing your home, especially for those of us who are moving into a new phase of life. It encourages us to take stock of the things we own and eliminate those we don’t use anymore or give away items that may be special or meaningful to others. With Swedish death cleaning, you can transform your space into a peaceful sanctuary, knowing that you’ve taken care of things for future generations (or friends and family if you don’t have children).

I like the philosophy of Swedish death cleaning and it’s really for any generation — plus, you really never know when you’re going to move on to the sweet by and by, so it’s good to be prepared. It can really change your relationship with your stuff. Combine that with Marie Kondo and her philosophy and you have pretty much all you need. 🙂 I find Marie Kondo’s approach to things interesting and fascinating!

As the world and our issues become more complex (something I cannot control), I find that my environment (something I can control), is important for maintaining and sustaining a strong foundation.

It can be a daunting task to declutter your home, office or other space, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are three easy steps that will help you get started with the process!

1. Clear Surfaces: Start by clearing all surfaces of any clutter and decorations. The goal is to make sure you can properly see and access each surface as well as hard-to-reach surfaces such as door frames, window sills etc. Plus, you’re going to get some early wins. Things will start to look better and smell better.

Tara’s Pro Tip: Get rid of things that collect dust. They take a lot of time for upkeep. The more surface space visible in a room, the more you need to clean.

2. Sort & Reorganize: Separate items into categories such as keep, donate/sell, and recycle. Keep only the items you use regularly or those that bring joy; donate/sell items that still have value; and recycle what cannot be reused or donated. Be mindful when sorting – go through every item in each category before disposing of it or storing it away again.

Tara’s Pro Tip: If you buy one thing, challenge yourself to get rid of or use up at least two things in the next 2 days. Keep a journal to track your progress.

3. Make a Plan & Commit to It: Once you have sorted everything in its proper place, set aside time each day or week (or month) to tackle specific areas of your home at once. You can also plan ahead for occasions where clutter may build up so that you are prepared to clean and organize quickly – practical examples include parties, events, seasonal changes etc.

Tara’s Pro Tip: Plan for a Spring and Fall Cleaning. This way you can go into summer and year-end holidays with your home in order. Don’t wait until the last minute to do these things. Do a little every day, every couple of days or a few hours on the weekend. You’ll be happy you invested the time once you see the results.

Clutter can be a source of stress and distraction, but with the right strategies and a commitment to the process, your home can become a sanctuary of peace and order. Decluttering your space is an investment in yourself and your quality of life. Now is the best time to get started.

Tara’s Pro Tip: Clutter has been linked to depress and anxiety and other health issues. And, lack of cleanliness can adversely affect your health — dust, mold, other assorted ick. No one wants that!