So I started a column over at Daily Tribune a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, because of personal circumstances, I haven’t been able to update the column, which bears the same title as this blog. One of my entries though is thoroughly relevant to where we’re at these days. So I am sharing it with you…

A few nights ago, I helped a friend pack away the belongings of her parents, both of whom had already passed away. As we went through their things, a curious assemblage of clothes, paper files and whatnots, I could only surmise what it would be like when it’s my turn to take on such a task or when it’s my children’s time to do the same.

This brought to mind a Swedish concept called dostadning. While most of the people on my social media feeds are busy doing the Marie Kondo, keeping only the objects that “spark joy” in their lives, I’ve started looking at stuff which my children might be embarrassed to know their mother actually had! Mwahahahaha!

In her book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, author Margareta Magnusson talks about cleaning up your stuff before you die, rather than having someone else do it when you pass away. Trust the people who created Ikea to think up of something so compassionately considerate.

More than decluttering, dostadning saves your loved ones from the emotionally charged task of going through your belongings and deciding which of those they could keep and which of those they would have to get rid of. This task might be somewhat cathartic, but it can also be potentially embarrassing. I mean, do you really want your children to read something you wrote in your journal 10,000 years ago? (Hello Bridges of Madison County!) Some of those, I’m pretty sure, are stuff you never imagined other people would read, so it’s best to get rid of them when you still have the chance.

I keep journals myself. I once went through a number of them and found some of the entries irrelevant. While writing them at the moment provided a much-needed release for all of my bottled-up feelings, the emotions are now long gone. So, I tore up those pages, and burned them. No need for anybody else to go through my angst.

While Marie encourages throwing or donating stuff you don’t need, Margareta says you may consider giving to loved ones whenever the circumstance presents itself.

If a friend, for instance, is head over heels in love with a statement necklace you’re wearing, and for you it’s just one in a million, consider gifting it to her. It would bring her so much joy, and it would make your collection a bit lighter.

While you’re at it, chisel your way through your digital properties as well. This would take a different level of decluttering. Don’t forget to leave access information of all your digital accounts to your children as well.

Of course, there are bound to be absolutely gooey sentimental stuff which you’d never think of throwing away; some objects have the power to bring us back to powerful, heartwarming memories. Margareta herself has a “throw-away box” for items which only she can understand, and which her children can just throw away when she’s gone.

There is no time frame for this, of course. The idea is to be mindful about the stuff you hold on to and to be conscious of what you leave behind.