Proactivity Over Procrastination: Take Control of Your End-of-Life Planning!

Welcome to the next blog in the series of Jon’s introduction to Modern Death Etiquette!  Based on personal experience, Jon’s book, “Click Here When I Die” aims to guide us through various aspects of end-of-life planning.  Here we address something most of us do when it comes to End-Of-Life Planning – Procrastinate!

Let’s be real—procrastination happens to all of us, especially when it comes to topics like end-of-life planning. It’s not exactly something you’re eager to dive into over your morning coffee. But here’s the deal: putting in a little effort now can save your loved ones a world of stress and confusion later on.

In this post, we’re going to chat about why proactive planning is such a good idea and walk you through some simple steps to get started. Don’t worry—it’s not as overwhelming as it sounds.

Why Bother Planning Ahead?

Here’s the thing: getting ahead of this stuff isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about making life easier for you and the people you care about most.

You Call the Shots:

• Planning ahead means your wishes are clear and followed exactly how you want.
  Less Stress for Your Loved Ones: Clear instructions take a huge load off your loved ones. They won’t have to play detective while trying to process and deal with their emotions.
• Peace of Mind All Around: Once everything’s in order, you can breathe easier. And your family will feel the same way.

How to Get Started: A Friendly Step-by-Step Guide

Tackling this doesn’t have to be a huge project. Just take it one step at a time:

1. Figure Out Where You’re At

• Take a good look at your current situation—your health, finances, and personal wishes.
• Spot any gaps or areas you haven’t planned for yet.

2. Get the Legal Stuff Sorted

• Make sure you have the basics: a trust or will, power of attorney, and health care directives.
• If you’ve already done this, great! Just double-check that everything’s up-to-date.

3. Round Up Important Documents

• Gather key documents like insurance policies, property deeds, and financial account details.
• Stash the originals somewhere safe, and let someone trustworthy know where to find them.  (Keep digital copies of documents for added protection and easy access.)

4. Don’t Forget Your Online Life

• List your digital accounts—think email, social media, on-line bills and accounts—and their passwords.
• You might even want to create a digital estate plan to manage these after you’re gone.

5. Talk About It

• This one can feel awkward, but it’s important. As we shared in the last blog in this series, share your plans and wishes with your loved ones.  Or leave instructions about these things so they will know what to do and look for.
• Make sure they know where to find everything and how to handle things when the time comes. (The My Life & Wishes Legacy Vault™ is the perfect solution for this!)

6. Keep It Fresh

• Things change, and your plans should too. Make it a habit to review everything regularly and update as needed.

Wrapping Things Up

Here’s the bottom line: end-of-life planning might not be fun, but it’s one of the most thoughtful things you can do for yourself and the people you care about. By taking a little time now to get organized, you’ll make things so much easier for your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected.

Take it one step at a time. You’ve got this!