Align all elements with each other or on a grid.
There are certainly valid reasons and instances where you might want to knock things out of alignment. A scattered or haphazard arrangement of text or graphics can make a statement in full page ads or posters or fliers. But for most desktop publishing projects some form of alignment is desirable.
It makes text in a brochure easier to read. It can provide page to page continuity or flow in newsletters and books. It can also speed up the entire page layout process if you have a set alignment and stick to it. Learn more about How to Line Up Text and Graphics.
And on the subject of alignment... here are a couple of glossary terms that are related: Block Style (typical format for business letters) and Forced Justification (a type of text alignment I don't recommend).