Are you looking for products that can help you be more productive?
While there is no magic bullet that can solve all of your productivity woes, there are certain products that can help you to create the best systems for you.
Here are the best productivity products that can help your work days go smoother. These are things that can help you focus, plan your days, minimize distractions, and be more comfortable so that you can spend less time fighting to get work done and more time being gently productive.
For each of these products, I’ve scoured Amazon to find the best value for the least amount of money. I hope they can help make your productivity a little gentler. 🙂
This blog contains affiliate links from Amazon. If you purchase a product using my links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
The Best Productivity Products on Amazon:
Cube timers with gravity sensor, $14
Using a timer is one of my best gentle productivity hacks, and these cube timers are a game-changer! If you’ve never seen a cube timer before, they’re 3ish-inch cubes (kind of like big dice) with different timer durations on the different sides. The cool thing about them is that they have a gravity sensor, so that when you flip them, the timer automatically starts counting down using the time duration that’s on the top!
I like to use timers intuitively and make in-the-moment decisions, and cube timers are perfect for that. For example, I’ll tell myself, “I’ll work on this article for 20 minutes.” Then 20 minutes passes and I’m still feeling good, so I’ll say, “Okay, I’ll work for 10 minutes more.”
The cube timer makes it easy to do that because I simply have to pick up the cube and switch it to the “10 minute” side. It takes half a second, and there’s no fiddling with my phone and running the risk of getting distracted when I see that I have a text message.
There are hundreds of cube timers available on Amazon, but I recommend these ones because you can get TWO for a very reasonable price.
Cube 1 has timer options of 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes. Cube 2 has timer options of 15, 20, 30, and 60 minutes.
Visual timer, $17
In addition to cube timers, I also love visual timers. If you’re a visual person, it will help you to quickly see the amount of time left on the timer without squinting your eyes. You’ll easily see how close you’re getting to switching tasks, and when the timer goes off, you can reset it for your next task (or break)!
Visual timers are also perfect for using the Pomodoro technique, or any of these other helpful ways of using timers to increase your productivity.
Spiral-Bound Weekly Planner, $4
Obviously I had to include a planner in this list! There are so many different types of planners, and the right planner for you really depends on various factors.
Personally, I tend to like planners that aren’t too detailed. I’ve found that detailed time blocking doesn’t work well for me – I need more flexibility and intuitive choice in my day.
That’s why I love this one – because it has a weekly spread, plus space for weekly goals, a weekly to-do list, and a habit tracker. (And at only $4 for a year’s worth of planning, it’s a steal.)
As my week goes on, I continually add things to my weekly to-do list, and then before bed each night, I plan out my next day by choosing what I’ll do tomorrow, pulling from my master to-do list. I don’t plan things out hour by hour, because I never stick to those schedules. 😛
For those of you who love detailed planning, here is my pick! This has a full page for every day, with space to plan your hourly schedule, to-do list, and top priorities. PLUS you can track your daily expenses, mood, meal plans, water intake, and total steps taken. Pretty much everything you could ever want to record!
Pocket-sized lined notebook, $5 for a 4-pack
Here is one of the simplest productivity hacks: when you get distracted and are tempted to do something else, open up your little notebook and write down the distracting thought.
For example, if your brain tells you to interrupt the task you’re working on to research the biggest pumpkin that was ever grown (or something similarly random), make a note of that in your notebook, rather than dropping everything and giving in to the distraction right then.
When you write these distracting invitations down, you release your brain from having to remember them. Otherwise, your brain will hold onto those thoughts, trying to make sure you don’t forget, which costs you mental energy and focus.
At the end of the day, go through your distraction notebook and follow up on the things that are actually important or interesting to you. Some of the things that seemed so urgent in the moment probably don’t seem so necessary anymore.
Noise canceling headphones, $80
Sometimes you can’t control the little noises that are going on around you. If you tend to get distracted by background noises, try using some noise canceling headphones.
Whether you’re in a bustling office, a noisy coffee shop, or at home with family around, you can tune out the noise and keep your mind peaceful with these headphones.
With over 55,000 5-star reviews, these ones are a great deal at only $80.
Standing desk, $95
If your energy is lagging in the middle of the day, changing your body’s position can give you a burst of energy. (Changing locations can do a similar thing.) Standing up to work on your computer also helps improve posture and reduce back pain; plus it improves circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots in your legs.
If you work from home, investing in a standing desk may be the best purchase you make for your home office. And they’re not as expensive as you think – here’s one for under $100.
Adjustable laptop stand, $12
If you’re not ready to invest in a standing desk, you may want to consider an adjustable laptop stand.
