This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
National Moving Day is most of the time a source of stress… What if we took advantage of it to improve our well-being? Interview with “the Marie Kondo of Quebec”.
“The organization of our living space is a mirror of our mental state,” says Lauraine Villeneuve-Fortin, one of the three founders of Symmétrie who like to proclaim themselves “the Marie Kondo of Quebec” . Their service has been officially offered for a year, but the three young entrepreneurs have been at heart for a long time. “We’re the type to have a night out at a friend’s house, pour ourselves a glass of wine and say, “OK, let’s reorganize your wardrobe!” » illustrates Mme Villeneuve-Fortin laughing.
At the heart of their mission: clearing, sorting, planning and structuring living spaces, but also freeing people from the mental burden linked to disorder.
“When things are well organized and decluttered, our stress is reduced, and we feel a positive impact in all areas of our lives,” explains M.me Villeneuve-Fortin.
Several studies confirm this observation. A survey by Saxbe and Repetti published in 2010 found that disorder in the home environment increases stress and decreases the feeling of satisfaction. It also reveals that the perception of disorder is linked to higher levels of cortisol. Another study conducted by the Cornell Food and Brand Lab in 2016 showed that being in a crowded place can even negatively influence our food choices.
Manual
That being said, what can we do concretely to improve the organization of our living space, and our well-being at the same time? “Often, people embark on the process with very good intentions, but they don’t have an action plan,” emphasizes M.me Villeneuve-Fortin. They get everything out, and then they get even more lost. » Here are nine tips to avoid this scenario.
1. Sort, sort and sort again
You must first reduce the number of objects. “Almost everyone has moving boxes at home that they have never unpacked even if they have been moving in for two years! » says Justine Bergeron, also co-founder of the company, laughing. Sorting is ideally done before the big day, to avoid recreating a cluttered and poorly organized environment.
2. Ask yourself the right questions
Have I used this thing in the last two years? Do I need it or am I attached to it? Symmetry offers lists of questions to its customers to help them. It is also possible to declutter without getting rid of things that have too much sentimental value. “We try to integrate objects into the space to put them in the spotlight rather than leaving them at the back of the cupboard,” says Lauraine Villeneuve-Fortin. She cites as an example the beautiful dishes inherited from her grandparents.
3. Work with available space
“We are so overwhelmed by the move that we often rush to empty the boxes when we arrive to say to ourselves “OK, it’s finished”, underlines Mme Bergeron. But you have to take the time to know the space, to see how you live there in order to organize it effectively. »
And managing to fit five pans into a cupboard that can only hold three is not to be preferred… So we come back to the importance of sorting and decluttering. “It’s not uncommon for customers to think they have to redo their kitchen before we help them, but ultimately understand that they have enough space, and even more than necessary! » says Mme Villeneuve-Fortin.
4. Wait before buying
This new sofa purchased in a hurry before the move is likely to not be adapted to your needs. It’s better to know your space well beforehand. It is also often enough to place the furniture differently to make a room more pleasant and welcoming, the organizers point out.
5. Choose quality products
Mme Villeneuve-Fortin recommends choosing quality organizational products. We favor durable materials and robust plastics, as well as neutral colors so that you don’t get bored of them.
6. Don’t do everything at once
It is better to tackle one drawer at a time rather than embarking on a general project. “It can be emotionally and mentally draining to sort and think about every item in our house,” says Justine Bergeron. You have to be realistic to see the end of it. »
7. Key parts first
Experts advise favoring the most used places. “The kitchen is always an important and often problematic room,” says M.me Bergeron. The garage too. The laundry room and the entrance hall are also two spaces where there is a lot of traffic, but which are regularly neglected, becoming very discouraging. »
8. Combine design and organization
“If it’s beautiful, it’s easier to keep in order,” believes M.me Villeneuve-Fortin, who likes to choose pretty storage pots for pasta or even baskets for the top of the wardrobe. “Decluttering a room also allows you to better showcase the objects you already have,” she adds.
9. Opt for minimalism
“Living more simply, according to our needs, that’s really what we’re trying to push,” says Mme Bergeron. And the fewer things there are, the less possible it is to lose control.
Although the maneuver is most satisfying and positive, decluttering our spaces turns out to be a big process in some cases, remind the organizers. This is why they are there to support and advise, according to each person’s constraints. “Clients tell us that they felt so overwhelmed before, and that we changed their lives, nothing less,” says Lauraine Villeneuve-Fortin. A good reason for them to continue, one wardrobe at a time.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.