Finally! I have DONE it!! I have struggled for so long on how to master my desk! I think I've done it this time!! This took several days and much pondering, but I have a system that finally works for me. Here's my before picture:
Not great, huh? And believe me, that's not even as bad as it
could have been. There is
some organization to it. Like I said, I've tried several different things that weren't working well enough.
Now, here's the after picture:
Much better, huh? Okay, so there's two things that are key to this desk. First are the magazine holders above the computer screen. Before, I was using them as storage for cardstock, folders, laminating pouches, etc. Now, they are not being used as storage. They are used for a "filing" system of categorized items that I use everyday.
That is prime real estate on my desk, and I wanted that to be actionable space, not storage.
Here are my categories:
- Jefferson's Papers-whatever school items that need to be referenced during the week, or a place to hold his homework, reading logs, spelling lists, etc. (This is not long-term storage, see this post for that)
- Papers to Recycle- so often as I'm cleaning things off my desk, or mail comes in, or whatever, I have papers I want to recycle, but I don't want to walk to the garage every time to dump it. So, I'll hold it until I'm ready to go to the garage.
- Talmage's Papers-same concept as "Jefferson's Papers" for my 2nd son
- Magazines & Papers to Read-this would be for, yes, magazines, and maybe some articles, or stories that I've printed out that I want to read, or some lists of books to read.
- To Be Put Away-things that have landed on my desk that need to be put somewhere else. Just a holding spot until I can put them all away at once.
- Scrap Paper-paper I can use to jot a list down on, or something I can use when I'm trying to explain a math problem to my son. Or, art paper for my children.
- Primary- I teach the children's singing time in church every week. Whatever activity I'm preparing for the week, I can put in there as the week goes on.
- Coupons/Receipts- Pretty self-explanatory. I keep receipts for a few days in case I have to return something. And of course whatever coupons I clip out that haven't made it to my little coupon wallet yet.
As you've noticed, these spots mostly are NOT for storage. They are for items that are in transit for one reason or another. Items to be used, thrown away, or in a holding spot.
Then in this spot, I have my Family Organization Book (see
here for that post), my E-mealz menus (I love this...you can check it out
here), book my son is reading for school, and my pocket calendar.
And then, the next spot is here:
The top left basket is for my husband. Yeah, he needs a little spot. The right top basket is full of discs that I'd need for the computer. The bottom left basket holds my label maker, my camera, and my date stamper (for my kids school papers; see
this post). Then there's my ipod, our pencil pot, and my kids' money banks.
And if you'll remember, I said that there were two keys to this desk. The first was the magazine holders, and the second are my letter trays.
The top is for
Incoming anything. Whether it be mail, or something my husband needs to give me, or whatever. This needs to be looked at daily. The second tray is my "hot"
To Do tray. Things that need to be taken care of fairly soon.
So, that's my desk! It's been working great. I may have to tweak as some things come in that I didn't expect, but I'm so excited!! Thanks for reading!
Yes, it looks empty because I haven't put everything in there yet. Well, the Container Store was having their annual 30% off on their Elfa closet systems, and I was really dying to do that. I got an estimate and it was still too steep for me. $450 including installation. I just can't spend that much on a closet. So, I wish it were like this:
Gorgeous! Please excuse that it is a bedroom closet, but you get the idea. However, I decided to get creative and make it work without breaking the bank. Here's how it turned out: 
A small shoe rack from Wal-mart, hooks on the side wall for the kids coats and backpacks, and hooks at the top for my bags and umbrellas. And on the right side of the closet:
These little drawer units I also found at Wal-mart for pretty cheap (can't remember now how much they were) and each is for a member of our family for hats, mittens, gloves, goggles, shin guards, baseball mitts, etc. And the 6th drawer on the bottom right is my "To Go" drawer. That's where I put anything I need to take with me somewhere. Anything I need to return to the store, anything I've borrowed from someone that needs to be returned, etc. etc. You get the idea. Oh, and for a splash of color, I added those floor mats to ensure nothing slides around my slippery wooden floor.
I typed out some of their jobs for the morning, and then for the evening. I am having them put just a slash