End-of-life planning is one of the most practical gifts you can give your people.

It won’t make loss easier—but it can make the logistics clearer, calmer, and less confusing for the ones left to handle them. The Before I Die Guide is a comprehensive 82‑page workbook created by The Sonrise Project and compiled by Shewonia Y. Roberts. It walks you step by step through the information, choices, and reflections that matter most, so your loved ones aren’t left guessing. Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or supporting an aging parent, this guide offers a grounded path through a tender kind of life and household management.

What this workbook helps you do

Most of us have pieces of end-of-life information scattered across conversations, paperwork, and online accounts. This guide brings that invisible work into one place, with clear prompts and plenty of space to write.

Inside, you’ll find guided sections for:

• Personal information and key contacts
• Everyday habits and preferences that matter to your care and comfort
• Advance care planning and medical wishes
• Financial information and where to find important records
• Insurance information and policy details
• Medical history, providers, and medications
• Home evaluation and environment checklist to support safety and care

You do not have to fill it out in one sitting. You can complete it slowly over time, and even partial information will be a help to the people who will one day need it.

How to use and store it

Set aside short, manageable sessions—on your own, with a partner, or alongside a trusted friend or adult child—to work through each section. As your life changes, you can return to it and update what’s no longer accurate.

Store the completed workbook with your other important documents (such as your will or advance directive) in a secure, easy-to-find place, and let at least one trusted person know where it is. This guide is not a legal document and does not replace a will or professional legal advice; it’s meant to sit alongside those tools and make them easier to act on.

Book details

• Authors: The Sonrise Project (Author), compiled by Shewonia Y. Roberts
• Format: Guided end-of-life planning workbook
• Length: 82 pages
• Size: 10 x 8 inches
• Publication date: June 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9781957092898

Why we carry it

At The Commonplace Company, planning is an act of care—for yourself and your people. The Before I Die Guide gives you a clear, compassionate way to put that care on paper, so when the time comes, your loved ones have more guidance, fewer unanswered questions, and a little more room to tend to each other.