7 Ways to Release What Haunts You – Lessons from Swedish Death Cleaning
Tanya Tsikkos is an innovative jewelry designer who promotes mental health and well-being. COVID-19 left her with emotional challenges, and she found a way to cope and to improve her mental health with her jewelry creations and empowering messages.
October has always been a month that makes me pause. Maybe it’s the crunch of leaves underfoot, the flicker of candlelight inside pumpkins, or the way the air feels sharper and thinner, but something about this season reminds me that life is fleeting. We laugh at ghosts and skeletons, but Halloween has a way of nudging us to think about deeper things too, what we’re holding onto, and what we're ready to let go of.
That’s why I’ve been thinking a lot about the Swedish tradition of döstädning, or death cleaning. Despite its sombre name, it isn’t about being morbid. It’s about creating space, clearing away what no longer serves us, and leaving behind not a burden but a gift. In other words, it’s about living lighter while we can.
So, in the spirit of Halloween, and in the spirit of letting go, here are seven ways to release what haunts you, inspired by the gentle and thoughtful practice of Swedish death cleaning.
Banish the ghosts of clutter
We all have them, those ghost items that linger in our homes. The jeans we’ll squeeze back into one day, the stack of books that’s been waiting patiently for years, the gift we never quite loved but feel guilty getting rid of. I know when I open certain cupboards, I can almost feel things whispering, “Why am I still here?”
Death cleaning invites us to listen and answer honestly. Do you use it? Does it bring joy? Would you want someone else to deal with it when you’re gone? If not, it’s time to let it go. Clearing out clutter isn’t just about making space in your home, it's about making space in your mind.
Lay skeletons to rest
There are the skeleton decorations we hang in October, and then there are the ones that rattle quietly in our drawers, boxes of paperwork, cards to electronics we don’t even own anymore, things we’ve shoved aside because dealing with them feels boring or overwhelming.
I’ve noticed that those piles nag at me, even when I’m not looking at them. They’re a weight in the background. Taking time to shred, recycle, or file things properly feels like finally laying those skeletons to rest. It’s not glamorous, but it’s incredibly freeing.
Break the curses of the past
Some things don’t just clutter our homes, they clutter our hearts. Old grudges, regrets, and painful reminders can hang around like curses if we let them. Maybe it’s a letter we never sent, a gift from someone we’d rather forget, or even just the story we tell ourselves about who we were years ago.
Breaking those curses can mean donating the object, writing the letter and then burning it, or simply choosing to forgive. It doesn’t erase the past, but it does release its grip on you. And in doing so, you lighten your spirit for the road ahead.
Unmask your fears
Halloween is a time for masks, but it also makes me wonder what fears I’m hiding behind. Sometimes I hold onto clutter because I’m afraid of needing it someday. Sometimes I avoid tough decisions because I’m afraid of what people will think. Fear keeps us stuck in old patterns.
When I’ve taken a moment to ask myself, “What’s the fear here?” it’s surprising how small it looks once unmasked. The monster that felt ten feet tall shrinks to something I can face, step by step.
Free your haunted spaces
We all have that one haunted spot in our homes, the drawer we avoid, the garage that makes us sigh, the closet that feels like a black hole. I used to dread even opening mine. But when I finally tackled it, I felt this incredible shift, like a window had opened and fresh air could finally flow in.
Freeing just one haunted space can change the whole atmosphere of your home. It doesn’t have to be everything all at once. Choose one corner, one drawer, one shelf. Set it free and notice how much lighter you feel.
Offer gifts to the living
One of the things I love most about Swedish death cleaning is the idea of giving things away now instead of waiting. There’s something really beautiful about passing on a meaningful item to someone while you’re still here to see the joy it brings.
I once gave a book I loved to a friend who had been going through a hard time. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but her smile was everything. Those moments remind me that our belongings are meant to be used and loved, not just stored away until someone else must make decisions about them.
Transform into the next chapter
At its heart, Swedish death cleaning is about transformation. Every item you let go of, every fear you face, every burden you set down, it all opens up space for something new. I like to think of it the way Halloween reminds us, endings aren’t just endings. They’re beginnings too.
What chapter are you ready to step into once you’ve cleared out what haunts you? Maybe it’s more peace at home, maybe it’s more creativity, maybe it’s simply the joy of breathing easier in your own space. Transformation doesn’t have to be dramatic, sometimes it’s just the quiet relief of knowing you’re carrying less.
Just remember
Halloween teaches us to laugh at the things that scare us. Swedish death cleaning teaches us to live well by letting go of what we no longer need. Together, they remind us that facing death, and all the little endings along the way, isn't something to fear, but something that can set us free.
So, this October, as you light your jack-o'-lanterns and hang up the cobwebs, I invite you to do a little clearing of your own. Release the ghosts in your cupboards, lay down the skeletons in your drawers, and open up your haunted spaces. Offer what you can to the living and walk lighter into your next chapter.
After all, letting go isn’t about death at all. It’s about life, and making sure we’re really living it.
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Tanya Tsikkos, Innovative Jewelry Designer & CEO of EntityUK
Tanya Tsikkos is an innovative jewellery designer who promotes mental health and wellbeing. COVID-19 left her with emotional challenges, and she found a way to cope and to improve her mental health with her jewellery creations and empowering messages. She has since dedicated her life to helping others to always feel good and empowered . She is the CEO of EntityUK, an online fashion jewellery company that combines jewellery with empowerment in each design. Her mission is to inspire, uplift, and empower all to live their best lives with confidence and style!
