Smarter Living: 7 cheap(ish) things to keep your desk organized

Small things with big impacts

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story October 19, 2020 By Melanie Pinola If you’re anything like me, you’ve been spending even more time at your desk than usual. I’ve found that keeping clutter to a minimum boosts my productivity. A leather-like desk pad can help protect a surface from spills and works as a mouse pad, too. Perhaps most important, the mat creates a pleasant visual that can help you at least feel more organized. Read more about desk pads >> Instead of wasting paper for little notes, a glass whiteboard can make space for impermanent bits of information. It can be stood upright for use as a clipboard or lie flat on a desk. Check out more glass whiteboards >> Messy cables from computer accessories are a distracting eyesore, and the easiest way to gather them is with velcro straps. They’re adjustable and reusable, unlike zip ties, making adding or removing cables easy. Check out more about velcro straps >> If your desk lacks drawers, stash odds and ends in a hanging organizer. It keeps items — like a USB hub, hand moisturizer and microfiber cloths — in reach without eating up desk real estate. See the best USB-C hubs and docks >> A good notebook lets you plan out tasks, journal and take notes; luxurious versions encourage greater use. It helps if you can use customizable inserts, too. Check out the best notebooks >> For occasional scanning, a mobile scanner doesn’t take up much desk space and helps reduce clutter. If you want to hide it, try attaching it to the underside of a desk with adhesive velcro fasteners. These are the best portable scanners >> Many papers contain sensitive, personal information, so a paper shredder can be a good idea for anyone. The best versions are both budget-friendly and compact. Read more about the best paper shredders >> BEST OF SMARTER LIVING Aysha Tengiz   How to Connect With the Co-Workers You’re Missing What you gain with remote work — increased flexibility and productivity — comes at the expense of interacting and socializing with colleagues in person. Here are some tips to help deal with that. By Anna Goldfarb Dominic Kesterton   How to Have a Safe and Still Spooky Halloween Scavenger hunts, outdoor movie screenings and other ideas to have a safe holiday on Oct. 31. By Alexandra E. Petri Luci Gutiérrez   Identify the Different Symptoms of the Flu and Covid-19 With fears of a “twindemic” in the United States this fall, here’s a guide to understanding what’s making you feel terrible. By Donald G. McNeil Jr. Christy Harmon   How to Make a Pandemic Time Capsule While many of us would rather forget 2020, we’re living through a historic moment that we may eventually want to remember. By Ronda Kaysen Lan Truong   How to Deal With a Friendship ‘Quiet Season’ You might emerge from 2020 with fewer friendships, and that’s OK. By Anna Goldfarb Sophi Miyoko Gullbrants   I Hope This Email Finds You Well Just wanted to check in! By Tim Herrera Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT From our friends at Wirecutter Wirecutter is New York Times company that reviews and recommends products. How to Celebrate Thanksgiving During the Pandemic The Best Board Games to Play at Home on Halloween (or Any Other Night) Is Dixon’s Ticonderoga Truly ‘The World’s Best Pencil’? We Don’t Think So. What a Wirecutter Staffer (and Former Barista) Uses to Make Coffee The Pandemic Has Messed With Kids’ Sleep. Here’s How to Get Them Back on Schedule. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Smarter Living from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018