This is one of the most important questions I get asked — often quietly, almost shyly, by people who feel somehow presumptuous for thinking about it.
The answer is no. Absolutely not. You do not have to be old, ill, or anywhere near the end of your life to get your affairs in order. In fact, the best time to do it is precisely when you're well, clear-headed, and not under any emotional pressure.
The Myth of 'Too Soon'
There's a strange cultural belief that preparing for death is something you do when death is close. As if thinking about it too early somehow invites it in.
But the people who get caught out — the families left with confusion, conflict, and unanswered questions — are almost always those whose loved one was unprepared because they were 'too young' or 'too healthy' or 'planning to get around to it eventually.'
Life doesn't give us advance notice. And while that's a sobering thought, it's also a liberating one: you can prepare right now, on your own terms, with complete clarity, without the shadow of illness or urgency hanging over the process.
The Advantages of Preparing Early
When you prepare early, you have choice. You can take your time, think clearly, change your mind, and revisit your decisions as your life changes. You can have the conversations with your family in a calm, loving environment rather than a fraught one.
You can also use preparation as an act of reflection — a chance to look at your life, consider your values, and intentionally choose the legacy you want to leave. That's a gift to yourself as much as to the people you love.
What Early Preparation Looks Like
It might start with something as simple as writing down where your important documents are kept. Or making an appointment to update your Will after a major life change. Or sitting down for an hour with our Honouring My Wishes workbook and working through the first few pages.
It doesn't need to be completed in a day. In fact, it probably shouldn't be — preparation is something you build over time, updating it as your life evolves.
A Personal Note
I started this work not because I thought I was going anywhere soon, but because I realised that the people I love deserved to know where things were, what I wanted, and how much thought I'd put into making things easier for them. That realisation changed how I thought about the whole process.
Preparation isn't about death. It's about the people still living — the ones who will carry on after you. And they deserve the very best you can give them, right now, while you have every opportunity to give it.
— The Evelyn48 Team 💜