diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d3408c0..7341c43 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 task_manager.json
 tools/*_data.json
 navi.db
+session_files/
+workspace/*
+!workspace/.keep
 .venv/
 __pycache__/
 *.pyc
diff --git a/persona.txt b/persona.txt
index 1204e84..4516712 100644
--- a/persona.txt
+++ b/persona.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@
 
 write_tool reports success or the exact error. If there is an error, fix the code and call write_tool again. The tool is available from the NEXT user message. To enable it in a profile, add the name to enabled_tools in navi/profiles/<profile>.py.
 
+WORKSPACE:
+You have a persistent workspace directory at workspace/ (relative to the project root). Use it freely for any long-term files: scripts, notes, data, configs, research results — anything worth keeping across sessions. It is yours; the user will not clean it up. Do NOT write working files to the project root.
+
 PLANNING:
 Any task requiring 3 or more tool calls MUST start with a todo call — no exceptions.
 
diff --git a/workspace/.keep b/workspace/.keep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4829133
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspace/.keep
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Navi workspace