This is the most helpful tech I use every day to optimize my workflow.
Hey friends!
I’m Tasia Custode and I make a ton of content like this, but it’s time for a complete
desk setup tour for you.
So I’m at my desk so we can check out all the tech I use for work every day.
And we’ll start with my laptop and monitor.
I would not know how to function without my 2021 M1 Max Macbook Pro.
She’s got 64GB memory, 1 TB of solid-state storage, a beautiful liquid retina XDR display,
and a plethora of ports.
She really is the reason my editing and my workflow are so much faster.
Obviously, the price varies for any MacBook Pro based on configuration and whether or
not you buy a refurbished model.
I’ve been so happy with mine that it’s definitely worth looking into a model like
this rather than buying the latest model.
So I mentioned the editing work I do and really that’s one of the biggest parts of my job.
So, I need a second screen and it’s gotta be bigger than the 16” beauty on my MacBook
Pro.
That’s where the LG UltraFine Display comes in.
I have the 4K model, but they also make this beauty in 5K.
Mine is a 24” with 3840-by-2160 resolution.
It was literally built for Mac, so you’ve got a Thunderbolt 3 cable and Thunderbolt
3 ports.
Prices have come down on these now since Apple introduced their studio display, so I’ve
linked to a couple of options below depending on the size you want.
And as we go through what’s on my desk, keep in mind that most, if not all, of these
items, will see discounts on Amazon Prime Day and/or Black Friday.
So bookmark those links below.
But moving on to my keyboard and mouse setup.
My mouse is the Logitech MX Master 2S.
This mouse allows you to control up to three different computers.
So, you could copy something from one computer and paste it to another.
The MX Master 2S works on any surface, comes with a micro-USB charging cable for fast recharging,
it’s got a speed-adaptive scroll wheel, as well as a thumb wheel for side-to-side
scrolling.
Plus, you can either connect this mouse via the unifying receiver or via Bluetooth.
I also find this mouse is quite nice ergonomically - it feels really nice in your hand, and has
helped my wrist issues.
I have linked to the newer version of this mouse which is actually a little bit cheaper
than the original at around $63.
And every mouse needs a great keyboard.
And, my go-to keyboard is also Logitech.
This is the Logitech MX Keys Wireless Illuminated Keyboard.
I’ve got it in graphite to match with my graphite MX Master 2S mouse.
Plus, it has smart illumination hand proximity detection and automatic backlighting.
Just like its little sister mouse, it comes with a recharging cable and can work across
multiple computers at once.
This is hands down my favorite keyboard I’ve ever owned and this and the mouse have done
really well for me the last few years.
Depending on the color and size, this keyboard is around $100 and I’ve linked to it below
of course.
OK by now I’m sure you’ve noticed the gorgeous stand my laptop is perched on.
This stand is from a company called Grovemade and they’ve actually sent me a few desktop
items that I’ve been using for about 4 or 5 months now and I absolutely love.
Plus, they’ve given me a discount code to share with all of you!
This is the Grovemade desk shelf and, what can I say, I’m in love.
This particular shelf is the small solid walnut shelf that’s 9” deep by 18.5” wide and
4.5” tall.
My laptop fits perfectly on here with some space on either end, and it tucks perfectly
under my LG monitor.
The desk shelf comes with an aluminum shelf underneath for storage.
Each desk shelf is made by hand in the USA and you can get different sizes and wood top
finishes, and the legs are actually a natural cork that looks pretty nice and has been super
durable.
But I also snagged a desk tray to go with the shelf so that I’d have a bit more closed
storage under my laptop.
This tray is also made from aluminum and solid cork and just allows for a little more organized
closed storage.
I also grabbed this wood headphone stand, as I wanted a prettier way to store my headphones
when they aren’t in use.
The headphone stand is 9” tall and it’s just so pretty on my desk.
It’s made of solid hardwood, natural vegetable-tanned leather, and stainless steel.
I also have a Grovemade coaster set.
I opted for the matte coaster set in black.
These particular ones are made from linoleum and have a cork backing, but they have a lot
of other options on their site.
They have held up well over the last few months as well and don’t show a ton of rings like
I thought they might.
These Grovemade accessories are all made in the USA and they are all so gorgeous and functional.
They have a ton of other products by the way.
So remember, I have a special link and discount code for you in the description below.
Thank you, Grovemade.
Now moving on to the external hard drives I use every day.
I use a variety of hard drives but the ones that sit on my desk full time are these Western
Digital 8TB My Book Desktop external Hard Drive.
I’ve linked to this one and the 12 TB one below so if you need a ton of storage that
have their own power- so if you’re video editing or something - these are great external
drives.
Now when it comes to other storage needs and for travel, the other brand of hard drive
I use pretty well every day is Seagate.
