Check the desk in three zones. Clear one zone at a time, set a timer, and put everything back on its shelf. Keep the front edge free—no papers, no pens. If you must keep a folder, keep it on the far right so you see it immediately. And remember, the perimeter of your desk should be clear of anything that can fall over. That way, when you reach for a pen, you don't have to pull a stack of junk out of the way.