Death Readiness: Small Steps, Big Impact
What if you died today—suddenly and without warning?
I know, it’s not the kind of question most people want to think about. But death readiness isn’t just about you—it’s about the people you leave behind. What would they need to handle? Would they know whereto find important documents? How to pay the bills? Whom to call?
In the first episode of The Death Readiness Podcast, I walk through two very different scenarios: one in which nothing has been planned, and another in which everything has been organized ahead of time. The difference between these two versions of events is staggering—and it highlights why small, manageable steps today can prevent chaos and stress for your loved ones later.
What Is Death Readiness?
At its core, death readiness is about planning ahead—not just for yourself, but for the people who will manage everything when you’re gone. It’s about:
✔️ Making sure your wishes are respected
✔️ Preserving your legacy
✔️ Minimizing stress and confusion for your loved ones
But here’s the thing: it’s not just about legal documents and checklists. Death readiness also involves emotional preparation, open conversations, and creating a sense of peace.
And it’s not just for older adults. Whether you’re 25, 85, single, married, a parent, or child-free—having a plan in place benefits everyone.
A Tale of Two Realities: The Impact of Death Readiness
Imagine two different scenarios:
Scenario 1: No Plan in Place
In this reality, nothing has been prepared. If I were to die suddenly, my husband would be left scrambling. He would:
Have to figure out our finances from scratch—where are my accounts? Do I have life insurance?
Struggle to find important documents—does a will even exist?
Be flooded with paperwork, customer service calls, and logistical stress—all while grieving.
Have to balance being present for our 13-year-old daughter with handling all of these overwhelming tasks.
Suddenly take over daily responsibilities he wasn’t prepared for—like walking the dogs, managing household expenses, and shuttling our daughter to and from school, lessons, sports and appointments.
Instead of focusing on healing, he’d be drowning in uncertainty and administrative chaos.
Scenario 2: Death Readiness in Action
Now, let’s imagine a different scenario—one in which my husband and I had prepared in advance.
In this version, he:
✅ Knows exactly where to find important documents.
✅ Has immediate access to life insurance and financial accounts, relieving financial stress.
✅ Can take time off work without worrying about money.
✅ Can lean on a clear, written plan to delegate tasks to family and friends.
✅ Has more time and emotional energy to focus on comforting our daughter.
Rather than frantic scrambling, he would be able to grieve, support our daughter, and move forward with far less stress. That’s the power of death readiness—it replaces chaos with clarity and allows families to focus on what truly matters.
Small, Manageable Steps You Can Take Today
The idea of getting everything in order can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it all at once. The key is starting small.
Your First Action Step: Set up your Medical ID
One of the simplest but most important things you can do today is set up the Medical ID feature on your iPhone (or a similar feature on Android). This ensures that if you ever have a medical emergency, first responders can access critical information—like allergies, medications, and emergency contacts—directly from your locked phone.
➡️ Need help setting it up? I’ve put together an instructional step-by-step guide for an iPhone, available here iPhone Medical ID Tutorial.
Bonus Step: Fill out an Emergency Medical Information Sheet
If you don’t use a smartphone—or even if you do—having a physical emergency contact sheet is incredibly helpful. I’ve created a free fill-in-the-blank medical information sheet you can download and share with your loved ones. This sheet keeps vital information—like medications, doctors, and emergency contacts—readily available.
📥 Download the free emergency medical information sheet here: Medical Information Form - Death Readiness
What’s Next?
The Death Readiness Podcast—and this blog—are here to help normalize death readiness conversations, reduce fear, and simplify what often feels too complicated. You don’t need to do everything perfectly. You just need to start.
Want to take the next step? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me at Scheduling - Death Readiness to talk about your situation and how I can help.
Let’s get real, get prepared, and get comfortable with the inevitable—together.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
