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The vast majority of the time someone says here’s how to be more productive, they suggest an app or digital service as the magical fix that will suddenly turn you into a productivity workhorse. Maybe it might be a certain way of using these tools, but the problem with these tools themselves is that they can also cause distraction.
I have ended up organising my to-do list on many occasions for far longer than I should have while the tasks on the lists get neglected. So here are a few real-world pointers that have worked for me.
(1) Air Pods or any noise cancellation — You might need to combine these with a device or app or similar, but truly, it is more about cutting out the background noise, unless it is the nice bustle of a coffee shop or tea house. In fact, if there is a good rainstorm, then that would be a preferable sound, but otherwise, lock me in with something in my ears. You can also use some earphones and headsets in noise cancellation mode with nothing playing in them, which I personally find more off-putting than helpful.
