| A desk in the kitchen is becoming very popular. | | | | A recipe box will keep smaller Post-It Notes from |
| However, most of the time there is little storage space | | | | getting lost. Afraid the notes will get lost in the shuffle? |
| available and the top of it becomes a catchall for | | | | Staple the note to an index card and jot a key word |
| everything from the kids' craft supplies to the daily mail. | | | | at the top. File.o A small square basket on the top of |
| Here are 10 easy-to-do tips to help clean off your | | | | your desk will keep floppy disks, CDs and thumb drives |
| desk.o Organize smaller office supplies like paper clips | | | | at your fingertips, yet protect them from possible |
| and clamps, rubber bands, push pins, miniature sticky | | | | damage.o Remove all the extra pens, pencils and |
| notes, and so forth in a small multi-drawer organizer | | | | markers from your desktop. Keep one or two of each |
| found in office supply, craft or hardware stores. These | | | | in a small holder.o Keep a calendar posted near your |
| multi-drawer organizers now come in various sizes | | | | desk for quick reference. Instead of jotting meetings, |
| with a number of pullout drawers. Be sure to label | | | | activities and such on a piece of scrap paper, mark it |
| each drawer with designated contents so everyone | | | | on the calendar.o Go through the stack of papers on |
| knows where to find and store stuff.o Store colored | | | | your desk. Put any papers that need to be completed |
| paper, card stock, and/or stationery in stackable paper | | | | in a separate file folder and mark as such. Shred the |
| tray holders found in office supply or discount stores. | | | | old ones.o Place any reports, newspaper clippings or |
| The top tray can hold memos, recent email messages | | | | research in a file for future use. If the piece is too large |
| and/or important papers you'll need to refer back to.o | | | | for a file folder, slip it into a 9 by 12 envelope or an |
| Store note pads, stapler and staples, tape, ink pads | | | | expandable vinyl folder. These can be stored in a |
| and other bulkier supplies in a three-drawer cart with | | | | magazine basket.o Have the kids go through their |
| attached wheels (easier to move) available at a | | | | papers. Separate into piles. Scrapbook their favorites. |
| discount store. Stow crayons, markers, colored pencils, | | | | Shred the colored ones to line a gift basket. Use fun |
| tempera paints and glue in the cart, too. Find one that | | | | artwork as wrapping paper or book covers. |
| can easily fit under your desk to utilize wasted space.o | | | | |