The GYST Checklists: Over a Million Downloads
Get a ‘state-of-your-estate’ and prioritize your next steps to complete essential estate documents and end-of-life plans like: wills, power of attorney, medical directives, emergency fund, long-term financial plans, insurance policies, storing and sharing important details, and wrangling your (hundreds of) digital accounts.
Get the Checklists: 2-page Original Checklist and 14-page Updated & Expanded Checklist
Why a Checklist?
Here’s why checklists are so great: What frequently happens when something bad happens is a sort of soul-sucking shit-storm snowball effect begins, and a lot of other things go wrong, too. This is not good timing. Or you have to make hard, complicated decisions when you are at your worst. Also, very not good. Having a place to start, or come back to, is sometimes all we need to get one thing done or feel a little less anxious.
When I had to figure out what to do, I didn’t even know where to start, and I even searched “what do you do when someone dies?”
My first try at getting organized? It was a good first attempt, but wasn’t actually helpful:
After a few dozen tries and a year or two later I was able to get it on all one on one page. Well, a double-sided page but it wasn’t overwhelming at gave me a place to start getting, and keeping, my shit together.
And so I published it on little website I loved (and still do) dearly and pushed in out into the world, hoping a few people would see it and would be helpful to my friends and family. Well, about a year later it had been downloaded over a million times. Wow.
Then very quickly, a lot happened, there were a lot of great stories to help spread the word and I co-founded a new company and website at GYST.com.
And still, years later. People ask about The Checklist. So here is the original two-pager and look out for updates and excerpts, plus *new* tips and lists from the book coming in the next few months!
The Very Beginning Everything Checklist
Will & Power of Attorney
____ I have completed my Will & Power of Attorney (POA) and listed: Durable Power of Attorney for Financial, Digital, and Medical, or other roles to people I trust and have a backup person listed for each role.
- The will is signed, notarized, and a copy has been given to those listed.
My copy of my will is located here: ________________________________
Living Will
____ I have completed my Living Will (also called an Advance Care Directive).
- Named a healthcare advocate and a back-up person
- Additional information and notice to your doctor
- Discussed your wishes friends and family (wants and don’t want)
- Discussed or written down the type of funeral or memorial service you desire and any instructions about burial or cremation
- Considered where and how I would like to be cared for if I were terminally ill and discussed this with those closest to me
____ The living will is signed, notarized, and a copy has been given to those named or listed.
My copy of my living will is located here: ____________________
Insurance
____ I have researched Life Insurance options and purchased the best possible plan for me and/or my family.
- I have researched short-term Disability and completed all steps.
- I have researched long-term Disability and completed all steps.
My copy of my policy is located here: ________________________________
Money
____ I have reviewed my financial situation and, if necessary, discussed this with those closest to me.
- I have completed a budget and track monthly actual costs to my budget.
- I have ______ weeks/months of expenses saved in case of emergency.
- I have ______ weeks/months of expenses saved in case of emergency.
- I have a plan to meet my goal _________ by this date ________________
- I have a long-term savings plan and/or retirement plan.
A list of my banking and financial accounts is located here:____________
Details
____ I have listed my Personal Details out in case of emergency or some one else needs to retrieve it (passwords, contact information, accounts, etc)
A copy of my details list is located here: _____________________________
Personal
____ I have thought about my relationships and how I want to move forward to resolve any unfinished business.
- I have reached out to those people
- I have deeply considered how my life lines up with my values and priorities, how I am spending my energy, and what I want to do differently to have the life that is meaningful and important to me.
Getting Started: Pick 3 Things
- What worries me most: ______________________________________________
- Has been on my list the longest: _____________________________________
- Will be relieved once it is done: ______________________________________