In preparation for moving to a different state later this week, I��m going through closets and drawers and trying to chuck anything unimportant. I��m amazed how much of this ��unimportant�� stuff seems to be freebies I picked up at conferences.

Why is swag so appealing? Most of us aren��t lacking for pens, and yet a vendor��s cheap but free pens can have us loading up. We don��t really want a certain program��s literature, but it comes with an appealing little desk toy. Well, appealing for a day or two. After which it just sits there gathering dust while the literature takes up space. My tote bags alone are consuming their own medium-sized packing box. They once seemed useful. But, looking over my life, I��m having a hard time seeing a need for more than two.

If you��re like me, you probably have your own stash of swag. It got to the point, last summer, where I decided that I needed to go cold turkey.

My no-swag policy started just as a way to fight the clutter. But then I realized that it had more useful side effects. Because swag weighs you down. The point of a conference is to meet people. When you��re carrying bags of stuff, you��re more likely to stay wherever you are, rather than walking around. You may run back up to your room to drop things off — rather than use that time to meet a new contact at the coffee station. You may also use the vendors�� booths as a way to avoid the awkward feeling of not recognizing anyone in a crowded room or cocktail party. But a better way to combat that awkward feeling is to walk up to a group that seems lively and introduce yourself.

Oh, I know most swag is harmless. And some may even save you cash. I will admit that I picked up a free tube of toothpaste after instituting my no-swag rule, because I knew I could use that.

Except, upon coming home, I realized it was a flavor I wasn��t going to like.

From now on? Better to skip it.

Do you take conference swag?

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