Horrible isn’t it? That’s how messy my inbox is. That’s only one part of my work desk. I didn’t take pictures of the notebooks and books nestled side by side, a pile of blank notepads, two mugs, a mirror and a couple of stuffed toys. Add my phone and a computer too. It’s messy, messy, messy.
This year will be a year of de-cluttering. Is there such a word? Maybe uncluttering is the more appropriate word. Ah, basta, this will be a year of simplifying. Less is more, yes, yes.
To simplify my life, I’ve:
a) cancelled my ringback subscription. When one would call me on my cell phone, they’d hear Robbie Williams sing “She’s The One” instead of the usual “ring-ring”. That’s about P30.00 a month too so I’ve scrapped that. No added value to me anyway. Simplify.
b) made a resolution not to buy 2 local magazines anymore. Everytime I buy those lifestyle magazines, I tell myself “This is the last time I’m buying this!!!” But I’ve had about 12 monthly issues of those magazines last year. Ho-hum. I don’t even enjoy the articles as much! So I’ve told myself not to get my hands on those mags anymore. Simplify.
c) do another “Yes-No-Maybe” wardrobe sorting, then give these extra clothes to the Kapuso Foundation. Simplify.
Okay so maybe I’ve had only 3 on my list, but I’ll get there. I sure need to start cleaning my in-tray first.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
pinayhekmi
January 10, 2006 at 12:36 am (18 years ago)Yes, the term is declutter-ing. I think. Hehe.. I have no problem throwing things away. I’m actually one with an opposite problem. I throw things away too soon and then end up realizing I needed what I just threw away. I’ve gotten in trouble over it many times. But I hate clutter!
pinayhekmi
January 10, 2006 at 12:36 am (18 years ago)OH yes, good luck on the decluttering!
BabyPink
January 10, 2006 at 2:05 am (18 years ago)ei, toni girl!:)
this entry’s title reminded me bigla of the etymology of the word butterfly. a friend/cousin of mine told me that the word was actually “flutter-by” kasi nga naman butterflies do flutter by, ‘di ba? tapos dahil nga sa spoonerism, the word became butterfly. did you know this?:)
i’m going to try the “yes-maybe-no” wardrobe sorting.:)
mare
January 10, 2006 at 5:16 am (18 years ago)Good for you! I’m cutting out a lot of magazines. I’ve found if I subscribe then it’s cheaper or if anything, I’ll do trades with my girlfriends.
Joey
January 10, 2006 at 7:25 am (18 years ago)MAs grabe ang inbox ko.
Ganda ng blog mo!
Paparazzi
January 10, 2006 at 8:25 am (18 years ago)Your ‘decluttering’ of things in your office leads me to reflect on a more important aspect of decluttering–the ‘spitiritual’ one. If we want true joy and real greatness, we should be attached to our Lord above every person and thing in our earthly life. Let our desires and love be guided by His wisdom and they will never lead us into folly.
Simply put, ‘we let go of our wants and let God take over’! Let’s make this part of our resolutions this New Year onwards.
So sorry for sounding quite off-tangent from the main topic, Toni.
jeanny
January 10, 2006 at 9:14 am (18 years ago)Ouch….tinamaan ako sa entry mong ito, he he he.
Sige, mag iisip isip din ako to simplify my lifestyle na rin. Thanks for this reminder Tones 😀
Christine
January 10, 2006 at 1:42 pm (18 years ago)hi toni. i’ve just de-cluttered my work desk and filed a year’s worth of documents into their proper folders and I feel so good but 2nd work day into the new year and my work station is filled with new documents to work on. It never ends I tell you!
Alma
January 10, 2006 at 4:48 pm (18 years ago)Hi Toni, like you, I am also organizing my table and my finances… Good luck to us!
rolly
January 10, 2006 at 6:37 pm (18 years ago)the first thing I did when I got back to my office after the holidays is to clean up the clutter on my table. Lo and behold! there is a table there! I thought it was just a huge pile up.
Good luck! But then I’m sure compared to me, yours will be called very neat
jey
January 10, 2006 at 7:23 pm (18 years ago)spring cleaning!:)
and i am inspired to clean up too.
Sidney
January 10, 2006 at 10:57 pm (18 years ago)Mine is worse!
And I didn’t made any good resolutions for 2006! 
Junnie
January 10, 2006 at 11:31 pm (18 years ago)i have the same thing while im working…and then by the end of the day, its as if no one worked there…all gone. ill post a pic in my next entry. but yes, since this is under Reflections tab – decluttering is much like life, we need to them regularly.
JMom
January 11, 2006 at 2:30 am (18 years ago)I am soooo glad to see your post today! At least now I know I am not the only one 😛 haha!! That’s my goal too, and I’ve been working on de-cluttering my office since we got back from the holidays, and it seems like a losing battle. I am looking at my desk now, that was finally de-cluttered last Friday, and it is back to being cluttered again!!! waah!
sha
January 11, 2006 at 6:26 am (18 years ago)just done all the mags and books
still have little boxes to empty organize
natapos ko ang wardrobe
but the kitchen seems to go back at the same state
this computer table seems to less clutter now
hay may club ba for cluttering peeps!
