I recently read an Associated Press article about Gen Z reviving the classic iPod for “distraction-free listening.”
And I understand it. We live in a sensory slot machine, bombarded by endless notifications, ads, bright colors and Look at Me, Look at Me pop-ups that fuel the irresistible urge to keep scrolling. Why wouldn't you want a device that does something incredibly well without deviating? But I think this shift toward distraction-free states goes far beyond listening to your favorite albums. It's about overall well-being, better mental health, and actually getting things done.
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This is the gear I use to maintain a distraction-free zone even when I'm sitting in front of a laptop working all day. And I'm also always open to new ideas, so I'd love to know what tools or even rituals you use to stay on track at work. Leave a comment below.
The tablet: reMarkable 2
An ultra-thin black and white e-ink handwriting tablet that cleverly mimics the experience of writing with a pad and pen, and it's a beautiful experience.
The reMarkable 2 is the device that made me realize how important it was to turn it off, without unplugging it completely. And I absolutely love it, I use it every day to take notes and sketch out ideas.
It's an ultra-thin black and white e-ink handwriting tablet that cleverly mimics the experience of writing with a pad and pencil, and it's a beautiful experience. The reMarkable 2 turns even my doodles into usable, word-processor-friendly text, and syncs with my phone and laptop via the app.
For my use, I don't need color screens, but reMarkable Paper Pro is a good alternative if your profession requires it. On the other hand, for business trips or taking notes away from my desk, I also use the truly portable reMarkable Paper Pro Move.
If you also prefer to use your tablet as an e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is similar, is better for adding notes to e-books, and is significantly cheaper. My wife swears by the 2024 model: It has a better typing experience than the 2025 edition, but you may prefer the larger screen of the newer model.
However, it is a difficult step for me because if you give me access to a global library of books (plus Amazon's intrusive advertising), I definitely won't be able to work that day.
The phone: Fairphone 6
I appreciate the physicality of the Fairphone slider. I have to make a very real, very conscious, very guilty decision to turn it off.
The first thing that attracted me was the Fairphone 6 because of its sustainability and repairability features. I liked the idea of being able to swap out a dead battery like the old days, rather than throwing away an otherwise perfectly good phone.
But what caught my attention was the built-in switch that enables FairPhone Moments. This allows you to work without distractions with the press of a button, although you can switch it to a variety of other functions, such as turning on the flashlight.
Slide it down and it will turn on Do Not Disturb and prevent you from using all but essential apps. These moments (and the apps you can use) are customizable, so you can create them for different times of day or locations.
Now, the Android OS already has a focus mode that I was using, but I appreciate the physicality of the Fairphone slider. I have to make a very real, very conscious, very guilty decision to turn it off.
Anyway, I triple-blocked that distraction-free theme by also purchasing the Minimalist Phone app which is available on iOS and Android. It makes the phone's UI as boring as possible (and I mean that in a good way), removing icons and colors and only showing a list of downloaded apps.
The audio: Majority MP3 Player and Anker Soundcore Q20i
Audio plays a huge role in creating a distraction-free zone. For me, there are two core tools here: the Majority Bluetooth MP3 player, which now takes on the role of the iPod Gen Z, and the Anker Soundcore Q20i headphones.
I like Majority's range of audio equipment as I have a CD player and a DAB radio. They're neither too fancy nor too expensive, and the same goes for the MP3 player, which can sometimes be found under Majority's budget Oakcastle brand.
It's well priced, sounds good, does everything I need and absolutely nothing more. It's nice to not have to grab my phone every few minutes to skip a song, before I inevitably get distracted by Reddit. Everything in there is what I want to hear, in the order I want to hear them.
When it comes to cost effectiveness, nothing beats them at this price.
For headphones, I've been using the Soundcore Q20 for years and when it comes to cost effectiveness, nothing beats them at this price. The noise cancellation works very well, without being also isolating. And with the microphone, I can connect them to the laptop when I'm on a video call at work. My only advice: don't pay full price for them, they are almost always on sale on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
I also rely on two more audio devices.
First, I plugged in a pink noise generator in my home office. It's here now, just fading into the background, filling the room with ambient noises so that even with my headphones off, the vibe remains cool.
Secondly, the SnoozeBand (there are other brands available, but it was a Christmas gift so I can't comment further). This simple Bluetooth blackout mask isn't just for sleeping (and never for being at work, boss). I loved finding meditation sounds in the app, so in my free time I can relax on the couch and create an environment that encourages concentration without having to mindlessly scroll through my phone.
Stationery: Moleskine notebook and Clever Fox agenda
I never understood the hype around Moleskine until I tried one. Now I understand it. And when I want to get away from technology completely, I rely on these laptops. I've also found that the Leuchtturm 1917 line are great alternatives to the Moleskine (if you're also a laptop fan, you'll know what I mean).
Regardless, the Moleskines are well made and ideal for commercial use. But really, the secret sauce is the thickness of the paper. It's a real pleasure to write on and I pair it with the humble PaperMate InkJoy pens, which are easily the smoothest pens I've ever used.
I never understood the hype around Moleskine until I tried one.
A new entry to my workflow is the Clever Fox Daily Planner. How could I live without him? Forget to-do list apps (which only lead to more phone use), this is how I plan my work day and stay on track without getting distracted. It covers 6 months, with plenty of room for to-dos, priorities, and setting an hourly schedule.
I found that the undated daily and weekly planner works best for me, but this brand has a simply huge selection to choose from, from yearly planners to travel logs and budget books. I rarely recommend visiting a specific Amazon store, but they are on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, and Clever Fox has so much variety that it's really the only way to find what suits your workspace and style.
The extras: chairs and stopwatches
Nothing gets me out of my flow faster than an uncomfortable office chair.
As someone who tests and reviews office chairs for a living, I'm obviously going to say that this is essential, but it's often overlooked in favor of more sophisticated (and occasionally too temporary) solutions.
What I can't stand are those chairs that are too soft, too hard, that sink in the wrong places. I'm basically turning into Goldilocks right now. But nothing gets me out of my flow faster than an uncomfortable office chair.
Personally, I like the Boulies EP200: it's not obscenely expensive, it's comfortable and breathable, and ideal for sitting all day, with a good amount of fine adjustments too. I've used it every day for over a year and it's still going strong. But any of the models in my guide to the best office chairs will work here. The trick is to find the one that allows you to forget where you are, instead of distracting you.
I have found Pomodoros very useful for turning long work sessions into a series of short sprints. So you put your head down for, say, twenty-five minutes, take a five-minute break, and repeat until you take a longer break. I find it really helpful for staying on track without working so long that I lose focus.
In my experience, most pomodoro apps are basically the same, so choose the one that fits your workflow. There is only one flaw in all of them: you need to use your phone for them.
With that in mind, for the times when that really isn't advisable, I've totally gone back to basics. I pulled out an old wind-up timer and manually set the zone entry and exit times that work for me.
Any 60 minute wind-up timer on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk will do. It's a simple alternative, it eliminates the technological aspect and the rhythmic tick-tick-tick that runs in the background is a nice accompaniment when I need to stay productive.
