15 of the Best Tech Tools for Productivity and Time Management

Regardless of profession, I'm willing to bet most workers would love to be able to manage their time more efficiently and be more productive while they do it. With that in mind, I've curated a thoughtful list of some essential tech tools to make your workday go far more efficiently.

Whether you want to level up your game in the office or while working from home, these tools and gadgets will be indispensable moving forward.

1. An Adjustable Standing Desk

Sitting at a desk all day does your body no favors. While a standing desk is always an option, why not have the best of both worlds by investing in an adjustable standing desk?

Using a versatile desk like this will ensure your body will never tire, increasing productivity. Trust me, nothing's more satisfying than using the electronic controls to raise or lower your desk on a whim. It's like living in the future!

2. A Laptop Sun Shade

Is there anything worse than poorly timed glare interrupting your workflow? Sometimes, you can't avoid the sun creeping in through office or home windows, but luckily, a laptop sun shade can help negate the glare.

This ingenious product wraps around your laptop and blocks any unwanted glare from your screen. It also gives you much-needed privacy, which I know all office workers wish they had more of.

3. A Multi-Device Keyboard

If you're anything like me, you have, oh, a million devices on your desk at all times. Besides my actual computer, I have a laptop, a tablet, and my smartphone, all taking up valuable real estate. But that doesn't mean I need more than one input device.

A multi-device keyboard can connect to more than one device at once, making it incredibly seamless and straightforward to type on your computer, laptop, and tablet without switching input devices. How convenient is that?

4. An Ultra-Widescreen Monitor

In my eyes, a standard 27-inch monitor doesn't have enough screen real estate to be genuinely productive in an office environment. That's okay because ultra-widescreen monitors are here to save the day!

Investing in an ultra-widescreen is the most productive decision I've made. While the screen is massive, offering approximately two times the resolution, its small footprint makes it a no-brainer for increasing my productivity. Working on such a large screen makes me almost want to work!

5. Blue-Light Computer Glasses

Your eyes are one of the most essential parts of maximum productivity, so it makes sense that you'd want to extend their lifespan as much as possible. That's where blue-light computer glasses come into play.

These inexpensive glasses are meant to be worn while working at your desk. They protect against harmful blue light from your monitor, ultimately decreasing eye fatigue. I'm wearing a pair now, and they're lifesavers. I don't know how I worked without them.

6. A Portable Fan

Let's face it: it can get hot when you're in the heat of the moment, trying to beat a deadline or finish a project. I've been known to sweat bullets when I work at a decent pace, so I invested in a small, portable, USB-powered desk fan.

Despite being one of the most affordable options on this list, a small fan is one of the most practical. Nobody wants to sweat while working, whether at home or at the office.

7. A Smart Notebook

The ubiquitous notebook has evolved dramatically in recent years, and you're missing out if you have yet to jump on this fantastic productivity trend! Smart notebooks can capture anything you write in them and upload them seamlessly to your computer or workstation. It's like magic.

I bought my fiancee a smart notebook for Christmas last year, and she uses it every day; she's gone from an old-fashioned notebook user to a smart notebook fan overnight.

8. A Mini Espresso Machine

I know it sounds crazy. Keeping a mini espresso machine on your desk sounds like something only insane people do. However, hear me out: it works!

Why waste time trudging to the breakroom or kitchen to make yourself a cup of coffee when you can maximize your time management and productivity by pressing a few buttons on the desk-bound espresso machine? You'll be happier and more alert, leading to more efficiency at work.

9. A Modern Docking Station

We all have more wires and devices plugged into more ports than we know what to do with. Why not organize it and create a better visual workflow for our desk setup? Invest in a modern docking station with plenty of power, USB, and Thunderbolt ports.

You won't waste any more time looking for an open slot on the back of your computer, and you can focus on better things.

10. Wireless Headphones

Sometimes, you want to block out all distractions while you work, and wireless, noise-canceling headphones are the best way to achieve that goal. Products from companies like Sony and Bose can help tune out a busy workspace and let you concentrate on what matters most: your work.

Modern wireless headphones offer fantastic sound quality, top-notch noise cancelation, and fast charging to ensure you're as productive as humanly possible.

11. A Desk Floor Mat

Whether you sit, stand, or do a combination of both while at your desk, you're not doing your feet and legs any favors by not using a desk floor mat.

Floor mats are squishy, inexpensive, and, most of all, comfortable. They'll save needless wear and tear on your feet, knees, and other joints. What are you waiting for? You should be comfy if you will be at a desk all day; it's common sense.

12. Multiple Monitors

Suppose an ultra-widescreen setup isn't in your budget (because face it, although those monitors are affordable now, they're still not cheap). In that case, I strongly recommend you go with a dual or triple-monitor setup instead.

If your computer can support multiple display inputs, a multiple-monitor setup can give you as much screen real estate as an ultra-widescreen setup for much less.

13. Wireless Charging Pads

Charging your smart devices using outdated technology is so last year. Level up your charging game by equipping your workspace with a wireless charging pad, and never look back.

It's wild how convenient it is to simply place your device on a charging pad instead of going through the song and dance of finding a spare charging cord and physically plugging it in. You'll be surprised how much time you save at the end of each month when using these charging pads.

14. Digital Timers

The days and minutes found in every workday can get away from even the best of us. End improper time use by buying an inexpensive (yet practical) digital timer. It's one of the savviest decisions you can make for yourself.

I constantly get distracted and fail to meet my own (admittedly loose) time-management goals. However, once I bought a timer, I discovered I held myself more accountable and began meeting deadlines quicker than ever. Try it!

15. An Exercise Ball

The Office's Dwight Shrute wasn't wrong when he brought an exercise ball into the Scranton branch one fateful day. Sitting on an exercise ball instead of a typical desk chair strengthens your core, improves your health, and increases your productivity.

In fact, some exercise balls have sensors that can help you keep your balance when you're in the middle of a particularly hectic work session. Times sure are changing, huh?