Chel
January 11, 2006 at 7:52 am (18 years ago)oh, i did b. tinigilan ko na pagbili ng C at P. tingin ko kasi naging habit na lang. tas para na silang puro ad. kaso lang ngayon binibili ko MC. pero at least isa na lang. and mas okay.
jojo
January 11, 2006 at 9:35 am (18 years ago)i’ve managed to unclutter my stuff in manila before i left. grabe sa dami. ngayon di na talaga ako magiipon ng junk dito sa Singapore.
dexie
January 11, 2006 at 10:39 am (18 years ago)mine is worse…hehe. goodluck though
star
January 11, 2006 at 10:58 am (18 years ago)my desk has always been clear of clutter kasi required sa office — buti na lang
i just decluttered our closets, but i think it’s starting to pile up again. uhoh! 
Toni
January 11, 2006 at 1:54 pm (18 years ago)tin: I don’t have trouble throwing things away too! I don’t have much attachment to most material things I have. But as soon as I throw stuff away, they get replaced as quickly! Ack! What a vicious cycle.
diane: What’s spoonerism? You learn new things everyday! I didn’t know they were flutterbys
mare : I was thinking of subscribing ’cause it’s cheaper too but that wouldn’t get rid of the potential pile of mags I’ll have!
Joey : Wala ka sa lola ko… hehehe. Salamat sa pagdaan. Good luck sa pag-ayos ng wedding pix!!! Now I’m off to your blog.
Paparazzi : It’s not off-tangent at all, Tito P. In fact yesterday, I said a prayer to Him to help me with my goal of simplifying my life.
jeanny : Ang tamaan ‘wag magalit! Heehee.
Christine : You’re so right. It never ends. As soon as you clear it up, a new pile appears. It’s a test of self-discipline really!
Alma : It’s not easy but it’ll be worth it! Good luck to us, yes!
rolly : Oh Tito R, that’s only one corner of my desk. I didn’t take a picture of the rest of my table because I was too embarrassed to post a pic of it! Great work on your clean desk — hope it stays that way!
jey : Good luck!
Sidney : So… what do you plan to do about it? Heehee. Let’s form a support group for clutter people!
Junnie : Reflections talaga! It’s not just paperwork, it’s about other things in life like that unnecessary ringback tone I had, the unnecessary magazines I bought more out of habit than interest, Starbucks coffee (hard habit to break but I’m getting there!), etc.
JMom : It’s a vicious cycle, yes. That happens to me too! As soon as it’s clean, waaah, it’s filled up again with more paperwork! It’s a test of how well we manage our cleanliness and sense of organization. We can do this! Let’s defeat the clutter monster!
sha : Support group ang kailangan natin!
Chel: Uuuuy ako C at P rin. Hindi ko mahulaan ang MC mo.Ang ime-maintain ko nalang ay yun GH.
jojo : Tama yan, I hope matupad yang anti-junk resolution mo!
dexie : Good luck to you too!
star : Rule din namin sa ofc actually is to keep our desks clear and neat but… hindi naman nasusunod. Hehe. Good luck with your closet!
BabyPink
January 11, 2006 at 10:55 pm (18 years ago)spoonerism is the transposition of initial sounds in a pair of words/phrases. the term came from the name of the man to whom we owe it; his name was william spooner (hindi ko na sure ‘yung william. hehehe).
ang paborito kong mga sample nito ay:
wave the sails – save the whales!
tease my ears – ease my tears.
eight of hearts – hate of arts.
at marami pang iba. hindi ko lang maalala sa ngayon. we used to do this in class. nakakatuwa, ‘no?:)
Toni
January 12, 2006 at 11:24 am (18 years ago)Diane: Astig!!!
Salamat sa info!
pasion
January 12, 2006 at 2:54 pm (18 years ago)hahaha. i have the exact same hot pink notebook — notes-to-go, right? “imagine a world where you actually liked the people you work with.”, “you’re not bitter, you’re cynically hopeful”
i commiserate. i think i *try* to declutter every year. but the clutter becomes so comforting. besides, i can always find something amidst self-created clutter. errr … where did i put that pen? hahahaha!
anyway, happy new year! and good luck with the decluttering!
Toni
January 12, 2006 at 5:21 pm (18 years ago)pasion: Wow! You’ve got a great eye! I looked at the picture again and wondered how you knew it was Notes-To-Go!
Ah, my clutter has a system too. Only I know where a particular object is. That eraser? Oh it’s on the bottom left corner under the phone bill beside the ruler side by side with my brown pencil… Good luck with the decluttering too!
mae gabriel
January 14, 2006 at 8:04 am (18 years ago)“Those who pride themselves with a tidy desk will never know the pleasure of finding something they thought they’ve lost forever”
Toni
January 16, 2006 at 1:29 pm (18 years ago)mae: AGREE!