Whether you’re working or studying, note taking is an important skill that will help you ace your exam or perform your job well. Studies show that people recall only 50% of what they hear, of which 20 to 30% is incorrect.

Can you imagine if we all had to simply rely on memory? Much of our ideas would be lost if we didn’t write them down. We waste time and money when we drive back to the supermarket for that missed can of canola oil. We pay penalties when we forget to pick up our kids from day care on time or when we miss paying our credit card bills.

Note taking would be so much easier if everyone were equipped with the right tools. Here are some promotional note-taking tools that you can give out in school and at work or keep within arm’s reach:

• A good pen that writes well, with ink that doesn’t dry up easily. Or how about something that writes well even on an aircraft?
• Lined notebooks with good paper, especially one that looks good inside and out. (I love this notebook’s soft leather cover, available in red and pink!)
• Thank God for whoever invented sticky notes. Whether you’re looking for something small, something shaped like a dollar, something colorful and hard to miss, something recycled, something lined, or something that comes in a dispenser, there’s a notepad for every purpose.