Swag Bags - Goodies or Clutter?

Do you ever go to conferences or events and without realizing it you lug a whole bunch of stuff home that  you neither want or need? Today I am going to share with you my three step process on how to prevent swag from turning into clutter.  

Step 1

Sort the swag into stuff you like, and the stuff you know you’ll never use. Try and do this during a break while sitting with fellow attendees.

Step 2

Give away the stuff you don’t want. What I like to do is literally hold up each item a la Vana White and ask if any one would like it. You’d be surprised how many people like those little notebooks with the pen attached to it:)

Step 3

Assess the tote - Do you like it? Will you use it again? Is it good quality? Do you like the logo on it? If yes, keep it. Put all the good stuff back in the bag and you’re ready to go.

If you don’t like the bag – see if someone at the table might like it. If not, return it to the folks at registration. I usually say “I’m going to return this to you because I don’t want to waste it." I do the same with any of the swag that may still be left over.

Voila! Your swag bag is streamlined and filled only with stuff you like. You’ve re-gifted or returned the items you know you’ll never use. Plus, you won't have to lug the stuff home or have to deal with clutter down the road when you have one too many water bottles and stress balls wind up stressing you out. 

5 Compelling Reasons to Zero Out Your Inbox

Zeroing out your inbox each day strengthens decision making skills and encourages decisive action. Below are 5 more compelling reasons to zero out your inbox!

Improve your relationships - When you commit to zeroing out your inbox, it is likely to improve your relationships. Emails from friends will no longer go unanswered, buried in an avalanche of lukewarm and half processed emails. You will be able to take decisive action and respond the same day. For example, if you receive an invite to a birthday party, RSVP and put it on your calendar. Are you not sure if you can go? Acknowledge the invite and put the RSVP date on your calendar.

Save money - Zeroing out your inbox can save you money. When you commit to processing your email and getting to zero on a daily basis, your bills and invoices will not fall through the cracks causing you to incur late fees and penalties. Also, when you process your email daily, you are more likely to take advantage of money saving events such as sales at your favorite department store.

Make more money - When you zero out your inbox, emails from potential clients get a quick response increasing your chances of closing the sale. Timely communications with clients builds rapport and client satisfaction. Clients know they can depend making them more likely to work with you again and to refer clients to you.

Be in the know - Stay abreast of the latest news, industry trends and upcoming events by reading (or strategically skimming) industry, alumni and other newsletters when they come in.

Reduce Stress - A zero inbox will reduce your stress level, leaving you with a wonderful feeling of completion. You will no longer be overwhelmed with a chaotic inbox and a million to-dos tugging at you, distracting you, slowing you down each time you check your inbox. 

Tip: When processing email, use a "capture tool" such as a notebook or Evernote to keep track of your To Do items. 

Take the zero inbox challenge! Zero out your inbox and let us know how you do!

My 5 Hot Picks from the NAPO Expo 2013

I attended the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Conference in New Orleans recently and these are my 5 top picks from the NAPO Expo 2013.

And the winners are...

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids

This is an innovative product from a name we trust. The lids stack and snap together and they also snap on to the base of the container! Graduated containers plus the lids nest neatly into the other larger containers. You'll never have to rummage for the right size lid again.

Monkey Bars Garage Storage Systems

As an avid bike rider, I liked this the minute I saw it. Monkey Bars are a great way to organize your garage or basement. Check out their website for some great before and after photos.

Office Candy Recycled Leather File Tote

This leather file tote is fabulous. It is made in Italy of recycled leather so not only it is it stylish but it is Eco-friendly as well. It holds letter size folders and is a nice alternative to a bulky plastic file tote or a briefcase. Check out Office Candy for fun and whimsical office supplies!

Wolf Designs Jewelry Organizers

These rectangular and round stackable jewelry organizers from Wolf Designs have been curated in an amazing collection of organizing products by Julie Morgenstern on Open Sky. They come in vibrant colors and a variety of interior configurations so you can mix and match the trays to meet your jewelry storage needs.

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner

With just one push of a button you can dramatically reduce paper clutter and easily organize your documents and receipts. With super fast 25 ppm color scanning and an impressive 50 page Automatic Document Feeder, the ScanSnap takes scanning to a whole new level.