Invest in organizational items. If you have the extra cash, buying a few key organizational items before you begin to reorganize might help a great deal. Desk organizers that slide into a drawer are great for keeping pencils, notepads, paper clips, staplers, etc. in separate compartments and easy to find. A fun photo stand is a great way to display three or four pictures instead of using picture frames that take up precious space. Bookends help keep magazines, folders and binders upright and out of the way. Also, an overhead hutch for your desk will provide more surface area for books and supplies.
Make a big dump. Before you do anything, clear a space on your floor or on your bed and dump out everything in your desk. You will need to see what you are keeping in there in order to assess what you need.
Pile it up. Organize your belongings into at least two piles: to keep or to trash. If you have old textbooks or other items that others might want, then make two additional piles: to donate and to sell. When deciding which pile an item belongs in, ask these questions:
1. When was the last time I used this item (be honest!)? If you haven't picked up that old issue of a magazine for over a year, trash it. Use a utility knife to tear out articles or pictures that you want to keep, then store them together in a thin folder.
2. Do I need this item for my day-to-day life? If the answer is no, consider storing it in an empty suitcase or under your bed, so that you have more space on the desk.
Section off. With all of your desk contents in two to four neat piles, look at your desk. It is small and can only hold so much. Ideally, it would contain only items related to school (like your computer, a lamp, pencils and books) and not things like socks, hair conditioner or lotion. But if you live in a cramped dorm, the desk often must double as many other things. Create a space for everything and use Post-It notes to label where all of your things belong.
A good rule of thumb is to use your lower drawers for heavier things (like textbooks or computer parts). If possible, keep the top surface clear of anything except small items like clocks, lamps and pencil holders. You'll want this space to write, type or take a quick study nap. If you have desk accessories (like a hutch or desk organizer), label how you will use these items as well.
Reassemble. Return to your desk only the items that you intend to keep, in their designated locations. The items to be trashed should be placed in a big garbage bag and thrown out. Things that you want to donate can be put into another bag and labeled. Put this bag away, so that it is not in your way, but don't forget to schedule a time to go down to your nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army to donate. To sell your old textbooks or office supplies, put the word out around campus, or take them to the bookstore at the end of the semester to sell them.