It’s 2022, and I think it’s time for some changes. Ever since I made that desk setup
video back in 2021, I’ve added a few things and got rid of some including one of my laptops,
but now I think it’s time for a makeover. I need to clean my desk too,
it’s so dusty, jeez. This is literally how I have it before making this video.
No cleaning up and making everything pretty for YouTube. This is really how it is.
As you can see, I’m currently using the Grovemade Walnut MacBook Dock, which means that the MacBook
is connected to my external monitor. It’s a great setup, but I’m not sure why there are overheating
and throttling issues when I’m editing videos. It’s probably not a good idea because this display
isn’t color accurate either. But that’s what I’ve been doing for a little while now,
so I’m going to have to invest in a color accurate external monitor sometime in the future.
In the back left, we have my vertical laptop stand for my gaming laptop,
but I was thinking of moving it behind the MacBook to keep the laptops together. Sometimes,
I like to put my iPad Pro on the second slot, but not while I’m using the laptop for gaming because
it does get hot. The problem is that the ethernet cord is too short, so I bought this 15 foot
ethernet cable from Amazon which should do the trick. I also have my water bottle on a coaster,
but that coaster is just in case I have something that condensates like a soda or something.
I also have my Seed probiotics because if they’re not right on my desk, I’ll forget to take them.
Next thing in the back is my SM7B Microphone. I might have to relocate it to the right because
I’m planning on moving my laptops to the right as well. I also added a MagSafe charger with the
Nomad MagSafe Mount Stand that’s super minimal and will prop my phone up while it’s charging.
I also have the Scarlett 2i2 next to my laptop and the CloudLifter CL-1
behind. I want to get rid of them from the surface of my desk because there’s just a
whole bunch of wiring that I don’t want showing up. So to fix that, I bought some 3D printed
mounting brackets that I’m going to mount under my desk. I’m not sure where to place the mounts,
and I’m not completely sure how to route the wires yet, but it shouldn’t be too hard.
Then I have this huge organizer full of hard drives, SSD’s, cables,
SD card adapters, dongles, and more. Basically everything small I need as a content creator is
all bunched up in here sitting in the back of my desk sort of behind the monitor. I’m
not sure if I should keep it there or move it out of sight, but we’ll figure that out later.
Last but not least is this corner of the desk that has my OrbitKey Nest and these piles of
books. I’m currently reading one of them, and the are two others in line once I finish. Those
might go away too, but we’ll see. My goal is to tidy up my desk while making look cleaner,
but maybe add some stuff as well to be more organized.
I think the first thing that I want to do is move my gaming laptop over to the left side. So let’s
do that. My one concern is the limited airflow, so we’ll see if anything changes in the future.
[Clear Up Desk. Take out keyboard, organizer, books.]
So both of the laptops are on the left side now. I’ve tested it for about day,
and I’ve had no overheating or throttling issues which is great. I don’t really notice
the fans when I’m gaming either. Most of the time, I have both of these systems on,
and the performance seems to be the same. There is a substantial gap in between,
due to one of the vertical stands being made for two laptops, but I’ll take it for better airflow.
I’ve decided to put the Scarlett 2i2 and the CloudLifter CL-1 under the desk near where the
laptop is on the surface. Drilling into the desk was fairly simple, and the screws were
the perfect length. I could’ve taken a little bit more time to plan where each component would go,
but I’m actually really happy with the outcome.
The thing that I would like to have done better though is the cable management. I think that would
actually need some time and planning, so maybe I’ll do that later on, but not in this video.
I was thinking of shifting everything to the left because the laptops take up a good amount
of space, but I decided to keep everything central because it looks better that way in my opinion.
And I’m glad I did. Everything worked out, and the whole setup looks so good.
I’m very happy with the outcome.
Big shoutout to Grovemade for sending over a bunch of their products to upgrade my desk.
This video wouldn’t have been possible without them. Their products are top
notch, super high quality, and sustainable as well.
Now that the desk is mostly cleared, I can now add a couple of things.
