After a while of mess, I redesigned my working area. The KEY to the redesign is that no matter what I do, it becomes almost impossible to make it into a mess. I also made the default position of things very conducive to not making a mess, so after a little work at the beginning, there is no further work.

Step 1: Empty desk. No cups or paper holders or anything like that

Step 2: Digitalise what can be digitalised, and sort away all papers that are not directly relevant

Step 3: Get 2 baskets, one for unimportant papers, another for papers you have to order. When anything comes in that is not critical, drop them in the basket. Don't keep the basket on your desk, keep it away in your cupboard. We don't push paper that often.

Step 4: Sort the cables out. Tape them, put them away sensibly

Step 6: Get really good lights

Step 7: Get something to play with for when you are thinking. I personally use a 50 cm wooden ruler, and apart from my PC and a pen, that's the only thing on my desk. If I did not have it, I'd have chewed the pen dead by now.

When you work with a clean desk things feel a lot tidier. When you have stuff on the desk, only when they are extremly high priority. Having a neat desk will make you focus even better on the stuff that is important when it does come on your desk.

And if you have a desktop, consider moving it somewhere else. I keep mine in the closet and use it via network - that way I have some quiet.

So, my suggestion is to plan in a way that it gets difficult to get untidy.