Heather DeVouge is on a mission.
Her aim? To help the people of Pictou County clear out their clutter with her new business, Whole Home Organizing.
“There are mental, emotional and physical costs associated with clutter. It overstimulates our system, causing our brain to always be multi-tasking, makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally, causes anxiety, stress and fatigue, robs us of mental energy, frustrates us by making it hard to find things we need (keys, important documents) and costs us money,” said DeVouge in an email to The News.
Typically, household clutter piles up as people do not have a storage space for items from pens to books, or it can be clothes and magazines no longer used, buying more than they need, taking home junk from bargain sales, or keeping things around thinking they ‘may’ use them one day.
But DeVouge said that sentimental clutter is the hardest to get rid of, as people feel it would betray loved ones or their own fond memories of past good times.
“Everything is a part of ourselves,” said DeVouge.
But the first step to de-cluttering one’s home is to ask a few simple questions.
The three biggest are ‘Do I love it? Do I need it? Do I use it?’
If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes,’ an item is worth keeping, according to DeVouge.
“Once someone gets fully on a roll de-cluttering it really gets much easier making [such] decisions,” said DeVouge.
The benefits of clearing out junk includes savings of money and time as people no longer lose items and homes are arranged efficiently, reduced stress, less stressful relationships, being better able to welcome guests and a sharper mind as less clutter means more focus.
To prevent clutter building up, DeVouge said that everything must have a designated place and junk should be kept out.
“I help individuals and families conquer their clutter – whether it is a closet, a room or a whole home, and whether it is to create a more spacious and efficient living space, or preparing to sell a home, or move into a new home, downsizing or preparing for a move to assisted living,” said DeVouge.
For more info about DeVouge’s business visit www.wholehomeorganizing.ca.
