How 10 Special Tools Boosted My Productivity

Important information

• Using multiple specialized tools can increase productivity by effectively dividing work and human resources.
• Switching from two devices to 10 devices improved my productivity and stopped distractions.
• Investing in specialized equipment can improve focus and prevent overuse.

In this gadget-obsessed world, I’ve found that using multiple specialized tools boosts productivity and improves my daily life. Over the past year and a half, I’ve slowly gone from a 2-tool setup to a carefully curated collection of 10 tools. Here’s my journey!

Why Less Is Always More

Do you remember Steve Jobs’ iPhone presentation? “iPod, phone, and internet communication” all rolled into one sleek device. It was revolutionary, promising to make our lives easier by combining many tools into one powerful tool.

The appeal is obvious—work, play, communication—whatever you can do. But there is a catch! When you are trying to focus on office work, the temptation to play games can be easy. When you’re playing, anxiety-inducing job notifications can take you out of the experience.

Certainly, self-discipline plays a role. But why tax your determination when there is an easy solution? Add a multi-tool—a way to organize your digital life and boost productivity without relying solely on behavior.

My transition from 2 tools to 10 tools to work

In the 2010s, I swore off a two-device setup – my smartphone and my computer – calling it small, efficient and sufficient! But for now, I have a working style that has made significant improvements to my productivity:

1. Smartphone: Perfect for communication and easy web browsing
2. Tablet: Information consumption and entertainment needs
3. Kindle: A reading device that works well for the eyes
4. Alarm Clock: High volume alarms without the option to run the destruction
5. Smart watch: Pomodoro timers, music playback, and notification filters
6. Entry Level DSLR Camera: Better photos than high-end smartphones at half the price
7. Basic LCD Doodle Pad: For quick notes and doodling
8. External Storage: Keeps files simple and frees up space for other applications
9. Desktop: Mainly for work
10. Console (PS5): A dedicated gaming device

Here’s a quick look at why I started adding more tools and how it helped me get better!

How It Solved My Constipation Problem

As a freelance writer-marketer, I’m always on my phone, looking through all my feeds, doing research, and responding to people when suddenly: “Look, my new favorite show dropped a new part!” And hey, Netflix is ​​just a tap. How much can a 20 minute break hurt? Before I knew it, I’d wasted four hours loading myself with stupid junk!

This was becoming a problem. I couldn’t (rather shouldn’t) use the same phone for work and entertainment. So, I decided to get a tablet. I kept my phone mostly for work-related communication, emails, and checking social media. However, I use my tablet for Netflix, YouTube, and social profiles.

Phone tablet setup may not work for everyone. Another very common method is to have two phones—a personal phone and a work phone.

How It Controlled My Gaming Addiction

I had a crippling gaming addiction back in my college days, which I solved by using a potato PC that couldn’t play games at all. It would open a browser, do my work, and that was enough!

However, playing is one of the most effective ways for me to relax and unwind. So, removing it completely was not the solution as it created other problems—increased stress and burnout.

That’s when I decided to give PC gaming a break and get into console gaming. My first development was the Nintendo switch. I kept it standing in the living room TV, so it wasn’t a distraction or distraction while I was working. Currently, I play on my PS5. Unfortunately, my Switch broke after a hard fall!

Now, I don’t recommend everyone to get a console. Even a gaming PC can work, as long as it’s not in your office. I personally went with consoles because they are cheaper.

How It Solved My Difficulty Focusing

Working alone, working alone at home – staying focused can be difficult. I decided to use the Pomodoro method to keep in line. But again, I didn’t want to use a smartphone app and check my phone every 25 minutes. I needed a dedicated app!

Surprisingly, Pomodoro timers are not common where I live. So, I got a smartwatch — Galaxy Watch 4, mostly because I got it at a huge discount. I use it for three things: Pomodoro time, managing work music, and filtering important client emails.

I also use an LCD doodle pad. It might be a “me” problem, but I have this urge to act on things right away when it comes to the mind, I’m afraid I might forget it. The game of doodling helps me to control this feeling of receiving an idea without deviating from what I am doing.

Of course, a simple pen and paper would do just fine, but the artist in me needed something more dramatic.

How It Solved My Sleep Problem

Around 2020, during lockdown, I was consuming a lot of things on my phone or at my desk – especially before bed. This ruined my quality of sleep! I tried to reduce screen time, but the loneliness became painful. That’s when I decided to add Kindle to my ecosystem. It helped me a lot to improve my sleep (or maybe it was a placebo), but it was only half of the solution.

The best way to go to bed on time is to wake up on time! This ensures that you are tired enough to sleep at the end of the day. Now, I used to use my smartphone alarm! However, some days, I would silence the sound by placing my pillow over it. Some days, when it woke me up, I’d hit my toes and start reading straight away—not the best morning routine.

So, I decided to use a special alarm clock. And trust me when I say this: that $20 tool is the most effective tool I’ve ever used! It only does one thing, and it does it wonderfully.

How it has prevented me from spending more money on resources

Smartphone storage upgrades can be very expensive. You might spend $100+ on an extra 64GB of storage while a 2TB external HDD costs $50-70! So, I decided to buy external HDDs and use USB OTG (On The Go) to increase my phone’s storage. It’s not the easiest setup, but for a stay-at-home operation, it’s an efficient and economical operation.

I also found myself looking for high end models because of their cameras. One device can take telephoto pictures, one comes with a monochrome shooter, and one has a large lens.

So, my desire for three different lenses led me to consider buying three separate smartphones! Thank heavens, my brains kicked in, and I decided to go with a basic DSLR—the Canon EOS 1300D.

It has been good for four years now, and I can buy new lenses if I need new parts. Plus, it takes better pictures than $2000 flagships—just saying!

Is the 10-Tool Setup Right for You?

Although the 10-tool setup has changed my productivity and daily life, I understand that it’s not for everyone. The biggest challenge, I would say, is making sure everything is charged! Portability is also an issue. A good carry-on bag becomes essential when you’re packing a lot of gear depending on where you’re going and what you think you’ll be doing there!

However, if that weakness doesn’t bother you, then setting up multiple devices has the potential to change your productivity. One of its main advantages is that it has a built-in failsafe. For example, if my phone breaks, I can use the tablet until I get a new one. And since it’s a system and not a device, you can customize individual features (game, work, reading, camera, etc.) based on what you need.