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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
For anyone who regularly has eight meetings, a doctor's appointment, their kid's soccer practice, and making dinner on their daily schedule.
This is a great tool to help you practice the Pomodoro technique, which is a time management tool. Basically, you work in 25-minute chunks of time and then break for five minutes. After four rounds of this, you take a longer break for 15-20 minutes. Lots of people swear by this for improved productivity!
Promising review: "I’m a newly discovered ADHD adult and use this to keep myself moving along tasks through the day. Set goals, hurry, move on. I’m self employed and many days work from computer with headphones on. While the beeper on this is loud on the high setting, it is no match for noise-canceling headphones. So I took it apart, soldered and drilled in a super bright LED bulb in the corner of the dial face. And now it is perfect." —Atkins
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in eight colors).
Promising review: "This is essential for busy people. My boyfriend and I have very different schedules. He works a full-time job, I work two part-time jobs, go to school full time, and am usually part of a theater production or two. This whiteboard calendar, coupled with some colorful dry-erase markers, is ESSENTIAL! Not only does my boyfriend know what my schedule looks like this week, but I know where I'm supposed to be and when. It was very easy to put up and seems like it would be easy to move." —Kalen Stockton
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
1801 & Co. is a Minneapolis-based small business that has been handling high-quality, custom printing services through their Etsy shop since 2016.
Promising review: "Functional AND beautiful...it’s already helping to keep my family more organized and it’s not an eyesore! Putting the clear acrylic w/ white lettering on a dark wall really helps it *pop*! It was packaged well, and instructions for hanging were very clear." —Ness Step
Get it from 1801 & Co. on Etsy for $99.16+ (available in five sizes and three colors).
Circle & Square Decor is a Utah-based small business that creates personalized family wall calendars, chore charts, and home decor.
Promising review: "This is an incredible calendar. It’s everything I wanted it to be and more. Super well made and packaged expertly. I’m so happy with my purchase." —Morgan Skillman
Get it from Circle & Square Decor on Etsy for $49.99+ (available with five frame colors as well as in a package with dry-erase markers and magnets).
Some reviewers say they can even fit smaller folders or notebooks inside. Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on these amazing folders.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this! I've always been the type of person to have a different folder for each subject in school, and to buy new folders every semester because they accumulate wear and tear by the end of the term. But it became too annoying to have to switch out notebooks and folders every day depending on what classes I had. It also increased the likelihood that I'd forget a folder for a particular class, so I gave this a try. After four months of continuous use, it's held up really well! It holds everything that I need and it is always by my side. It actually still looks somewhat new. I got compliments on it because it's cute and a great organizational tool." —KaleSensei
Get them from Amazon: solid colors for $7.99 (available in 11 colors) or florals for $7.98+ (available in six colors).
You can also fold it down and take it to go.
Promising review: "This is the most amazing invention ever. My husband and I got into a habit of piling up all our random papers in the kitchen on top of the microwave, and I was just SICK of it! Could never find anything and things would go missing. Once I set this up, it was a game changer. My kitchen mess is no longer! And I have not lost another field trip form and have a place for all those floating art projects, receipts, and pay stubs." —Kirsten
Get it from Amazon for $9.76+ (available in three colors).
Don't worry — it comes with a pencil!
Promising review: "For someone with mild ADD or anxiety as I have, this was life-changing. It seems silly, but for anyone with a busy life or who is just stressed, this is one of the simplest, most valuable things I can think of. Beyond that, I have 5-starred it because I've had one for 18 months and can't find any flaw or way the product can be improved. It's simple and does what it's supposed to. So why do I say life changing? Rule number one when under stress is get things out of your head and captured somewhere so you can actually focus on whatever task might be at hand without worrying about forgetting. The shower was the one place I couldn't capture anything and often where everything came to mind." —Adrian J Gell
Get it from Amazon for $9.75.
It has 20 brightness settings that slowly increase over 30 minutes in the morning so you rise "with the sun." The alarm goes off once it's at full brightness.