And I have a ton of these drives with different storage capacities that I use for a myriad
of things.
And like I said, these guys are great for travel and I pretty well don’t leave home
without them.
I’ve linked to 2TB, 4TB and 5TB options below.
Now, since I have all these hard drives, I needed a really good USB hub and docking station.
This is a must if you don’t have USB ports on your computer.
And I am in love with the docking station I have.
This is the Anker docking station, and power expander, 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 dock.
That’s right, there are 13 ports on this bad boy.
This can charge your MacBook Pro, or other devices like your smartphone, it’s got a
4K HDMI port, a 1GPS ethernet port, an audio port, usb a ports, multiple usb c ports, an
sd card slot and a micro sd card slot.
This docking station is a beast.
It’s completely changed the game for me and probably in all seriousness is one of
the most important pieces for my daily workflow optimization.
I really wouldn’t be able to work without it.
I will say, the Anker docking station runs a bit warm, but I’ve never had an issue
with it over heating and I’ve been using it for a couple of years now.
And of course, I’ve linked this for ya as well.
It is a little bit pricey, but it’s an investment piece for sure that’s a total workhorse.
I also linked to a similar model that was actually on sale at the time of me making
this video.
Another Anker product I love and had waited forever to get my hands on is the Magsafe
charger 3-in-1 cube.
This little baby folds up into a compact cube, which makes it perfect for travel by the way,
but when I need to charge my AirPods pro and watch at the same time, I can do that easily.
And I’m looking forward to finally upgrading my iPhone this fall, where I’ll utilize
the Magsafe charger that allows you to keep your phone on display which is great.
I’m really excited to see how this works with Standby mode on iOS 17.
I actually snagged this on sale on Amazon and you’ll definitely want to do the same
since it’s a pricier charging station.
Remember, all my affiliate links are below.
So I talked about my headphone stand before and my old-school, tried and tested, been
with me for I think about 12 years or so are my Bose AE2 around-ear headphones.
They don’t even make these anymore, but I’m still able to swap out the ear cushions
every couple of years when these wear out.
I love a wired headphone for editing purposes, and I once tried to upgrade to the Bose QuietComfort
35 II, but the sound level wasn’t good.
Like the actual volume level was so weirdly low.
I have no idea why.
So, I’ll link to the newer model of these, which is still a wired headphone.
I also always have my Apple AirPods Pro on my desk and these are what I use for video
meetings.
The noise canceling option is great, and I’ve also been really happy with the battery life
- they last me quite a few days on just one charge.
And, the sound level is perfect for a wireless headphone option.
The other items on my desk all the time are my smartphones.
Yes, that’s plural.
Don’t judge.
So, I’ve got my iPhone 11 Pro - yup, still rocking her, but will upgrade this fall.
And then I also have my Pixel 7 Pro.
As many of you know, this is my go-to camera.
Plus, I test a lot of apps on here for my video, so it’s pretty important that this
stay near me on my workstation every day.
Now there are two additional items that typically sit on my desk, but aren’t used every single
day.
First, is the Logitech Streamcam.
This offers 1080pHD video at 60fps, it’s got smart auto-focus and exposure, thanks
to its facial tracking.
It even comes with a little mini tripod, should you want to set up a couple of these for a
live-stream concert or gaming experience.
The StreamCam can also rotate and shoot full HD vertical video and it connects via USB-C.
The Logitech StreamCam is around $130 to $170, depending on where you buy it.
I’ve got a link below to the graphite color for ya.
The other item I use, when I need more light on my video calls, is this Neewer Desk Ringlight.
It’s a 10” dimmable desktop LED circle light that even has a phone mount.
This particular model connects via USB and you can change the modes between white, natural,
and warm.
I checked online and it’s out of stock at the moment, so I linked to this one below
but also to a comparable one as well that is in stock.
Oh, before I leave you, there is something else on my desk you may have noticed that’s
just kind of a cute tech-themed accessory.
I’ve got this really cute ctrl-alt-delete cup set.
You can put liquid in here or snacks in the cups and they sit on this cutie little circuit
board.
I have had this really about as long as I’ve had my bose headphones - gotta be 12 years
or more.
I can’t remember the store I got them from, but I did find an exact match for this online
so I’ve added that link in the description for you!
OK, I think that about covers everything on my desk.
Hopefully, this desk tour inspires you to make the most out of your desk setup.
Remember, I have affiliate links in the description below, as well as that Grovemade link and
discount code for 10% off your first order.
Enjoy!
So that’s the tech I use every day.
Now I want to hear from you.
What’s part of your go-to desk setup that you can’t live without?
Let me know in the comments below.
As always, thank you so much for watching, if you liked this video, I want to know so
give it a like, a share, or leave that comment below.
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even content like this.
Thanks for watching and see ya next time.