Productivity 'hacks' are a dime-a-dozen, but often, they fall into the trap of giving you busywork to do so you feel more productive rather than actually moving the needle with your tasks. To be truly productive, you need the right tools, along with the right laptop, Mac, or computer for your needs, and the right environment to flourish.

Figuring out which things you personally need for productivity will take some practice and time, but it's amazing how much time you can save when you find the right combination. To help you along that journey, I've put together some suggestions that I've found help with general productivity.

10 Cable management

Tidy desk, tidy mind (or at least more space to work in)

One of the underrated tips for productivity is keeping everything you need within reach. That doesn't mean you have to scatter them across your desk, but it does mean you'll end up with lots of cables hanging everywhere. Power cables, data cables, display cables, and more all want to turn your carefully designed workspace into a rats' nest of disorder.

To tidy things up, it's time for some cable management, whether that's with velcro zip ties to bundle them all together, a good docking station, or even going wireless where you can with peripherals. That way, you'll have more desk space to spread out the things that really matter, like your laptop, phone, timers, and other key pieces in your productivity plans.

9 Good quality chargers

Your tools need to perform at optimal levels

Chargers are one of those devices that are always necessary, but they're often an afterthought in purchasing plans. This is a shame because the wrong charger can unmake your carefully crafted plans. It's always worth investing in a quality charger for your devices but look carefully before you pick up multi-device chargers, as these often have hidden restrictions on which ports can support high-wattage charging or how things split when you use all the ports. Picking the right charger means less downtime, as your devices get charged up as quickly as they can support, so you can get to your next task.

8 Improve your habits

Sleep and hydration are key to success

Keeping yourself healthy is essential for peak productivity and is often a neglected part of our setups. Whether it's ensuring enough quality sleep throughout the week to tackle complex tasks with a rested mind or drinking enough water throughout the day for optimal hydration, we could all use some reminders.

Smart tech can fill this role as we get ever more distracted by our daily routines, both by measuring our metrics and suggesting ways to improve them. I prefer to use smart rings for tracking my sleep, but smartwatches or even beds could suit that need, and there are plenty of other fitness trackers to use. The trick here is to build healthy habits, but you can't improve anything until you have measured your current baseline.

7 The right mix of apps

Plan your time, then track your progress

Juggling a busy schedule takes time away from clearing things from your to-do list, but with the right tools, a few minutes of planning goes a long way. Whether you prefer color-blocking your calendar or a dedicated planning tool like Asana or Todoist, once you find the method that works for your needs, it's a game-changer in how productive you can be.

That doesn't mean your task of tracking your personal productivity is over, however. You should also have a sense of how long it takes you to finish those tasks. This is perhaps more relevant to freelancers, contractors, or other per-project workers as they need to know the rates they're charging are in line with the amount of work done, but it's good exercise for everyone to do occasionally.

6 Pomodoro timers

Or a physical alternative if you prefer

All the productivity tools in the world won't help if you get distracted while you're supposed to be on task, but there are plenty of ways to keep you focused. The Pomodoro method is often used by those who want to get deep into a task, which works by setting a timer and then doing a single task during that time period without interruption. It's one of my favorite productivity hacks because it forces me to stay out of my inbox (unless replying to email is my single task) or any of the million other distractions between my computer and phone.

You can set simple timers in your phone's clock app if you don't want to use a task management app like TickTick, or you could go fully analog with a set of sand timers. I like the physicality of the last option, and I think I'm going to pick up a set, as it's all too easy for me to swipe away digital notifications and ruin the timer.

5 A quality mouse and keyboard

Above all else, these two peripherals are worth investing in

Good tools make you more productive or at least don't slow you down in the process. If you're a knowledge worker, you know the benefits of a good ergonomic keyboard and mouse, but everyone could benefit from choosing better peripherals. Repetitive strain injuries are widespread, and it takes a surprisingly low number of hours for them to creep up on you. It's better to pick something that helps from the start so you aren't trying to undo damage that will hurt your arms and your productivity.

4 A proper chair

Your back will thank you, eventually

Proper posture is important for productivity, especially considering you'll be at that desk most days for extended periods. A high-quality task chair or other office chair with lumbar support is my favorite, but you should try a few types to find the one that fits your body best. It might be a gamer chair with a more sculpted cushion, a kneeling chair, or even a yoga ball if you prefer to balance while typing. Whatever chair you pick, it needs to be supportive enough for comfort over time, and made of good quality materials.

3 Make use of macros

Outsource repetitive tasks so you can stay in the creative groove

If you do certain tasks the same way every time, isn't it better to look for shortcuts to accomplish those tasks in a shorter time? Whether that's learning keyboard shortcuts to reduce the time spent looking at menu bars or using macropads or other control surfaces like the Stream Deck or MX Creative Console to chain complex tasks into the press of one button, the time savings can soon add up. Sure, it takes some time to set up, but that's a one-time cost compared to the number of times you'll run that same task.

2 Noise-canceling headphones

Shut the world out so you can get on with work

Noise-canceling headphones are almost table stakes now for digital nomads, but everyone could do with being able to tune out the world around them when they need to focus. They make a huge difference in mood, energy, and concentration, whether the task at hand is everyday chores at home or tackling spreadsheets or other drudgery at work. The best models have both a passive element with a good seal around your ears and an active canceling portion that uses advanced tech to cancel out the surrounding noises. The best noise-canceling isn't always from the best-sounding headphones, however, so it's worth deciding which of the two you care about more and picking accordingly. I've used dozens of pairs, and none do both tasks equally well, but the general rule is the more expensive, the better overall.

1 A note-taking device for ideas

You never know when inspiration will strike

When you get a flash of inspiration or a random thought that bears investigating further, the worst thing you can do is assume you will remember it later. Chances are, you won't, and that potentially good idea will get jumbled back into the churn of your subconscious. I've found it important to have a notetaking device with me at all times, whether that's a pen and paper or a digital version. Currently, I'm loving the experience of scribbling on E Ink tablets and keeping them free from other tasks so that I get dedicated thinking time when using them to take notes or sketch out ideas. My best tip here is to find a reason to keep it with you, whether that's a special pen or a device you love putting your hands on, so it's always within reach when needed.

Don't let false productivity tools pull you into spending more time managing them than actually doing the work

Productivity means different things to different people, but providing a baseline of genuinely useful tools, devices, and apps makes everything smoother. It's all about creating a system that works for your individual needs, but the only way you can do that is by experimentation. Try new apps, download those free trials, go to furniture stores, and sit on all the chairs and in front of all the desks. Some will call to you, some will make you pause, and that's okay because there is no one system that fits everyone.