A few years ago, I genuinely believed that a fancy workspace and expensive equipment were necessary to be productive.

I thought I needed to spend thousands of dollars on my workspace to achieve any meaningful level of success. After all, that was the impression I got from many successful YouTubers and writers at the time. But I’ve since learned that I was totally wrong.

You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to be incredibly productive. After all, productivity is simply the act of sitting down and doing whatever you need to do. However, several items under $100 have helped me to focus on my work a lot more efficiently.

Here they are:

Audible Subscription ($15 Per Month)

I love books. I think they’re incredible. After all, I can listen to someone’s entire life story in a matter of hours and learn some incredible lessons from their experience.

But when I’m walking to the grocery store (or anywhere else), it’s obviously a little difficult to read a physical book. So naturally, I listen to business-related audiobooks to ensure that I’m always able to read something useful.

I have an audible subscription as the service gives me a free credit every month to spend on an audiobook of my choice. But obviously, it’s important to remember that other services exist. So try to experiment, and use whatever service works best for you.

Noise Cancelling Headphones ($50)

For a long time, I found it difficult to focus in busy environments. I frequently got distracted by people’s conversations or background noise. But now, I can work from anywhere.

My noise-canceling headphones literally enable me to focus in airports, train stations, or anywhere else. I’m not exaggerating when I say they literally changed my life.

Most electronics stores (such as BestBuy) sell them. Alternatively, you can purchase a pair on Amazon at a pretty low price.

Notepad and Pen ($2)

I don’t use my phone in bed. So whenever I have a new idea for an article, I write it down on a notepad that’s on my nightstand. Otherwise, I’ll forget it by the time I wake up the following morning.

I’ll admit that I’m normally pretty frugal. I don’t like spending money unless it’s absolutely necessary. So whenever I run out of space in my notepad, I’ll head to the dollar store and get a new one.

Most cities/towns in North America have dollar stores where you can purchase a notepad & pen for $1 each (plus tax).

A Comfortable Pair Of Shoes ($35)

I love going on walks. I have a route that I like to do every day that’s approximately 12km long around Vancouver. It’s pretty beautiful being surrounded by beaches, mountains, and parks.

Since I’m exercising for a decent amount of time each day, It helps to wear something comfortable. After all, my walks are where I get a lot of inspiration for new articles and creative projects. So obviously, the last thing I want is to be distracted by an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

I get the vast majority of my clothing from H&M. It’s cheap, and the items generally last a decent amount of time. For example, I’ve had a few t-shirts that have lasted several years. Here in Canada, shoes cost approximately $35. But obviously, you can get more expensive footwear if you prefer.

A VPN Subscription ($4 Per Month)

When I’m working in an airport, cafe, or anywhere else that’s not my apartment, I’m normally on a public WiFi network. However, open networks are often unsecured and are frequently targeted by criminals looking to access personal data or bank details.

Therefore, I use a VPN (virtual private network) to protect my personal data whenever I’m working in a public area. Doing so gives me peace of mind knowing that I’m protected from Cyber Criminals or anyone else using the public wifi network for malicious purposes.

Generally, VPNs don’t cost much. So, a few dollars per month is (in my opinion) a price worth paying. After all, my financial and personal data are safe whenever I’m using the internet in a public space.

Since I purchased the above items, I’ve found it easier to focus on my work and get it completed within a timely manner. Each of them helped me to become more productive. Hopefully, they will do the same for you, as well.