My ax is usually waisting my time - in a funny way: music, games, emails, thread posting
So it's not really productive.
On the other hand it's my extended memory because it remembers birthdays, what to buy, tv schedules, email addresses, passwords and the like.
I have a terrible memory for the names of people
and - discretely - running through the address list in a meeting or seminar has saved me some embarrassments.
In some cases I've even gained a new friend because I've congratulated in due time :)
And if you remembers the names and birthdays of their children you
may become a ladys friend
Maybe not productive - but effective
.