As a significant project draws to a close, I'm looking at my work flow - that is, the way my work flows from my desk and onto the floor. There are a lot of areas that are (in theory) for a specific purpose, but inevitable end up supporting my filing piling system for life, especially when I start looking for something in a hurry.

I've been thinking about how I can organise things so that this somehow doesn't happen. My desk doesn't take on the role of filing cabinet, temporary wardrobe, pantry, inbox, outbox, workspace and library all at once. I've been a big proponent of the classic disorganised line: I know it looks messy, but...

• ... I know where everything else. (Sure I do. It's in the mess. Probably that landslide by the half-open cupboard.)
• ... I've been really busy lately. (Lately? Lately? Dear Me, please call when not busy. Hah.)
• ... I'll clean it up when I have time. (No, I'll clean it up specifically when I don't have time, because I'm avoiding doing something else. Messiness as a procrastination tool. Hmm.)
• ... It's actually really organised, once you take the hats and cheese out. (Yes, I actually used that one.)

I was forwarded a LifeHacker article on getting out from under clutter, with some really interesting points. I realised I'm definitely the possessions-as-security type, which isn't surprising to me. I always hoarded things 'just in case' they were useful someday. Even broken things could be used for "craft projects". I totally ignored the fact that I never actually did any of those projects; things still had to be kept on the offchance, because how much would I rant and rail about having to pay for something again because I'd thrown the other thing away?

But - I am inching through my office, turfing and organising and cleaning all at once, and dreading the point where I get to my filing cabint - definitely a filed for storage system. In the end, I hope I can wrangle something that actually reflects what I value and what I spend my time on.

In the meantime, I can always dream about the fantastic workrooms of some writers, or custom-designed desks. Though personally, I'd want something with a lot more spread-room, three monitors and at least one whiteboard or corkboard...

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