System Preferences

First thing you should do is update the system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

If this is a new computer, there are a couple tweaks you could make to the Settings. These settings are all optional, consider them suggestions.

Settings

Appearance

• Auto-hide the Dock -> On
• Icon size -> 32

Privacy

File History & Trash

• File History -> Off

Screen Lock

• Automatic Screen Lock -> On
• Show Notifications on Lock Screen -> Off

Diagnostics

• Send error reports to Canonical -> Manual

Power

• Dim screen -> Off
• Battery Percentage -> On

Region & Language

• Choose the right format

Software & update

Additional Drivers

Follow the specific instructions provided on the screen.

Gnome Tweak Tool

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

Fonts

• Ubuntu Mono Regular -> 11px

Top Bar

• Weekday -> On
• Date -> On
• Seconds -> On
• Week Numbers -> On

Gnome Shell Extensions

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extensions gnome-shell-extension-manager

Search and open the "Extensions Manager".

Must have:

• OpenWeather - Weather extension to display weather information
• Clipboard Indicator - Clipboard Manager extension
• User Themes - Load shell themes from user directory.