Over the last couple of weeks, we have discussed paperwork and the huge part it plays in working in the office.  Although we know that we must shift all the paperwork, we sometimes still get swamped by the paper that doesn't seem to belong anywhere.  Today, we will be focusing on those envelopes or scraps of paper (which do not need to be shredded for confidentiality purposes) that normally get binned.

Working in a busy office means you are always in need of paper for taking messages (especially if one of your functions is a receptionist). Today, we want to share with you how to invest just a couple of minutes to make a cost-effective, tree-saving message notebook. (A notebook can be a better idea than having hundreds of pieces of paper that float all over your desk, with no real home and which usually end up in the trash bin). 

All you will need to make this simple message notebook is: a pair of scissors, a stapler, a good eye for cutting fairly straight (this one is optional as no-one will be checking how straight your cuts are), and used paper (e.g. used envelopes, glossy marketing letters, or photocopy paper printed only on one side).  Cut the envelopes so that the pieces of paper are all approximately the same size. (If you have no idea where to make those cuts, take one of the A4 or letter-sized sheets of used photocopy paper and fold it in half twice (to make a quarter sized sheet), and use this as a guide.  Fold again if you want a smaller notebook.). Making sure to put the clean, unprinted sides facing up, staple the pieces of paper together. Congratualtions!  You now have a handy little notebook to write all those important message PLUS you made a contribution to preserving our environment by recycling used paper.