The first is this Merino Wool Felt Desk Pad. It’s a great size for me, and I can easily roll it up
and put it away if for any reason I would want to. There’s more than enough space for my keyboard,
mouse, and something like a journal if I want to place it on there.
Next is the Walnut Grovemade Wood Shelf Desk. This will give my desk more dimension, a little bit of
spice, and more organization opportunities. I love the simplicity and the sustainability of all of
their products, and this one is no exception. It’s made from premium hardwood plywood,
aluminum, and natural cork that’s hand stained with Japanese calligraphy ink. It can support
monitors up to fifty pounds, which is no problem for my thirty two inch monitor if I didn’t have it
on an arm. You can also get this desk tray separately which allows for more organization.
I actually don’t know what to put in there yet, but it’s a nice thing to have.
Above that is where I store my iPad Pro 12.9” with the Magic Keyboard, and it fits in there
perfectly. Then finally, at the very top, that’s where I place my task journal and my favorite pen.
If you watch my videos, you know that I’ve upgraded my task journal since then.
I’m now using this larger one and it’s been great so far.
I’ve been taking more notes, doing more tasks, and have become overall more productive.
On the right side of the wood desk shelf, I have my books. I thought that it would be a
nice spot for them since they’re easy to reach, so whenever I want to read or take a break, I can do
so without leaving my seat. Right next to that, I put my tech organizer. It’s sort of out of sight,
but it’s right there when I need it. I was contemplating on whether if I should completely
get rid of it from the desk and put it somewhere else, but I just couldn’t do it. I wanted my desk
to be as productive as possible, and I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of looks just for that.
I left the majority of the right side free, so that if I do need to move my monitor out
of the way for example, to journal or sketch, I can do so without any hassle.
Then I can move my keyboard and mouse underneath the shelf. I keep that spot free from anything
as a dedicated spot for my peripherals. I don’t need all that space for my keyboard and mouse,
so I do keep my Seed probiotics and other loose items like my AirPods Pro towards the left side.
Right next to my laptops, I added the Grovemade Black Pen with their Walnut Stand + Ink Refills
to match the new walnut accents that I have. The base is super sturdy, and having a pen on
the desk at all times is super convenient because as much as I love my favorite pen,
sometimes I forget to bring it out of my bag or even out of my car. Right next to that,
I have the Grovemade Notepad in black. It’s super sturdy and actually has a good weight to it.
Having a notepad that you can use as scratch paper or to write down your
daily tasks for the day is super useful, and with it always being on my desk,
it’s easy enough to reach or look over to see what I have left to do. It’s refillable,
comes in the dotted format, and the pages just lift off once you’re finished with them.
These two cup looking things are empty right now, and I’ll probably keep them like that
for the time being. But the taller one holds stationery like pens, rulers, and scissors,
and the shorter one is actually a wood planter. I still have to get a succulent,
but once I do, I’m going to be pretty happy with how it looks.
That’s pretty much it. Maybe in the next desk update, I’ll have lights behind the monitor,
a lot better cable management, and more gadgets for productivity. I didn’t get to add anything to
the wall either. I still really want floating shelves, and my Weathering With You Poster is
getting lonely. But so far, the current setup so far feels a lot more cleaner, and not as cramped
which will boost productivity levels (I hope). The water bottle is a little bit too far away,
so most of the time I leave it right next to the base of my microphone arm when I’m not using it.
I know, I know. The cable management isn’t that good. It’s bothering me too, but I’ll have to
deal with it for now. Especially if you look where the laptops are and in the back right corner of
the desk. Underneath too. But in all honesty, it’s never going to be perfect just because
my setup consists of laptops. There’s always going to be some wires poking out somewhere.
But I’ll try to have the cable management fixed as best I can in the next desk update for sure.
I apologize if the production value of this video is not quite up to par with the rest of my videos.
I do notice, and I’ll do my best to improve next time.
Once again, big shoutout to Grovemade for providing all of this stuff to spice up my desk.
I’ll try to link as many things as I possibly can in the description.
If you enjoyed, you know what to do. Thanks for watching,
and I’ll see you in the next video. Peace!