Death Planning for the Overwhelmed: Your First 10 Minutes
We don’t talk enough about how emotionally heavy death planning can feel. It touches every tender part of us—our fears, our hopes, the people we love, and the life we’ve spent building. No wonder so many of us freeze before we even begin.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned through deathwork:
You don’t need to plan the whole journey today. You only need to begin.
And beginning can be as small as ten minutes.
Here are three tiny, doable steps you can take right now—no stress, no spreadsheets, no giant life overhaul required:
1. Choose One Trusted Person
Think of someone who knows you well, cares deeply for you, and can stay grounded under pressure. That’s your ideal medical proxy.
You don’t have to have the big talk today—just choose the name. That’s step one.
2. Write Down Three Wishes
These don’t have to be formal directives. Just three things you want for your future care or after your death.
Examples:
– “I want my passing to be peaceful and at home if possible.”
– “I want music playing.”
– “I want a green burial.”
This little list becomes the seed of your full plan later.
3. Tell One Person One Thing
Say one sentence—text it, say it out loud, whisper it to your partner across the kitchen.
Something like:
“Hey, if anything ever happens, I want you to know I’d prefer cremation.”
Or
“I want you to know I’ve been thinking about choosing you as my medical proxy.”
You don’t need paperwork yet. You’re just starting the conversation.
These tiny actions might feel small, but together they build the foundation for a meaningful, empowered death plan. And once you take that first step, the next steps feel much less overwhelming.
If you want a gentle, guided path forward, I created a free Death Planning Quick Start Checklist to help you continue. It’s simple, practical, and designed to meet you exactly where you are.
Download it HERE!
You deserve clarity, sovereignty, and a death plan that feels like yours.
One small step at a time is more than enough.
