The Gentle and Consistent Act of Swedish Death Cleaning

Every single time I go to purchase some new “item” for my home now, I think about where it will go in my house, what I will use it for and where, someday, it will end up. I actually don’t remember when I started talking or to whom about Swedish Death Cleaning but, it has now become an integral part of my every day life and thinking.
Of course, there is a book: https://www.amazon.ca/Gentle-Art-Swedish-Death-Cleaning/dp/1501173243

I also read another book called: Lightly: How to Live a Simple, Serene and Stress-free Life by Francine Jay https://www.amazon.ca/Lightly-Live-Simple-Serene-Stress-free-ebook/dp/B07FKFB3QC

I think that, sometimes, we are literally weighed down by all the stuff in our lives. So, this year, I am offloading and not “on” loading many practical parts of my daily life…and my husband is along for the ride. It also makes me think about the gifts I give. Can I give something practical (like a jar of jam) instead of one more thing that needs to be stored? Can I help my children by asking them what they want and need, rather than giving them stuff they don’t want and might even donate. My children live totally different lives – in small spaces, shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Goodwill – they have much simpler lives and I KNOW that they are NOT going to want any of my stuff.

My biggest downsize has been in dishes. I grew up with sideboards and cabinets full of different types of dishes for different occasions. I have recently downsized to ONE cabinet with some extra dishes and have transformed my “wedding” china (after almost 30 years) into every day dishes. I haven’t missed ONE item. Who was I saving/keeping all that STUFF for? I now have an “outbox” that I fill weekly (sometimes daily) and my basement is emptying out and the weight is starting to lift – my children (hopefully many years down the road) will NOT be sorting through “stuff” that they don’t want when they could be enjoying their own beautiful lives.

If you don’t know where to start…..START WITH CLOTHES. If you haven’t touched it in a year, it is time to offload it. Next, think about things that are just taking up space (old suitcases, pieces of furniture, etc.) and then look around for old electronics (DVD’s and CD’s are out of date – everything that is on them, you can find online). It really comes down to asking yourself why – why do have this, what am I using it for?

I still have LOTS of stuff in my house and I still buy things but, I am more conscious of my own consumerism now and how I am contributing to the lives of the people in my circle whom I love and care about.

Written by Pam