Spiral planners and daily planning notepad beside an iced coffee and pastry during a coffee shop planning session.

My Favorite Tech and Desk Essentials for A More Productive Day

ByModern Mom Tech

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I may also earn a commission from other affiliate programs, at no additional cost to you.  I only recommend tools, apps, and products that I believe will be helpful to use.

I love it when I get to work in my home office on my own projects.  Sometimes it is also good to get away to a nice cozy coffee house. I have found there are a few tech tools that I like having on hand in various settings. 

You don’t need a complex setup to work.  You just need a few simple products to make planning and creating easy.  Here are a few tech tools that I actually own and have found useful. Hopefully you find them useful too.

Modern Mom Tech graphic featuring an iPad, wireless keyboard and mouse, phone stand, earbuds, and coffee mug warmer as simple tech and desk essentials for a more productive workday.

iPad

I use my iPad for digital planning with the GoodNotes app. I also use it to take notes, brain dump, type blog content, plan, and do research.  I also use my iPad for reading because I have books on my Kindle app. I like that it is light and portable so I can take it anywhere: home or elsewhere like a coffeeshop.

iPad Case

To keep my iPad safe, I use a protective iPad case. The one I use allows the iPad to stand up.  The good thing about iPad cases is that they come in all kinds of colors.  The one I use looks like a composition notebook. It folds in the back so I’m able to have it stand up as if it was kind of like a laptop or a computer. 

Keyboard and Mouse

I can use my Apple Pencil with my iPad, but when I really want to type and get some work done, I bring my keyboard and mouse.  The keyboard and mouse connect to my iPad through Bluetooth. I use it if I want to write blog posts, respond to emails, Canva, or just type in general. 

Cell Phone Stand

I also have my cell phone stand. I use it with my iPhone and earbuds because I like to listen to YouTube when I work. The phone stand enables me to look over at the video. I can also quickly check notifications, such as if my husband or son need something.  I can use my phone as a timer or reference other apps while I work.  If notifications are distracting, I can also turn on the Do not Disturb on my iPhone.

Bluetooth Earbuds

Speaking of cell phone stand and iPhone, I must have my earbuds.  I use them for YouTube videos for background noise.  I also use them to talk on the phone so my hands can still be free. I would be sad if I left my earbuds at home. 

Coffee Mug Warmer

When I’m feeling luxurious, I have my coffee mug warmer to keep my coffee or my tea warm. It allows me to take my time sipping my coffee while working and answering phone calls. It’s just really a nice affordable luxury to have. You can read my review on my coffee, warmer here.

How I Use It in Real Life

I like to occasionally change my routine and take my creative work elsewhere. One particular work session, I went to one of my favorite coffee shops to do some planning and strategizing for my blog.  I brought my iPad, keyboard, mouse, planners, and iPhone.

However, I did not bring my phone stand that day, and I definitely regretted it.  I had to leave my phone laying flat on the table.  Although, I would have preferred to have brought the stand with me, I was able to get through my planning session.  I was able to take notes and work through some ideas without bringing my laptop and half of my office with me.

iPad, spiral planners, and daily planning notepad arranged on a coffee shop table for a productive work session.
My coffee shop work set up. Too bad I was missing my phone stand. But I was still able to get my work done.

What I Would Buy in Order of Importance (According to Me)

If you already have an iPad, you want to start make sure you have a protective case. More importantly, I recommend getting one that also doubles as an iPad stand.  This allows you to use your iPad much like a laptop when you pair it with a keyboard and mouse.  I recommend the keyboard and mouse because they come in handy for long typing sessions.  Sometimes you just don’t want to use the Apple Pencil or touchscreen.

I would also get the phone stand and earbuds. These are just small luxuries that makes working more comfortable.

Finally, if you like to drink coffee or tea while you work, and you’re tired of it getting cold before you are finished, definitely check out the coffee mug warmer.

This is just my cozy tech setup. I am sure I will add more over time, but for now, this gets the job done.  Productivity doesn’t mean you have to have the perfect workspace with every new gadget. For me, it is about being comfortable while working and having the tools I need to get things done.

Shop My Workday Essentials  

Here are the products that I use, or similar options, if you’d like to create your own cozy tech setup. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Similar Posts