Start by clearing off the top of the desk. Remove everything except the computer monitor.  Clean the desktop with soap and water. Dry thoroughly. Clean the monitor with soap and water and glass cleaner.  Put back only the items you use every day  and clean each item as you replace it.

Try to put the processor on the floor or on a cart, so that it doesn't take up desktop space.

If you are right handed, try to place the phone on your left, and slightly out of view. This way, you won't be sidetracked every time you see the phone, and when you are talking, your right hand will be free to take notes. Of course, if you use a headset it won't matter which side it goes on. 

The rest of your every day tools should be ranked in order of use and assigned locations on the desk accordingly. For example, if you use the stapler every few minutes, keep it close to your stapling hand.

Now, stand back and take a look.  Looks nice eh? Room to spread things out and work comfortably? If it looks barren, you may add extra things that you really like, as long as they make you feel good when you look at them.

Extra pictures might be hung on the wall or placed on shelves. Stacks of papers and files should be dealt with.  Don't leave yourself with a big mess to clean up!  Keep a trash can and a recycling box close by while you are doing this.  Set a timer for each drawer and give yourself a break when your time is up.

If you have a pencil drawer, empty it next and return only the items that really belong in there. Either buy drawer dividers or make some out of small boxes to keep things from rolling around inside.  Designate a spot for each item that lives in the drawer, and you will always know where it is.

The handiest drawer is where you should keep the papers you use the most. Put in a hanging folder assembly and use hanging files. Put a tab on the hanging file and label it the same as the label on the manila folder you put inside the hanging folder. It will be hard to misfile that way.

Make it a habit to put away everything you've been working on at the end of the day. Even the things you're going to work on tomorrow. If it is where it belongs you'll know where to find it and you're desk will look inviting and make you feel like working.  Besides that, you won't have to start the day off by rooting through piles of papers.

Did you know? If you spend 10 minutes a day looking for things,  it will eat up almost 3 days per year of your life!