Get your affairs in order with REST EASY tools
Filled with discussion starters, prompts from the Rest Easy Journal, written tools, prompt sheets and links to help your group in getting your affairs in order.
The Rest Easy Tools aren't just for those you leave behind. They'll also help you to put things in place to ensure that your end of life choices are aligned with your values and your physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Once you've completed the tools, put them aside and get on with living your best life, but you'll want the tools if:
- you want to get your affairs in order the fast and easy way
- you have a blended family and want your end of life and funeral choices to be clear
- you haven't written down the information your loved ones will need to get your affairs in order
- you haven't spoken to your family about your end of life choices and how to access your important documents, etc.
- you have written a Will but you haven't told anyone what your personal wishes are (haven't written a Living Will'
- you have created a large digital footprint (social media, online subscriptions and shopping etc.)
- you want to feel that you're not leaving a mess for those left behind
How the Tools work
The Rest Easy Tools are designed to make getting your affairs in order simple. Both the hard-copy journal and the desktop version come in chapters/modules including:
What to do when I die, which will guide those left behind through all the first steps if you die at home or in a hospital/hospice; You'll be prompted through providing information on who needs to be contacted, how to access important documentation etc.
My Funeral Wishes provides a section you can where you are guided to write out your funeral choices from burial or cremation, minister/celebrant, eco choices, favourite songs and poems etc., so your loved ones aren't left wondering what you may have liked.
My Financial Matters provides spaces for you to list your assets, collections, memorabilia, where to access bank accounts, superannuation and other information that may not provided in a Will.
All Things Online helps you to record your digital footprint - all the online subscriptions, payment portals, logins, shopping sites etc. that you may have. It also provides a space for you to say what you want done with your social media accounts.
My Life Snapshot provides a space for you to write down your life story, favourite memories, family genealogy and other aspects of your life that you would like remembered.
The Desktop version comes with a collection of extra tools and templates to help you to get your affairs in order.
What people say
We have already done some of this planning but lots of things we hadn't thought about. Well done for putting it all together.
Steve and Wendy H from Canberra, Australia
Though I was already pretty deep into my own death plan, the Rest Easy Journal took things to the next level. I had made what I thought was an exhaustive list of considerations, but this covered everything I had missed —like a family tree to fill out and direct bank account debits that would need to be stopped.
Tess D. from Richmond, Virginia, USA
What a brilliant idea… thought-provoking… good tool to start a conversation within your family… makes dying normal.
Bega Valley Hospice Group, NSW, Australia
I just wanted to thank you so much for your Rest Easy Journal. My father recently passed away and as executor of his will I found your book was extremely helpful to prompt me who to contact. It was also great to have it on hand to get Mum’s affairs in order. I would highly recommend it to anyone of any age.
Gaye, Alzheirmers Australia
Introducing the Rest Easy Journal is an elegant way to enter into conversations about dying and begin to make friends with this final stage. I did this with someone suddenly quite ill and I was anxious that if he died I had no idea what his wishes were. Once we addressed the journal’s questions the sense of relief was palpable for both of us.
Josephine R, Specialist Health Practitioner
I like the simple workbook format, which means it would be straightforward enough to hand to parents or grandparents as well. This is really an all-encompassing resource for getting yourself prepared, written in language that's empathetic and good-natured enough that you may even have some fun filling it out in the process.
Tess D. from Richmond, Virginia, USA
About the author
I believe the greatest legacy we can leave our loved ones is to take responsibility for our death while we're alive.
Hello. Talking about death seems macabre doesn't it? So why have I been banging on about it for more than 20 years? Click on the video to see me talk about how I came to be 'the poster girl for death and dying', or read on.
I created the Rest Easy Tools and trainings to help Australians to easily get their affairs in order so that those they leave behind aren't left with a mess.
Some people say to me, "I have my affairs in order, I've written a will", others say, "I want to get my affairs in order but I don't know where to start". And others tell me that they don't want to talk about death because it's too weird.
As a funeral celebrant who also provides palliative care, I have witnessed far too many families in stress and breakdown as they try to navigate their loved ones affairs while in deep grief. And there's so much more to getting your affairs in order than just writing a will.
I talk about death and dying because my fear of placing stress on those I love far outweighs my fear of dying some day, so I decided to face death before it faced me. I learnt all I could about my options and what it would take to process my death, and created tools to help my family.
Shanna Provost is known as a social commentator on death literacy, a community leader in the end of life space, a funeral celebrant, workshop trainer, keynote speaker and advocate for dying well across Australia.
