Decluttering: Morbid reminder, after you pass away, your relatives have to deal with your stuff

Hello fellow declutterers! :)

  Before we continue the Decluttering series, I'm going to share something with the community that not everybody thinks about, especially those with tendencies to hoard and keep everything. This post isn't intended to shame anybody, only make readers aware of a very real thing. I worry my writing may come off as slightly aggressive because it's a subject I'm passionate about, having somewhat recently had a family friend pass away (nobody I was close with) and my immediate family being left to deal with what they left behind.

 Okay, it's time for a slap in the face from reality, no sugar coating and no beating around the bush: We all die one day. Die, pass away, move on to the next life, go to Heaven, regardless of whatever label you want to use and what beliefs you hold regarding what comes next, it's still a fact that it happens one day, and that it's inevitable. The other fact that some of us forget is that when that does happen, we can't take our physical stuff with us, and thus we must leave it behind.

  This is very important to remember that when this does happen, our descendants and other living relatives are stuck with ALL of our clutter, and it becomes a burden they have to deal with. That may sound harsh, but seriously, no matter how much you love them and they love you, the stuff you leave behind is an obligation they have to handle. Especially when you have an entire house filled with 40+ years of accumulated stuff that they suddenly have to sort through and deal with. Multiple times I've had relatives pass away, and my close family and I have had the job of sorting through their stuff (and even recently, which prompted this blog post), and it is a big endeavour, even when what we have to deal with is a only few boxes as opposed to entire households. Also, the closer you were to the deceased, the harder the task becomes, as most humans are sentimental beings and we usually want to hang onto everything because it was "theirs". My next decluttering post will be about how to deal with sentimental clutter, so please stay tuned for that! :)


  PLEASE don't have the attitude of "Meh, I'll be dead and gone, my house over flowering with clutter will be my descendant's problem, not mine". This is extremely selfish and inconsiderate. Your loved ones already have to go through the trauma of your passing and the stress of your final arrangement, a houseful of clutter to sort through and fret about is the last thing they need. Usually when people leave a will (another topic, but also a critically imporant thing to do, the earlier the better), they'll assign new owners for specific individual things, then have something generic for the rest. For example, "Sally gets my vintage tea set and my gold necklace, Frank gets my car, and Georgina gets my estate and the rest of my everything...have fun Georgina". Now Georgina has to short through alllll of her relative's stuff, so she's also left with the stress and even guilt that might come with this massive task. If you've ever been in a position where you've suddenly found a bunch of unwanted junk family treasures has forced its way into your life via a deceased relative or loved one, you know how she might feel. If you haven't been in that situation, be thankful, it's a big task, especially the will isn't clear about who gets what.


  Please consider writing up a clearly defined final will and testament, as early as possible, to make everything easier on your loved ones when the time comes. It's a morbid thing to think about, and people sometimes sweep it under the rug until it's too late, but in the long run, it's a great thing to have one. You can always change things on it later down the line if you desire, but you can't go back and write one once you're dead. ;)


  This whole thing is something to think about while decluttering- it's not only going to benefit and simplify your own life, but it's a gift that keeps on giving for those who have to deal with your stuff when you pass away. If you have a lot of stuff, decluttering can be a daunting task, but it can be done, especially if you take baby steps! If tackling the whole basement or attic that's bursting at the seams is too intimidating, start smaller. Start with a small section of the room, a closet, a drawer, or a box!

 Here is a link to my first Decluttering post: "Getting started (keeping things simple", I hope it's useful to you. :) 

Good luck declutterers!

Have a great day.

-Queen Werandra