Living as a remote worker in the world’s busiest cities

Often singled out for its brutal work-life balance and extortionate cost-of-living, Hong Kong has a reputation as one of the world’s busiest cities.

The high-earning office workers on Hong Kong Island are known for their culture of professionalism, formality, and efficiency. They leave home early, take their first phone call of the day while clambering into a taxi that will take them straight to the office (which probably isn’t far), and you can bet they’ll be ready for a long day ahead—Hong Kong’s average working week is a ludicrous 51 hours, with nearly 40% of workers doing 4-8 hours of unpaid overtime per week.

Having lived in Hong Kong for 10 months now, I can honestly say that this image of the ‘typical office worker’ doesn’t even make up 10% of Hong Kong’s population. The Central area, with its skyscrapers and crowds of office workers scrambling crossings between trails of taxis, is the part of Hong Kong that features in the media (whether that’s for business or tourism purposes). There are a lot of professional, and objectively successful, people working in high-rise offices looking out onto Victoria Harbour, but if you take a step back from the pressure of that world, you’ll quite clearly see that, actually, there are quite a few remote and hybrid workers in Hong Kong.

So, what’s it actually like to be a small, remote worker fish trying to find its way in this big pond of over 7 million people? Here’s some insight into my own experience…

Working from home when home is small

Aside from intense working hours and high expectations, Hong Kong doesn’t have a lot of space. Of course, it’s a huge place and there’s a lot of land (which few people realise is mostly mountains!), but there’s not enough building space in the places that need it—for both homes and offices.

If you are a remote worker in Hong Kong, then it’s likely that you face the issue of not having enough space in your living quarters (most likely a flat) for a separate office. However, there are a few easy ways to make your small home-working space feel more comfortable, while also maintaining your focus and boosting productivity…

· As a remote worker, it’s critical that you designate a workspace that gives you a sense of separation from the rest of your home, if you can. Blurring the lines between work and life in a physical sense can impact your ability to switch off at the end of the day. For some, a separate workspace means a very small desk squished in the corner; for others (like me), it means working at the dining table—either option is fine, as long as your setup can be cleared away at the end of the working day, so you can switch off when your laptop does.

• Whether you’re working at a desk or a dining table, it’s important to take breaks away from your workspace throughout the day. Get up and take a walk, or eat your lunch in a different seat (you could even take it outside!)—the important thing is to make sure to move out of your workspace every once in a while!

• This applies the other way around too: in my experience, if you’re feeling tired or stressed, the worst thing you can do is go sit on the sofa and turn on the TV, or get into bed and hide under the covers–as tempting as it may be. Keep your bedroom and living area (if they’re even separate, that is) for pre-planned relaxation time.

• Another way to separate a miniature workspace from a small living space is to build a 10-minute ‘shutdown’ ritual into the end of your work day. It could be a quick clear up of your work things, playing a particular song and shaking off the day, or even just a quick walk down the street and back so you can really feel like you’ve left work mode, and entered relaxation mode.

Hong Kong’s best spaces for remote and nomadic workers

If your company has a communal workspace that you can use as and when you please, you have the option to work there one or two (or more) days a week if you’re struggling to focus at home (or even if you just feel a bit lonely…). On the other hand, if you’re fully remote there are still plenty of designated coworking spaces in many of the world’s major cities, with more popping up each week as hybrid and nomadic working becomes increasingly popular.

In Hong Kong, there are a few well-known coworking spaces offering both hot desking and private offices to businesses and individuals:

• WeWork, the largest collection of coworking spaces in the world, has three locations on Hong Kong Island and one in Kowloon.

• The Hive is Asia’s biggest network of coworking spaces, which also offers hot desking and private office options in 8 different locations around Hong Kong.

• theDesk is a coworking space specifically targeting individuals who want to make more business connections; they boast an impressive 16 locations around Hong Kong.

• The Great Room is a beautifully designed, independent coworking space in Taikoo Place, giving a range of options from day passes to dedicated company offices.

• Desk-one’s 8 locations are known for their collaborative coworking environments and flexible short-term and long-term plans.

Wherever you are in the world, workfrom is a great online platform that will help you discover the best remote working options for you. They even have reviews for specific (important!) details such as WiFi speed, plug socket availability, and average noise levels.

Alternatively, if you don’t thrive in an office environment, almost every city will offer a variety of cafés, public libraries, or even outdoor parks with free WiFi where you can sit for a few hours to break up your working day. Whether it’s your typical Starbucks or a local café, if you follow the public-working etiquette (e.g. purchasing at least one drink if you’re using a café space; not having a loud, intense business meeting in an otherwise quiet and calm room) then you’ll be more than welcome to make use of the remote working locations your city has to offer.

Networking without a so-called network

As a remote worker, it’s easy to feel lonely and isolated, as if you’ve been shut off from the perceived ‘success’ of a 9-5 office job. But that’s really not the case. I know of a lot of individuals who have taken the leap to becoming remote workers or digital nomads (most of them freelancers), and they appear to be some of the most financially and emotionally stable people I know–which may simply be to do with the fact that they have control over their own workload, schedule, and routine. Networking with other remote workers is a great way to make connections and build relationships across a variety of industries.

As I’ve already said, living in a big city like Hong Kong, New York or London can, in and of itself, put you under massive pressure to look like you’ve got it all: the high-rise office job, the suit-and-tie aesthetic, the generous payslip. But none of those things actually equate to success; as a society, we can shift our perspective of remote work as a sensible (even lucrative) option for many individuals and companies, from creatives to entrepreneurs.

If you are feeling lonely in your job (whether you’re a remote worker or not), and your company gives little incentive for remote workers to connect with colleagues, then I’d recommend looking out for some remote/nomadic worker community meet ups in your area. Facebook is a great place to search for local groups that might be hosting an event, either near you or online, in the future. For example, Digital Nomad Girls Community is a group that aims to help women in business improve their working lifestyles. They offer weekly newsletters and skill-sharing workshops, as well as daily virtual check-ins and weekly social events for members.

Meetup and Freelance Founders are also examples of online platforms helping remote and hybrid workers to make connections with people who have similar interests—work-related or not.

No matter where you are in the world, how frequently you go into the office, or how much freelance work you have on a regular basis, there are ways for you to flourish as a remote worker. I think a really important part of this is making sure not to compare yourself to others. This can be especially difficult if you live in a vibrant city where everyone seems to be spending the majority of their time in the office, surrounded by other ‘successful’ people, all working long hours and fighting for their promotions. But it doesn’t have to be like that; you can be successful without an office job, and it’s likely that you’ll enjoy your job (and your life) more for it anyway.

Thank you for reading today’s piece! I wanted to put something together that combined my personal experience with what I’ve gathered from chatting to other remote workers in Hong Kong. When you’re in a place where you’re surrounded by so many office workers, it really can be tough to feel like you’re doing enough.

But, I do really believe it’s incredibly important not to compare your situation to those around you—especially if you’re happy in your current remote, hybrid or nomadic working situation. Have confidence in your decision to become a remote worker; there are so many benefits.

Charlie