That said, one product I did keep was the Jot-It Desktop Writeboard from Cocoa. I got one to review back in October 2007 and I’m still using it (daily) and loving it. The desktop writing systems offered at Cocoa are an awesome way to green up your office at home or work because it eliminates paper use.

Cocoa makes whiteboards (among other products) which yeah, sounds boring. How many whiteboards are out there? BUT Cocoa boards have perks that other ones I’ve tried haven’t had. Perks of the Cocoa Writeboard:

• Good amount of surface space for jotting down notes with the larger boards.

• The boards come with interchangeable templates (beneath the writing surface – see image above). You can configure the template to meet your needs. For example, you can use a calender template, to-do template, a blank template, and more. Additional templates can be downloaded to be printed on blank templates. (Tip – print them onto recycled paper.)
• Comes with the world’s best pens. I love the EXPO Ultra-fine tip markers they send with their boards. The pens are formulated with low-odor dry erase ink, certified nontoxic, and last forever (not literally forever, but I swear I used mine daily for like a year).

I’m not a fan of how the products are made of a plastic material but on the flip side, they’re well made and last a LONG time. My son and me have accidentally knocked my writeboard around plenty and it’s still going strong. I even tossed mine in the dishwasher once and it was fine. Also, Cocoa has a set eco-mission:

• “Design products that help you better care for the earth;
• Use sustainably produced and/or appropriately recycled raw materials to manufacture our products;
• Live the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.”

Another pro of this company is that they either listen to consumers or they’re just naturally smart. Example: I noted in my first Cocoa review that the board was too large for a smaller desk and that I wished extra pens were available at their website. A little while later Cocoa, low-and-behold has pens at their website and a cool slimmer version of their writeboard. Nice right!? They also have a new mobile slate version of their writeboard which rocks because one of my past cons of this product was that it’s not easy to carry around – the original board is best used in a permanant place.

You can use Cocoa boards instead of new paper for grocery lists, to-do lists, workplace meetings, notes, school schedules, calendars, and so much more. This writeboard is likely my most used review product in the history of my blogging career, so I’d check it out and see if you find it just as useful.

Visit Cocoa to learn more.

[images via Cocoa]

Post from: Blisstree

Cocoa Instead of Paper Scratch Pads

1. Pay all your bills online: And why not move all your banking activity to online while you’re at it.

2. Ban stickies: I know, some are super cute. But good lord those stickies add up. Once you get some, you get stickie mad and use them everywhere.

3. Ban scratch pads: Also come in many adorable varietites, plus they’re small and mobile. They also create massive paper piles. But one tiny spiral notebook and write notes only in that. Recycle it when you use it up, and grab a new one.

4. Get a pda: I LOVE my pda. It keeps me organized, and I can jot down notes on it, which I later transfer to my computer. No paper notepads necessary if you have one of these babies. Don’t let the cost detour you. Add up the cost of years of notebooks, paper, and stickies, and you’ll feel a lot better. This is only a one-time cost.

5. Quit with the simultaneous projects: If you’re office is in paper shambles, it pays to look at how you do thing. Trying to stay on top of eight tasks at once seems sort of productive, but it’s easier to keep paper under control, and stay organized if you start one task, finish, and start another. 

6. Are you in serious paper trouble: Not willing to give up paper just yet? Try the Paper Tiger software system. It’s only goal is to tame paper insanity. 

7. Be bold – go totally paperless: Paperless technology is daunting to some, but imagine if you make it! There’s a Paperless Office Experiment, at Productivity501 going on. Although, it’s been happening for quite some time, it’s the best paperless office challenge I’ve ever seen, and will absolutely get you up to speed.

8. Use it – lose it: Use paper sure but recycle the second you’re done. To encourage this sort of behavior keep a shredder right by your desk. Don’t want a shredder? Keep a recycling bin instead. Paper is handy while you are officially using it. If you finish with something scan it if you can’t decide on keep or toss, then chuck it.

9. Cut coupons: Literally. This isn’t an idea to save you cash. You know how many homes I see with piles of uncut coupons? More than I should. If you aren’t gonna cut them, toss them. They expire soon anyhow.

10. Get a receipt system: Either one, scan them for saving, or two, create an envelope system. Grab one large manila envelope, and a bunch of letter size envelopes. Label the letter sized envelopes (gifts, kitchen, appliances, however), and store all receipts in one place. Three create your own system – the two above are just simple ones I use.

11. Scan pay stubs: They always put pay stubs on that super thick paper, and piles add up so quick. Scanning is the easiest way I’ve found to control pay stub clutter.

12. Put your taxes on disc: I keep my taxes scanned in pdf form and then I also make a back-up disc. Before I did this I had an obnoxious drawer of tax related paper clutter.

Add your own tip!  

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

12 Ways to Cut Paper Clutter