Putting your affairs in order

Thinking about life going on after you have died can be painful for you and those around you but for some, putting their affairs in order is a positive thing to do. This can be a way of making sure your wishes are carried out after you have died.

You may want to make a will or amend an existing one or you may want to make a list of important documents with information about where they are and what to do with them.

Some people choose to plan their own funeral. This may seem a difficult thing to do but it can be part of the process of coming to terms with the fact that you are going to die. You may want to think about what you would like your loved ones to have when you have died.

Some people write letters or put together memory boxes for friends and family containing messages or things that have a special meaning. These can be very precious to those left behind so you need to think carefully about what you leave them or what you write.

If you have children, writing them a letter about how much you love them and explaining you didn’t want to leave them can be helpful in the future. On the other hand it is important not to ask too much of a child. For example, telling them to do well in their exams or be strong can be a heavy burden for them to carry.