Promising review: "Life-changing is not an exaggeration. Mornings with my phone alarm usually consisted of me hitting snooze five or six times and not getting out of bed for almost an hour after I planned to. I couldn't get out of bed on time, and when I did manage to roll out, I was groggy and didn't feel like I'd rested, even after seven or eight hours. Then this wake-up light came along. Every morning so far, I have woken up when I'm supposed to, feeling like I've slept ten hours on a weekend even when it's six hours on a Tuesday. I'm even awake before the alarm sounds. I've got an extra hour in my day, plus all the time I save by getting out before morning rush traffic. I never understood those people who are ready to roll first thing in the morning, and now I'm one of them." —J. Garner
Get it from Amazon for $99.99.
Check out my colleague's Philips Wake-up Light review (#11 in the post) for a first-hand account of how this makes mornings *and* nights easier.
Promising review: "I work from home, and if you do too you may also encounter this odd scenario: merely closing the door to one’s office is not actually a reliable method to let others know you are working. I can’t say enough good things about this sign. It is a far better design and quality than expected at this price point. The sign is a dial-style, and really sturdy. The dial even has a click-in-place feature to prevent your status from accidentally moving when the door swings shut. Gone are the days of people thinking you’re available when you’re not! Well, at least you have forewarned them! I am extremely happy with the sign, and can recommend it to anyone who might need a little extra assistance in deterring work interruptions!" —Conscious Consumer
Get it from Amazon for $11.95 (also available in black).
Promising review: "THIS stopped all my frequent head and neck aches caused from looking too far down while using the computer at work. Love it." —Dustin Vargas
Get it from Amazon for $10.91.
The whiteboard comes with a dry-erase marker, accessory channel (to hold the marker), and a storage drawer.
Promising review: "Never thought something analog would be SO useful in my daily routine. I work from home and am constantly project managing multiple complex strategic projects. Having pertinent information directly in front of me and top of mind has done incredible things for my productivity. Never would have imagined it would make such a difference. For a nominal investment, I highly recommend it if you have trouble keeping up with things." —Captainflapjax
Get it from Amazon for $23.36.
Promising review: "I love this pad! I've been working harder on meal prepping and meal planning. I work in sales and am on the road all day and have been trying to be better about packing lunch and snacks etc. It's such a simple pad/outline, but it's been fun and effective to fill in every Sunday. It keeps me organized, and helps me track what I've been eating, as well as prepare for my future meals. If you're looking for a simple way to plan your weekly meals this is the thing! :)" —Samantha Shucavage
Get it from Amazon for $9.40.
Please, do not try to use this while driving. It will not work.
Promising review: "As an outside sales rep, I sometimes feel like I live in my car. This dual-purpose tray is a must-have if you need a well-positioned mobile desk or a less awkward way to eat (and avoid wearing) your lunch. It's nice that both sides are functional...a food tray complete with cup holder on one side, and a smooth, flat writing surface on the other. You won't have to worry about getting grease or food residue on your paperwork! It also works well with small laptops or your iPad. It's made of high-impact plastic, so it won't melt or warp if you leave it sitting in your hot car; it's virtually indestructible. I can't imagine how I lived without one of these for so many years!" —Mike
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
There's even a hole at the bottom so you can plug in your phone!
Promising review: "I love my memo board! I was able to attach it to my computer monitor with no issues, and after weeks of use, it still remains securely attached. The materials are sturdy feeling, no bending or warping of any kind. I've got all my important reminders on it, which has been super helpful and keeps me from missing any important deadlines. I've also been able to write on it with a dry erase marker, and then wipe it off with a tissue. Many of my coworkers have commented on how useful it seems and have said they would be purchasing their own." —razorsharp77
Get it from Amazon for $13.97 (available in four styles).
Check out this comprehensive guide on bullet journaling from BuzzFeed if you want some inspiration on how to get starting on one!
