1. Clear The Clutter

This is an obvious tip, but it's also the one we overlook most frequently. It's easy to let writing utensils, paper clips, staplers, sticky note pads, and other supplies pile up here and there. Before you know it, you're searching for a free spot on your desk to balance your checkbook. But compact and handy containers for all these items are less expensive than cheap toys and they can make a world of difference in keeping your office manageable.

2. Online Organization

Passwords and keywords may not take up any room in your office, but they can take up lots of valuable time if you are constantly hunting through countless virtual folder files or quickly scribbled notepads to find them. These days, you probably have more passwords and/or keywords than all your physical keys from your home, work and gym combined. Don't get locked out of the information age! Keep all your online info in one handy, easy-to-find reference.

3. Keep What's Vital Visible

How often have you found yourself in a panic, digging through drawers or forgotten files to find that important form or contract? Save yourself the trouble and make sure those utterly essential papers are always at hand. A desktop file basket separated from other files is one option. Another is a flip-through reference organizer that stands alone right near your computer for easy reading.

4. Go For Sturdy Storage

A wooden or metal file cabinet might cost more than cardboard or plastic storage boxes, but they often hold more and (even more importantly) command some attention. You might stack those storage boxes in the closet, believing you won't forget about them and you'll save space. But as life gets busy, you may indeed forget about them. A handsome piece of storage furniture can stay out in the open to always remind you of its valuable contents.

5. Rarely Used But Easy To Find

File tabs and labels are an organizational must if you have a lot of old paperwork you need to store. Simple clip-on tabs and clearly marked file folders can truly save hours and hours of going through years of documents you saved only for those "what if?" scenarios. These are the papers you don't need to keep near your desktop for regular reference, but which can be a chore to locate on those rare occasions you do need to find them. Once they are labeled for easy access, you can breathe easily as you put them out of the way to save space for more vital records and other office essentials. This is an easy and affordable strategy too many of us overlook as we try and get the office back into shape. Stock up on budget-priced sets of tabs and labels, so you're covered for all those long-forgotten boxes of paperwork.

You can always count on The Lakeside Collection to ease your organizational woes, whether it's an overcrowded office or a country kitchen in need of added storage. Shop here for the best prices on the best products to help you get organized.