A look at the gear I use everyday in my business and life

To quote my beloved Sound of Music, “these are a few of my favourite things”!

Lolllllz, I crack myself up.

But jokes aside, I fully admit that I am NOT a minimalist. Yes, I like to keep things simple and focus on quality over quantity. But I still have stuff that I'm not ready to get rid of and I'm okay with that. I know the movement has been sweeping the world by storm, but I don’t think I’ll ever fully get behind it. That’s not to say that I’m a packrat or anything - quite the opposite - but I do know what I like and I’m not afraid to purchase it.

On my website, I share a list of all the Tools & Resources I use to run my business. I do this because I want to show everyone exactly how I’m able to run a lean and profitable business without a bunch of crazy things. If you haven’t checked it out already, I definitely encourage you to visit that page and take a look for yourself.

While that guide is awesome if you really want to see a “behind the scenes” look at what I use to run my business, I also wanted to share my favourite gear and items I use in other areas of my business/life.

The list below covers stuff that I use pretty much every day, both in my business AND in my personal life. I bet if it’s helpful for me, it’ll help you out too.

I’ve divided the list into four categories: workspace, home, gear and personal. Note: I have only linked to products I genuinely use and recommend. There are some Amazon affiliate links in here and if you purchase any products through those links, I will get a very small percentage back - at no extra cost to you.

Without further ado, here is a look at my favourite things:

Workspace

Laptop case

I use this Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop case. Mine is bright purple (discontinued) but I infinitely prefer the black one I've linked to here. I’ve had my laptop case for about 4 years and it still looks brand new. It’s super padded and protects my laptop in a way that my previous case didn’t. It saved my laptop when I dropped it down a flight of stairs, and when it was run over by a wheelchair at Newark Airport (don't ask). I also love that it’s lightweight. 100% recommend even though it’s a little pricier than other options on the market!

Speakers

Whenever I work from home, I always make sure to play some sort of music or ambient noise in the background on these Bose mini speakers. The exact model is the Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II (Carbon) and I love that it connects to bluetooth really quickly and that the sound quality is excellent.

Wireless mouse

My mouse isn’t anything fancy. Seriously, it was about $10 but it works well and I’m happy with it! It’s lightweight, smooth and quick which is just about all I can ask for in a humble computer mouse.

Gear

Headphones

I use basic Apple headphones all the time. Whether I’m working from a coffee shop, co-working space or the library, working out or puttering around the neighborhood, these headphones keep my covered. They aren’t fancy noise cancelling headphones or anything but they do the trick and I can’t leave them off this list!

Phone case

This is not the exact same iPhone case I have but it’s a great one! I'm super into the wallet cover.

Phone charger

Like most people, I lost the original iPhone charger that came with my phone and had to replace it. But the good news is that I LOVE this one even more! I’ve had it for almost two years now and am super impressed with the quality and how quickly it charges my phone.

Bike Lock

When the weather is decent (i.e., not pouring rain), I get around the city on foot or on my bike. As such, I needed a quality bike lock that would keep my wheels safe. I love my Kryptonite U-lock and have recommended it to several of my friends IRL! It’s popular, tried & true.

Bike Lights

If you’re biking around, you’ve got to stay safe and proper bike lights are a huge part of that! I got mine from MEC but these are pretty similar.

Helmet

I don’t think I need to explain why I wear a helmet when I bike (ain't nobody got time for a cracked skull) this but here’s the helmet I use and recommend.

Backpack

I don’t usually work from home (instead I favour a coffee shop, co-working space or the library) so I end up transporting my laptop and other work gear to various spaces around the city on a daily basis. And if I’m on my bike, that means that a backpack is my best option to carry my stuff. My beloved backpack is a black mini pack from MEC that I picked up about 8 years ago (no joke) but it still looks brand new. They no longer make the same model but here’s something similar from MEC. I also really Herschel’s Classic backpacks, particularly in black.

Tote bag

I know, I mentioned above that most of the time I move my stuff around in my backpack. BUT on the days where I’m travelling by foot, public transit or in a car, I throw everything into my Longchamp Le Pliage tote bag. Yes, I’m a basic bittie. Yes, every girl and their cat has this bag but I swear it lives up to the hype! I’ve actually bought the brown version twice (shhhhh).

Home

Water bottle

I drink a LOT of water throughout the day, whether I’m working or being active. I like knowing I’m hydrated which is why I usually drink out of a water bottle instead of a glass. Disposable water bottles are so bad for the environment (watch this if you want to make the swap), which is why I love Klean Kanteens. They don’t dent or smell funky, and they are super easy to clean. Make the switch to reusable water bottles today if you haven’t already! And that means ditching the La Croix too.

Thermos

Speaking of Klean Kanteen, they also have awesome thermoses if you want a hot beverage, but personally I use an older thermos from Starbucks (I picked mine up in store a few years ago, but here's a similar one if you want to buy it online). Pretty much every morning I take my tea to-go for a walk on the beach near my house and I can’t imagine the unnecessary waste I would be producing if I got disposable coffee cups. Thermos for life!

Candle

If I’m at home, odds are I have a candle burning in the background. Personally I love the Point Grey scent from Vancouver Candle Co., because I love supporting such a wonderful local company, but you could pick any candle if you want a similar experience in your own home or workspace!

(BeFresh) produce box

This isn’t something I get delivered every week but sometimes I just LOVE getting a produce box sent straight to my house! I get mine from BeFresh here in Vancouver but I have no doubt there’s something similar where you live. It’s so fun getting a variety of fruit and veggies and figuring out what I’m going to make with all my goodies.

Snacks

I am a huge snacker and always have a few of these in my bag or in my cupboards. My favourites packaged snacks are Kind bars, pea chips (similar) and chamomile tea.

Personal

Meditation App

I love using my meditation app and have been keeping a fairly regular practice for the better part of a year now. Headspace is my app of choice but Calm is another great option. Also, if you want to get a little “woo woo”, check out the guided meditations of Tara Brach.

Morning Pages

A friend introduced me to morning pages a few years ago and whenever I do a written brain dump, I’m infinitely more calm and organized for the rest of the day. Basically you write non-stop for three pages to clear all your thoughts (without self-censoring!)

Moisturizer with SPF

This is my daily moisturizer of choice and I love that it has SPF. Even in the winter I slather this stuff on and I love knowing that I won't ever get a burn when I put it on. Plus who doesn't want to keep their skin looking dewy and wrinkle-free?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there's a lot of stuff that I use every day in my business and personal life that I wanted to share. And I figured if I like 'em, maybe you would enjoy these goodies too!

Remember that I only linked to products that I personally use and recommend. It's one thing to say "I wear moisturizer! or "I use a laptop case!" but I hope that you're as curious (nosy?) as I am :)

Now it's your turn to tell me, what are your must-haves? Is there anything that you use every day, whether in your business or personal life? Should any of these make it on the Tools & Resources Guide? Did you enjoy this type of roundup product post? I'd love to know so leave me a note in the comments down below!

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