Life administration is never at the top of our priority list, is it? Hopefully, we are having too much pleasure in our actual days to think about the administration that needs to happen in order for our lives to go smoothly.

But it does need to be in place, when you really think about it.

Essentials

Here are just a few of the amenities we in the Western world apparently need to make our lives run smoothly, assuming we already have a house to live in:

• Electricity
• Gas
• Fridge/freezer
• Car
• Bank accounts
• Credit cards

Just imagine the effects of not having just one of these, for example, a fridge. We would need to shop every day in order to prevent food from going off. That would fully impact what we did in our day.

For example, we might find milk going sour by the evening if the weather was hot. No milky drink before bed; or chocolate drink for the grandchildren.

In order to keep supplies available for ourselves, we need a way of keeping them cool. A fridge depends on electricity, which means organizing a supply.

If we don’t do this, then not only does it affect our food supplies, but a whole range of additional things. (Imagine if you couldn’t power up your computer or phone easily!)

Administration Is Underrated

My point here is that being alive brings administration along with it. Whether it is simply the basic stuff of survival (as in finding food and water) or stuff such as electricity, technology, or bank accounts, life includes the managing of it, whether we like it or not.

Death does too. Because when someone dies, all the systems that were used to support that life become defunct. And someone has to tidy it all up.

So, stop and consider the following questions:

• Who will take care of utility bills, credit cards, membership to organizations you belonged to, etc. after you’ve gone?
• Who will sort out your digital life? (It carries on afterwards unless you take care of it now.)
• Will your precious belongings just be taken away by an anonymous house clearer or worse, sent to a landfill?

Who Will Take Care of Your Mess?

If you don’t think about these things now, not only are you absolving some of the responsibility that comes with being alive, but you are causing potential hassle, headache, and horribleness for your nearest and dearest after you’ve gone.

No one REALLY wants to face up to this. Of course not – we’d much rather just ‘be here now’ and forget the inconvenient fact that our bodies, one day, will simply stop working.

But they will.

And someone else will be left to tidy up the mess, muddle, and misery that can be left behind – unless we take care of it in advance.

So, I have a challenge for you! Here are three simple, two-minute actions you can easily take today to help those who are going to be left behind after you’ve gone:

Social Media Account Management

Facebook has thought about this business ahead of time by providing the option of adding a legacy contact to your account. Go to Settings, select Manage My Account, and enter in the name of the responsible party under Your Legacy Contact.

Clutter Sort-Out

Select one bookshelf, drawer, corner, folder or file, or cupboard shelf and separate the contents into three piles: for keeping, recycling, or the thrift shop. Allocate accordingly and then put in the car for delivery to the appropriate place. Hint – select only one small area to avoid overwhelm!

Responsible Party Assignation

Decide on one person with whom you need to speak with about your end-of-life affairs. Keep your eyes and ears open for a suitable opportunity to discuss the topic.

Planning your end of life isn’t going to be easy, but at least it will make you more prepared to face the facts.

What do you intend to do in preparation for your end of life? Are the concrete steps you’re planning to take? Post below on what you intend to do, AND when you have done it!