Digital Tools for Business that Boost WFH Focus

One Monday morning a few years back, I sat in my newly-created home office and stared at my laptop. My commute had shrunk from 20 minutes to 15 steps, but man, I felt scary lost without the structure of an office environment.

How the heck was I supposed to stay focused with that pile of laundry calling my name and the cats laying on my keyboard ?

It took me awhile to figure this out, but productive remote work isn’t about iron willpower.

Nope, it’s about having the right digital tools to create some structure when your home becomes your office.

After countless distracted slumps and WAY too many “where did the day go?” moments, I’ve found seven game-changing tools that transformed my work-from-home life.

Whether you’re grinding full-time remote, side-hustling after hours, or somewhere in the messy middle, these digital productivity solutions tackle some real challenges of working where you live.

And trust me, they’re worth every penny.

The Digital Tools for Business That Changed Everything

Let’s get real – the secret to WFH success isn’t some superpower. It’s systems. Good ones.

The right digital tools create structure that office environments naturally provide.

(I mean, when was the last time you did laundry at 2pm on a Tuesday in a corporate office? Exactly.)

From managing time (my personal nightmare) to improving focus and communication, to just staying organized enough to function, these tools are the backbone of my home office setup.

I’ve tested dozens of tools over the years – some fantastic, some complete duds that wasted both time and money. These seven have earned permanent spots in my daily routine.

If they disappeared tomorrow, I’d probably cry, then immediately replace them!

Time Management Masters

Samsung Smart Watch

Ever find yourself stepping away for a “quick” lunch break only to surface an hour later, halfway through organizing the pantry? Been there.

My Samsung smart watch instantly solved this problem.

I set timers for breaks and lunch, so I can actually disconnect from work without completely losing track of time.

The little vibration on my wrist works a thousand times better than phone alarms (which I’ve usually abandoned somewhere in the house) or calendar notifications (which I wouldn’t see away from my computer).

Plus, I love being able to quickly check messages without grabbing my phone.

At around $200-300 depending on the model, it’s not the cheapest tool on my list. But that bridge between work and home life? Priceless.

Wanna save some money? I love Back Market, in business since 2014 selling quality, refurbished electronics at up to 70% off the retail price. You’ll get free shipping, a one-year warranty, and free 30-day returns. Great for us and great for the planet!

Cube Timers

If I had a dollar for every time I said “just one more minute” before losing two hours to “research” (aka internet rabbit holes)… I’d have enough for that cabin on Cedar Lake I’ve been eyeing!

That’s where my trusty cube timers save me from myself.

These simple plastic cubes sit on my desk as physical reminders of time passing. One handles shorter sprints (1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes) while its partner manages longer stretches (15, 20, 30, or 60 minutes).

I just flip the cube to the time I want, and a little beep tells me when time’s up. No apps, no subscriptions, just flip and focus.

What I love most about these low-tech wonders is how they keep me honest. When I set that 30-minute cube for focused work, I’m sooooo much less likely to get distracted with that countdown literally staring me in the face.

And at around $15 for the pair? Probably the most affordable productivity tool that’s actually made a difference in my day-to-day work.

Focus and Communication Fixes

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Randy started some kitchen remodeling (directly next to my office!) while I was on deadline last summer. Yikes! My noise-cancelling headphones saved my sanity—and probably my marriage too. (JK!)

These headphones create an instant bubble of focus wherever I am.

Beyond blocking construction noise, they’re perfect for drowning out everyday distractions—the grandkids running wild, delivery drivers ringing the bell, or Peaches meowing for her mid-morning treats.

I slip them on and boom – my brain knows it’s work time.

Quality headphones can run $200-350, which isn’t cheap. But there are plenty of models at every price point.

And after a summer of cows bellering from across the lake ALL day, EVERY day? Worth. Every. Penny.

Logitech C920 Pro Web Cam

After months of looking like I was broadcasting from some shadowy cave on Zoom calls (seriously, my team probably thought I was in witness protection), I finally upgraded to the Logitech C920 Pro web cam.

The difference was immediate. Crisp video, amazing audio, and professional lighting adjustment that somehow manages to work in my hodge-podge, home office lighting setup.

Our IT guy actually commented on the video quality during a meeting and asked what I was using!

What I love most is the flexibility. I move it between my work computer and personal laptop without any complicated setup. Just download the software once, then connect via USB. Bada-bing, bada-BOOM!

At around $75, it’s one of the easiest ways to upgrade how you’re seen professionally when working remotely – or when jumping on a Zoom call for your side hustle after hours.

Digital Organization Helpers

Alexa Device

“Alexa, remind me about the team meeting at 2 PM every Tuesday.”

This simple command has saved me from missing countless meetings – seriously. My Alexa device has become like my personal assistant, but without the awkward small talk.

She keeps track of recurring meetings and one-off reminders that would otherwise slip through the cracks. She gives me the weather report while I’m getting dressed and gives me the daily news headlines.

And sometimes I even ask her to remind me to wake Randy if he has a super early appointment and I’m already up blogging at 5:30am!

I love that I can set reminders while I’m in the middle of something else—just shout the command across the room and continue working.

No more interrupting my workflow to add calendar events or fumble with my phone.

Starting around $50 for the Echo Dot, it’s an easy way to add quick organization to your work routine. Though fair warning: once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

OneDrive

When my work laptop suddenly gave up the ghost last summer (RIP faithful companion), I panicked for about 30 seconds—until I remembered everything was backed up to OneDrive.

The relief almost made me dizzy.

Setting up automatic cloud backup for all my work documents means I can access them from any device, anytime. So when my replacement laptop finally arrived, I was up and running within hours instead of spending days recreating lost work.

With plans starting around $2/month for personal use (or often included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions), this peace of mind is incredibly affordable. And just plain smart.

ToDoist

Of all the task management systems I’ve tried (and I’ve tried MANY), ToDoist has been the only one that stuck.

It manages both one-off and recurring tasks, sends reminders, and helps me separate work projects from personal to-dos – because nothing is more depressing than seeing “send quarterly report” next to “buy cat litter” in the same list.

Why do I love Todoist when other systems failed me? It’s simple and flexible. I can quickly add tasks from my phone or computer and organize them however makes sense for my workflow.

Plus, it integrates with my Google calendar, so “my life” is all in one place instead of scattered across seventeen different apps.

The free version works great and may be all you need. But the Premium version ($4/month) adds features like reminders and comments that make it even more powerful for me.

Bringing It All Together

These digital tools are my go-to’s. They create a system that structures my workday when no one’s looking over my shoulder.

Together, they’ve probably doubled my productivity, while lifting the weight off my ADHD brain that constantly looks to do anything except what I should be doing.

The total investment for all seven tools is roughly $500-700 upfront (plus some small subscription fees). This might seem like a lot – until you calculate what a productive day is worth to you.

The beauty is you don’t need to buy everything at once. I sure didn’t. It took me nearly two years to collect all these tools.

Start with whatever hits your biggest challenges—maybe time management, focus, or organization—and build from there.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

The right digital tools can transform your WFH experience from a distracted mess to something that actually… works.

My productivity game-changers—Samsung smart watch, cube timers, noise-cancelling headphones, Logitech webcam, Alexa, OneDrive, and ToDoist—each solve specific remote work challenges that were driving me up the wall.

Which one would make the biggest difference in your WFH setup right now? I’d suggest starting there and gradually building your own system.

The investment upfront saves countless hours (and so much stress) down the road!

What digital tools are working for you? Drop your favorites in the comments—I’m always looking for new additions to my WFH arsenal!