How do you prep new equipment

I am getting back into SLR photography after years of using higher end point and shoots like the S2IS and the like.

I used to work on a newspaper and we were rough and careless with all our photo equipment.

Since I am making a sizable investment with my own money now, I am curious how professionals and avid amateurs prep their new equipment, bodies, lens, etc.

Other than making sure they work and saving the boxes, I am probably more likely to just start using them and I was wondering if maybe there are some steps I might take to ensure longevity and better use.

I realize this sounds like a elementary question, but in every endeavour and hobby I ever have had a skilled craftsman always had some trick that made me go ahhhhhh.

thanks in advance

Garry