As someone who is on the road many months of the year, having a tidy living space and organized life is a necessity. I have always strived to keep my residence in the States clutter free not only because I sometimes rent my place on a short term basis, but also because it’s stressful to come home to a messy and cluttered space.

Here are 5 tips that have worked for me (some of them have been influenced by Marie Kondo’s infamous The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up):

(1) Purging is Fun

Much like red lining a document, purging is liberating because it’s a tangible way to see improvement. Once I got into the mindset that purging is positive, it was easy to eliminate items that I no longer needed or simply didn’t use. If I returned from a few trips and found an item in my home that I didn’t (a) think about, (b) use within 6 months, or (c) use as an investment piece (ex: a tuxedo), it fails my test and I purge the item.

(2) Clever Storage doesn’t de-clutter

Don’t be fooled by fancy storage containers. Adding furniture won’t solve the problem. I bought a great looking television stand with drawers to keep some of my miscellaneous items (including a gaming system I hardly ever used). While it looked nice, it added significant space to my living room and served as a facilitator to accumulate more things.

(3) Be really picky about the things you buy

This one sounds obvious, but it’s much harder to implement. We live in a world of sales, deals, and incentives. Resist the temptation to purchase something because it is 50% off and only purchase items that are a 10/10. Don’t settle. Ask yourself whether you would buy that piece of furniture if it weren’t on sale. If you wouldn’t and it isn’t an issue of affordability, you’ve already answered the question.

(4) Investing in pieces saves time and money

“Never pay full price” seems to be a mantra of the modern era and a rule that I often violate. If I’m in need of a new pair or jeans or pants, I let the 10/10 rule override everything else. This is because a single, but more expensive piece of clothing that is a 10/10 is always preferable to three 7/10 pieces. Not to mention after you buy three pieces of clothing, you’ve probably spent more money and time.  If your closet is only full of 10/10 pieces, you’ll feel great every day and spend less time evaluating what to wear for the day since you know everything looks fantastic.

(5) Use technology!

Instead of purchasing books, try to download an electronic version to a tablet or computer. Scan in any documents you need instead of keeping paper copies. Always opt for electronic billing records instead of mailings.  Shop for versatile appliances. Use your smart phone in place of an alarm clock, note pad, and fitness tracker. Take any opportunity to utilize technology to make your life easier and more compact.