“The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” by Margareta Magnusson

My friend Stuart and I are in our early 50's, and we want to move into an assisted living facility now. Why wait until our 80's when we could enjoy the relaxing, supervised routine today? Our schedule would be filled with yoga, chair massages, swimming, cocktails and appetizers starting at 4 pm, followed by a well-prepared seasonal meal in the dining room. Then later, we would enjoy a line dancing class or a movie from the 1980's that we once loved. This interests us because it projects an organized and decluttered life. This is the subject matter of Margareta Magnusson’s book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.” Several times throughout the book the author mentions she is between 80 and 100 years old, the perfect time to comb through your belongings and get rid of all the things you do not need. Much like Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” Magnusson breaks down her cleaning method into different categories such as furniture, clothing, pets and photographs. But unlike Kondo’s book, Magnusson keeps in mind that cleaning your box before you die is important, so your children won’t have to. Rather than morbid, I found the approach refreshing and creative, and quite appropriate for someone in their mid 50's. Marking items with labels to give to certain family members, organizing pictures into piles for loved ones, and even sorting through clothing that no longer fits your lifestyle sounds divine to me. Coincidentally, I’m also about to sign the documents on my will and advanced directive, which are important milestones to take care of as well. Magnusson’s book offers a fresh roadmap on aging gracefully. To purchase this book on Amazon click here.