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Clean Off Your Desk, and Your Kids' Desks, Too!

by Mary Jo Rulnick

It’s a time to clear out the old and organize the rest. But, you don’t have to do it all at one time. Stretch these ideas out over the month. Spend 15 minutes each day tackling one task at a time. This way is so much easier to fit into your busy schedule.

• Organize small office supplies like paper clips, clamps, rubber bands, push pins, miniature post-its, and so forth in a small multi-drawer organizer usually found in the hardware/tool section. Be sure to label each drawer with designated contents.

• Combine art supplies such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, tempera paints and glue in a handled tote caddy or shoe box for easy access.

• Store colored paper, card stock, stationery in stackable paper tray holders found in discount stores.

• Store note pads, stapler and staples, tape, ink pads and other bulkier supplies in a three-drawer cart with attached wheels (easier to move) available at a discount store.

• A medium under-the-shelf basket gives you additional storage while utilizing the wasted space on bookshelves. Keep memos, recent email messages and/or important papers you’ll need to refer back to.

• A recipe box will keep smaller notes or business cards from getting lost. Staple the note to an index card and jot a key word at the top. File.

• A small square basket on the top of your desk will keep floppy disks and CDs at your fingertips, yet this will keep them from becoming damaged.

• Remove all the extra pens, pencils and markers from your desktop. Keep one or two of each in a small holder.

• Go through the stack of papers on your desk. Put any papers that need to be completed in a separate file folder and mark as such. Shred the old ones.

• Place any reports, newspaper clippings or research in an accordion file for future use.

• Have the kids go through their papers. Separate into piles. Make a scrapbook of their favorites. Shred the colored ones to line a gift basket. Use fun artwork as wrapping paper.

• Go through your computer hard drive files and download those you no longer need immediately onto a CD or disk. Or if you feel they’re obsolete, delete them completely.

• Separate your CDs/disks into categories. Put the older ones you probably won’t need into a shoebox. Mark the contents on the outside of the box and store in a closet.

• Update your e-mail address book. Group together any addys, such as family members, business contacts, or church members, that you might send the same message to everyon in this specific group.

• Clean in between the keys of your computer keyboard with a cotton swab.

• Keep a calendar posted near your desk for quick reference on deadlines, appointments and holidays.

Mary Jo Rulnick is the author of The Frantic Woman's Guide to Feeding Family and Friends (Warner Books, Sept. 2006), The Frantic Woman's Guide to Life (Warner Books, 2004) and the founder of www.maryjorulnick.com. Email her at: maryjo@maryjorulnick.com.

Copyright 2002-2006