New Year’s Resolutions for 2019

new year's resolutions

At this time last year, we published a list of new year’s resolutions for the grieving. It featured a list of items to help those who lost someone very close to them get through the new year. We stand by this list and encourage those going through the grief process to read it. This year, we decided to make a more general list of things anyone should resolve to do in 2019.

Pre-Plan Your Funeral

While this New Year’s Resolution might sound grim, it’s quite practical (and cost effective). If you know what you want, and you are healthy and of sound mind now to make difficult decisions like this, why not? Pre-planning your funeral means your wishes will be known, and the service will be paid for. This will be a gift to your loved ones, as they won’t have to make these decisions during a time of grief.

Write or Update Your Will

Do you have a will? If yes, when was the last time you reviewed it? It might be time for an update as your life circumstances may have changed since you created this with your lawyer. If you don’t have a will, it’s so, so important that you talk to a lawyer and have one drawn up. If you die without a will, your assets and debts will be handled by the government, slowing down the process significantly. Your money and property will be divided according to the law, not your wishes. To have the final say on what happens to your estate, make a will as part of your new year’s resolutions.

Talk to Your Family about Organ Donation

Again, not the most fun new year’s resolution, but still an important one. In Ontario, you can register at beadonor.ca to include yourself on the list. According to the website, organ donation will not effect your funeral plans – meaning an open casket service is still possible if those are your wishes.

You might also be against organ donation – which is your choice.

The bottom line is that you need to tell your loved ones your wishes. If you have registered, let your family know. If they have concerns, you have the opportunity to explain it to them. Same if you do not wish to donate. They may wonder why.

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

While this might sound a bit on the nose, coming from a funeral home, but the reality is that your time on earth is precious and you should try to enjoy it for as long as possible. This might mean quitting smoking, seeing the doctor more regularly, eating more vegetables, or getting more exercise. In this life, there are a lot of things out of your control, so why not improve yourself in ways that you can manage.

If you have any questions about pre-planning your funeral, or need advice on how to talk to your loved ones about your wishes, please contact us today! The team at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Centre can help.

Happy New Year!