The Swedish Method of Döstädning

 

Student Persuasive Essay by Emma Hutchins

        Walking into a cluttered room is the worst feeling: a mound of clothing on the floor, a pile of miscellaneous items, a leaning mountain of odd papers and old mail, and the inevitable stash hidden behind closet doors.  It all makes us want to turn around and walk away. Even though our clutter may not compete with a TLC Hoarders episode, it still has an impact on our day to day lives.  Moreover, creating habits for managing our stuff is very helpful in the long run, because if not taken care of, this “stuff” will eventually need to be sorted by a loved one, causing potential resentment and stress. In contrast to the American practice of accumulation, the Swedes have come up with a wise method of eliminating clutter. Homeowners who are nearing old age go through every belonging, consult their family about items they value, declutter and organize. This way, when they pass, their relatives do not have to go through the emotional and stressful process of sorting, decluttering, and distributing their every possession. The Swedes call this method döstädning (dur-sted-ning), otherwise known as The Swedish Death cleaning method.

        Although Swedish death cleaning can at first sound like an insensitive and overwhelming practice, it is quite the opposite; it can be a rewarding and worthwhile habit, benefiting homeowners as well as their loved ones.

        How does the method directly benefit homeowners? Swedish Death Cleaning isn’t just for the comfort of the heir, but also for the homeowners themselves. Although some consider this method to cause more stress than it alleviates, for most people the “stuff” is what’s causing the stress. Colette Shine from PR Newswire states, “After years of experience working with clients, one thing is very clear: Americans have too much stuff and it's causing them unnecessary anxiety.” People experience stress from messy and cluttered spaces. The saying “Messy space, messy mind” is actually quite valid; Kim Mill states in the Speaking of Physiology podcast that, “In recent years, psychologist research has begun to find that living and working in cluttered spaces causes stress and anxiety and can harm both our mental health and our productivity.” For seniors, a cluttered home is sometimes difficult to navigate, and it becomes increasingly dangerous for their health and well being. Why is Swedish Death cleaning important for homeowners? It benefits their mental and physical health.

This Swedish tradition doesn't just affect homeowners’ mental health, it impacts that of their heirs and loved ones. One concern about Swedish death cleaning is that, in the process of decluttering, it is possible to overlook the importance of respecting others' possessions and identifying items that are meaningful to them. Therefore it is vital that in this process, loved ones' belongings and specified wants should be respected. Swedish death cleaning is not only for the convenience of a clutter-free home, but is a relational practice. In fact, one of the main benefits of the method is that homeowners aren’t only doing it for themselves, but as an act of courtesy for others. In the context of losing a loved one, it is difficult to face the idea of sorting through all their belongings, having to host estate sales, and decluttering items. All these processes can cause stress and can be very emotionally draining. Ideally, when a loved one passes, the relatives should feel at peace and be able to focus on remembering them without having to face an overwhelming amount of clutter. 

        Swedish Death Cleaning, if done properly, can be a worthwhile and rewarding practice. “Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day, and at last, we cannot break it.” says Horace Mann. The best way to start the habit of Swedish Death cleaning is to start early. Swedish Death cleaning is assumed to be only for seniors, but this method is for all adults, even teens. So what are some steps for starting this habit? Getting started can be stressful, and is the hardest part. To begin with, start being mindful of purchases; is that new pair of shoes really necessary, or is there a perfectly fine pair at home that does the same job? Instead of buying that scarf, make one with the yarn sitting in the craft drawer. This thought process is a great start to consuming less and being financially stable. After conquering the urge to impulse-buy, it is time to start the decluttering process. Start with the less intimidating jobs first, this could be clothing or home decor. Then it’s time to proceed to harder tasks, like photos and letters. If heirs and loved ones do not care for any of the decluttered items, immediately get them out of the house. This eliminates the temptation to sneak anything back. If possible, go through stuff with family; this way they are able to specify what items have meaning to them, as well as spending quality time reminiscing through the process. Organization comes next, which simply consists of making stuff easily accessible and spaces aesthetic.  Making a life practice of decluttering and organizing has immediate rewards as well as making any end-of-life decisions involving possessions much less intimidating.

        Although Swedish death cleaning may at first sound like a daunting practice, with discipline it can become a manageable method, one that brings ease to homeowners and their loved ones. At the end of one’s life it is important to be focused on the meaningful and important things; being surrounded by a cluttered house causes stress and can be a hindrance to a fulfilling life. Heirs and loved ones should be able to feel peace and rest while dealing with the grief of loved ones passing away, not be consumed with sorting their possessions. Swedish death cleaning is not a popular topic, but it should be considered in every household, since it makes everyday life easier and burdens lighter in times of loss.