Preplanning your funeral might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about emotional wellbeing, but it can offer surprising emotional rewards. Many people describe feeling more clear-headed, grounded, and even relieved after taking this step.

Far from being morbid, taking ownership of your own funeral can help you feel more present and in control. It offers a unique opportunity to reflect on what truly matters and have meaningful conversations with the people you love. 

Let’s take a closer look at the emotional benefits of preplanning your funeral. 

Worrying about the future – known as anticipatory anxiety – can sap your energy and steal joy from the present. Research shows that one of the most effective ways to reduce this kind of anxiety is to take action on what’s within your control. Death is the ultimate unknown, but funeral planning is one area you do have agency over. By taking action, you can ease anxiety about the future and feel at peace knowing you have a plan in place. 

Start here: Write down one small step you can take today toward funeral preplanning, like researching local providers or listing your preferences. 

Self-efficacy – the belief in your ability to handle life’s challenges – plays a crucial role in emotional resilience and wellbeing. Facing a task as emotionally charged as funeral planning can reinforce your inner strength. It’s a reminder that you’re capable of handling hard things. 

Start here: Reflect on a past difficulty that you successfully navigated. Use that confidence to help you start researching funeral preplanning. 

Preplanning your funeral invites you to ask yourself meaningful questions, like ‘What matters most to me?’ or ‘How do I want to be remembered?’ Whether you decide on a traditional farewell or something more bespoke, the process of making these choices can help clarify your values. This ‘values-based reflection’ has been linked to increased meaning, life satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing. 

Start here: Write a list of all your values. What do you care most about in life? Start big – you can refine the list as you go. 

Talking about your funeral may feel uncomfortable at first, but hard conversations are often some of the most emotionally rich and rewarding. Research in communication psychology shows that honest dialogue, even about difficult topics, helps build trust and emotional closeness. 

Start here: Schedule time with a loved one to gently start a conversation about your wishes.

Many people find that the more they engage with the idea of death, the less frightening it becomes. Studies in Terror Management Theory (TMT) suggest that confronting our mortality, particularly in ways that affirm identity and values, can actually reduce death anxiety and strengthen self-esteem. 

Start here: Spend a few minutes reflecting on what gives your life meaning today and how acknowledging mortality might deepen your appreciation for those things.

As we age, the number of decisions we face can become exhausting. From healthcare to living arrangements, there’s a lot to consider. Decision fatigue is a real psychological phenomenon: the more choices we have to make, the harder it becomes to make good ones. By taking care of your funeral arrangements in advance, you’re easing the mental load for both yourself and your family. 

Start here: Identify one specific funeral-related decision you can make now to lessen future pressure. 

Preplanning is often described as an act of love – a way to care for the people who will one day say goodbye to you. This generous act of kindness is also good for you, the giver, as helping stimulates areas of the brain linked to pleasure and connection. For many people, preplanning also aligns with their sense of identity as a caring partner, parent or friend. It’s a deeply human impulse: to want to ease the burden for those we love. 

Start here: Write a short note explaining why you’re making these plans, to share your intentions with your family.

SOURCES

Psychology Today: How to cope with anticipatory anxiety

WebMD: What to know about anxiety in older adults

Medical News Today: What to know about anticipatory anxiety

PubMed: Adjusting to death

Psychology Today: The power of self-reflection

Very Well Mind: Self efficacy and why believing in yourself matters

Better Health: Relationships and communication

Psychology Today: Decision fatigue and what to do about it 

Psychology Today: The healing power of generosity