Promising review: "I'm so glad I went with this journal since its price was lower than the typical Moleskine or Leuchtturm, and it is just as good! Bleeding is very minimal/nonexistent between pages, despite the pages being on the thinner side. The size is lovely and easy to carry around and the cover is great! I accidentally got pen ink on my cover and panicked thinking it was ruined forever, but it wiped right off the fabric material with some hand sanitizer. However, if you're planning on buying the yellow cover, it's not as bright as it is in the images. It's more of a deep golden yellow. I would highly recommend this journal to a friend and I plan on buying a new one next year." —Nicole
Get it from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in nine colors and dotted, plain, or ruled styles).
Free Period Press is a woman-owned, queer-owned small business that creates paper tools to help with productivity.
Promising review: "I wanted to reduce stress and nail down some habits, and I've always done better when I can see progress tangibly. I'd been eyeing this calendar for some time, but was unsure if it was worth the money. I decided to go for it. SO glad I did. It has some "homework" pages at the beginning to help you focus in on your goals, but mostly its the cleanness and ready-to-go nature of the monthly calendar pages that have worked for me. It's helped me be more disciplined AND narrow my focus so I'm not worrying about doing everything under the sun each day. I liked it so much that I bought a second one for a friend. Another friend saw me using it and also made a purchase. I'm really happy I made the leap." —Flight of Stars
Get it from Amazon for $18.
Promising review: "I have friends and family who have made fun of me for using the Echo Dot around my home. Well, I gave a few as gifts. 'Why would I ever need something like this?' turned into love within the first hour! The music, the information, and the whole Alexa experience made her a huge believer. The same thing happened with my sister and my niece. They loved it. Now we also 'drop in' to talk to one another. I'd say it was a huge hit, and based on my personal experiences plus their enthusiastic acceptance, I have to give Alexa and the Echo Dot five stars." —Greg C.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Promising review: "This is a great product and a great idea. I am someone who has a lot of notebooks and journals; I like to write everything down so I remember it. I have wasted countless Post-it notes writing to-do lists and this little notebook not only helps me preserve my beloved Post-its, it's great for the environment as I'm reusing the same pages instead of tearing them out and starting with a brand-new page or notebook. I wish I had known about this when I was going to college, how much time and money it would have saved me. I love the fact that you can just scan each page and send it to a specific place that you have designated. Way to go, Rocketbook! You are my new favorite thing! I literally show as many people as I can about this." —Natasha
Get it from Amazon for $23.60+ (available in executive and letter and nine colors).
These are completely customizable: you can either use the included set of stickers or the included pen to designate tasks on each side. Then it syncs with software on your phone or desktop to breakdown how you spend your time.
Get one from Timeular for $89.
Silk + Sonder is a small business founded by a former software engineer who was inspired by their busy schedule to create a functional, thoughtful, and personalized way to help people stay organized.
Get it from Silk + Sonder at $19.95/month.
This has two USB ports to charge two devices at a time, and it holds enough juice to charge *over* THREE iPhone 8s.
Promising review: "Purchased this charger because I was tired of my devices dying and scrabbling for an outlet. It comes with a mesh pouch to store the charger, USB, and a neat little light. I love the paw print, which shows how much charge life is remaining on the charger as well as a visual cue when it's operating. It's a bit heavier than I would like but the fact that I can fully charge my phone and headset and still have extra battery left makes up for it. Overall a great purchase." —KW
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I happened to stumble upon this product while buying textbooks for school. I am an English Education Grad student so it's important for me to keep all my notes and readings organized as best as possible. There was honestly no great system for this... UNTIL NOW! These sticky notes are big enough to write actual thoughts AND I can conveniently write what the note is for on the tab! So much time saved flipping through my notes. I'm glad I bought the two-pack (especially since my mom nabbed one!) At first glance I thought I would have to go through the colors in the order they came in which bummed me out a little bit, but then I discovered that at the end of each color there is a nonsticky back so you can take the little booklet apart or flip to the color you want without wasting any!" —suddenproximity
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.25.
It's insulated, double-walled, and BPA-free with a spill-proof lid.
Promising review: "It's super cute and great quality, and it keeps my drink really cold/hot for hoursssss!!!" —Melissa R.
Get it from Ban.do for $28 (available in three designs).
Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.