This first step is essential to "de-cluttering" your cubicle. You should get rid of anything that serves no functional or aesthetic purpose. Once this is done, you can reorganize the items you've chosen to keep so that they are easy to find.  You may find it helpful to assign certain drawers, shelves, or cabinets to certain categories of materials. This will keep things neat and facilitate easy access to essential items. You will probably have to make a temporary mess in order to go through everything in your desk. Just make sure you don't inhibit your ability to work in the process, especially if your reorganization spans multiple days. The best way to keep your desk neat is to keep various categories of items separated. Your workspace will quickly descend into disarray if you have to dig through a pile or stack to find things you need. Desk organizers can be purchased at any office supply store (such as Office Depot, Staples, or The Container Store) and are handy tools for making sure this doesn't happen. Examples include:  Drawer trays/dividers. These create separated containers within desk drawers to keep small, loose items from moving around or becoming jumbled together. Stacked inbox sorters. These are small desktop shelves which can be assigned categories for different types of ingoing/outgoing paperwork. Pen/pencil cups. This simple device simply holds your pens and pencils and provides easy access to them. They take up minimal desk space and save valuable real estate in desk drawers. If you deal with a lot of files, forms, or other paperwork that must be stored and referenced as part of your job, you will find it immensely helpful to have all your papers organized onto a bookshelf or in a filing cabinet. Nothing creates more clutter than papers scattered across a desktop.  Ask your supervisor if there are any unused shelving materials or cabinets that you can move into your cubicle. Many offices have surplus materials that sit in storage until they are needed. This is a better option than reaching into your own pocket to pay for a work-related necessity. If you choose to use a bookshelf, also purchase hard-cover, three-ring binders to hold your paperwork. These stand up easily on shelves and keep papers from falling out or becoming mixed up. If you don't have space in your cubicle for a filing cabinet or bookshelf, Ask your supervisor if there are any communal filing cabinets or bookshelves you might be able to use. Just be sure to avoid placing sensitive or confidential information in a place anyone can access. Creating spaces in/on your desk and throughout your cubicle for specific purposes will help you keep things organized and easy to find and use. For example, you may wish to assign one drawer for storing stationery and another for spare materials like paper clips, staples, batteries, rubber bands, etc. This will also help keep your decorative items and trinkets from becoming jumbled with work-related functional items.  Be practical when designating spaces so that you are sure to accommodate the demands of your work. If your work projects often require going through multiple stacks of forms in a short amount of time, you wouldn't want your 'pending paperwork' area to be assigned to your bottom desk drawer. Don't devote too much desk space to personal items if it means you will have trouble fitting in necessary work items. A small, hand-held labeler can be very helpful in ensuring that your organization efforts stand the test of time. If you have labels on binders or even on desk drawers and cabinet doors, you will not only more easily locate items you need, but you will also be more inclined to maintain your space designations.  Be sure not to stick labels to company-owned property without first checking with your supervisor for approval. Some labels may be hard to remove, and your boss probably won't want you to damage materials that don't belong to you. Don't go overboard. Limit your labeling to binders, drawers, cabinets, or shelves. Having labels covering every square inch of your workspace will likely be frowned upon by your supervisor and will reduce your cubicle's appeal.

Summary: Empty your drawers and cabinets. Purchase desk organizer materials. Get a small bookshelf or filing cabinet. Designate spaces. Purchase and use a Labeler.


The rules and information provided in this article will not teach you everything you need to know about English grammar. This article is intended to serve as a starting point in your studies. The actual subject of English grammar is much more complex, and you will need to devote a lot of time and effort if you really want to learn it. If you are learning English as a second language, compare the rules of English grammar to the grammar rules of your native language. Some aspects will be similar while others will differ.  When the rules are the same, rely on the knowledge you have of your native grammar to help you with English grammar. When the rules differ, devote more time and concentration on practicing those aspects of English grammar as you study. People who do a lot of reading tend to be more proficient with English grammar in their own writing and speech.  This does not refer to grammar books. Grammar books are helpful, of course, but the principle of this step is a different one. Read books, magazines, or other materials written in English that you enjoy. The more often you read, the more familiar you will naturally become with the way that grammar is used in word, sentence, and paragraph levels. Learning the rules of English grammar is an important step, but you will be able to put those rules into practice better if you are actually used to seeing proper grammar. If you are currently in school, look for a special elective class that focuses on grammar or a tutoring opportunity provided through your school. If you are no longer in school, consider taking a grammar class at a community college, community center, or library. You could also look for a class online. For non-native English speakers, look for classes specifically designed for students who are learning English as a secondary language. These classes are usually labeled as ESL (English as a Second Language), ENL (English as a New Language), or ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. If formal classes do not help, find a mentor who can review grammar rules with you one-on-one. This mentor could be a teacher, professor, or professional tutor. On the other hand, it could also be a parent, sibling, friend, or other relative who has a strong grasp of the English language and is willing to help out. Go to a bookstore and purchase an English grammar workbook, or hop online and access some free grammar resources through the Internet. As a general rule, look for Internet sources that come from educational (.edu) websites. Examples include:  The Guide to Grammar and Writing by Capital Community College Foundation (http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/) Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/) Above all else, practice makes perfect. The more you can practice English grammar, the better you'll get with it.
Summary: Understand that this is just the beginning. Compare grammar rules. Do a lot of reading. Take a class. Find a mentor. Look for additional information on your own. Practice.