Looking too far down to see your laptop screen can cause strain in your neck, leading to discomfort that will distract you even more from working.
This adjustable laptop stand can elevate your laptop so that it’s perfectly at your eye level. It’s compatible with most laptops and has a non-slip silicone mat so that you’re laptop won’t slip.
(If you’re not ready to invest in a laptop stand, you can simply stack your laptop on a pile of books and see the difference it makes! I can never go back to straining my neck and eyes by looking at a screen that’s not at my eye level.)
Desk organizer, $9
All the clutter on your desk, though you may not realize it, is causing your brain to be cluttered as well.
I work from home, but I have a tendency to let my desk get cluttered with papers and random objects I set there instead of putting them away. When it gets too bad, I have to work at the kitchen table because I can’t focus with a messy desk. When I clear and organize the top of my desk, it improves my ability to focus by soooo much.
This simple desk organizer can hold notebooks, pens, and any other small items to keep the top of your desk distraction-free.
Desk exercise bike, $49
When you”re feeling fidgety when working, it can help to move around. I love talking short breaks and going on mini walks, but when you actually need to stay at your work station, using something like a desk exercise bike can be just what you need.
This is also a solution to those days where you feel like you can’t make time for a full workout. Getting your blood pumping while replying to your emails? Perfect!
This mini exercise bike fits right under your desk, and has adjustable tension and an LCD screen that keeps track of your distance traveled and calories burned. And did I mention it’s under $50?
Dry-erase reminder board, $7
I use this to remind me of my goals. I usually make one or two goals per month, and I write them down and place them by my door, so that I am reminded of them multiple times a day.
You could also use this mini whiteboard for other, little reminders, like “Buy milk” or “Call Grandma.”
This one is magnetic, so it’s perfect for putting on your fridge!
Basket for your phone, $20
Studies show that simply having your phone in your sightline is enough to distract you from working.
I love having a simple basket to place my phone in when I don’t need to use it. It’s so cute that it almost feels like a home for my phone, and I don’t feel bad about putting it there to “rest” for a few hours.
You could also have your whole family put their phones in a designated Phone Basket during mealtimes, evenings, or whenever you want to unplug from tech together.
I have one that’s lined with a cute fabric, like this one.
Sunrise alarm clock, $30
Waking up with the sun is one of the best ways to start your day. Traditional alarm clocks (including the alarms on our phones), which wake you up abruptly with jarring sounds, can cause your subconscious to feel stressed and panicked. That’s not a great thing to feel for the first few seconds of your day!
In contrast, a sunrise alarm clock wakes you up gradually, as the clock’s face slowly becomes brighter over a period of 30 minutes. You can also customize it to be your preferred color and to play your favorite nature sounds.
“Organize your home” deck of cards, $25
I love using cards to add some gamification to my to-do list, especially when it comes to household chores and cleaning. When I want to mix up my cleaning schedule, I’ll assign different projects to each of the 4 suits in a deck of cards (i.e. Closet = Hearts, Bathroom = Spades, etc.). Then, I draw a random card and do the
These cards are specific to organizing and cleaning your house.
If you enjoy randomness and flexibility, these cards could be an awesome addition to help you be productive on your cleaning days.
Snack container with different compartments, $8
Have you ever noticed that when you’re hungry, you can’t focus as well? I experience this whenever I haven’t eaten in a while. My brain is so much more likely to wander and I’ll even have difficulty thinking things through.
Preparing different snacks in a container solves the problem of having to decide what you could snack on, and then get up, open the bag or chop up the fruit or whatever you need to do.
Just prepare these little snack things at the beginning of the week and you’ll have it ready for when you need a quick snack, minus the distraction. This “snackle box” has 8 different compartments that you can fill with crackers, fruit, veggies, whatever.
Book holder, $30
One of the simplest things most people could do to improve their daily productivity is to change the layout of their nightstand. Clear it off, put your phone somewhere else to charge, and (if you have a goal to read more) use a book holder to organize your books. It sets your day off on the right foot, and it ends your day right too.
I have a book holder that I made myself, but I used this Amazon book holder as inspiration. I think the birdhouse look is so pretty!
Ergonomic chair, $77
Just like how you can’t focus well when you’re hungry, you’re going to have a harder time focusing when you’re uncomfortable. If you don’t already have an ergonomic chair that supports your back and legs, it’s 100% worth the investment.
This one from Amazon Basics is under $80, comes in 3 different colors, and has over 23,000 5-star reviews.
Conclusion
I hope you found this list valuable! Each of these things would be great to use to gently increase your productivity.
Next, you might want to check out these unique ways to plan your day using gentle productivity principles.
Or, see how you can gain an extra 5 and a half hours a day.
Best of luck!
