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How to Organize Your Desk Wouldn't you like your desk to look like this? When the time comes that you can no longer see the top of the desk, because of all the clutter covering it, it is time to organize and clean the desk. A neat desk is always easy to work on, and find things easily.

Steps

1. Start with a clean slate. Move everything off the top and place it on the floor or table next to you. Throw out those things that are not needed, like old papers, or torn scraps of paper, or even an outdated picture.
2. Prioritize Decide which are your most important and most-used items. Items such as pencils, pens, scissors, important documents, and even hand lotion. Place these in a drawer that is within easy access (or, in the case of pens and pencils, in a cup).
3. Larger items These are those that are used often such as a telephone, books, a special picture, tissue box, and a daily calendar. Remember to make room for your laptop or computer.
4. Smaller items Things such as pictures, CD's, notebooks, and folders. Place these in an easy to reach place like a shelf or a drawer.
5. Little items Make this the last part of organizing. These are the little things, like a stapler, pencil and pen holder, paper clips, and address books or a small file that are constantly being used, and are extremely necessary.
6. Papers Place loose papers in a desk box, one on top of the other. Mark them 'in and out', so to know which have to be worked on, and which are finished.

Tips

• A desk should be uncluttered, so it can be used easily and comfortably. Throw away trash and empty envelopes as soon as you find them. Do not store information in envelopes, as it creates clutter in your desk and in your mind.
• Things needed more often, can be placed in a drawer instead of being left on top.
• The less things placed as adornments on top of the desk, the neater and cleaner the desk top.
• Develop a filing system so you know where to put things like receipts, and so you can find things easily without disturbing everything else.
• It also helps if you have a stationery box to put things like erasers,tape,extra staples,etc., to help keep you organized.

Warnings

• After moving things around, placing into drawers, you may forget where you put things. Make a notation on a notepad where things have been moved to or better yet, type it out in Word and save it to your computer or a disc.