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We Hongkongers are notorious for a few things. Shopping, partying and working long hours – not necessarily in that order. Yes, the rat race game is strong here, and only getting stronger. But it’s not all bad. With a little bit of creativity and the right atmosphere, work is more than tolerable – it’s enjoyable. So, let’s get straight into the hacks that will make life at your desk as smooth as that elusive pink dolphin.
Set a reminder to drink water and get fresh air.
Indeed, fresh air is important. There’s nothing worse than being cooped up in the office all day. Well, maybe being dehydrated and cooped up in the office all day. Get a big bottle of drinking water in the morning and mark the levels on the outside you should reach at certain times, so you drink the whole bottle by the end of the day. At each of these key times take a break to wander outside and get a hit of fresh air. It’ll keep your mind alert and it’s a bit of extra exercise. Find a workspace complete with outdoor space, balconies and all the drinks you could want.
Photo: Clare Bell
Snack responsibly.
Speaking of snacks… Finger food is so web 1.0. Use chopsticks to eat chips and snacks at your desk so you can type on your laptop and scroll Facebook on your phone without grease and crumbs.
Photo: Wikimedia
Stay awake.
It happens to the best of us. We stay out a little too late at Lan Kwai Fong on a Thursday night and come 3pm on Friday our eyelids feel like they’re holding up 8kg kettlebells. That’s when the local treats come in. Pop some White Rabbit candy for a burst of chewy, milky, sweet flavor that will keep you wide-awake. At least as long as the sugar rush lasts.
Photo: Audio Technica
Tune out the world.
Grab an app like Noisli for some soothing background noise. Sounds of the forest, the ocean or a crackling fireplace are relaxing and help boost concentration while you work and read. The high quality noises come with fading transitions and there’s even an app extension for Google Chrome.
Delegate the small stuff.
Here’s a hack specifically for budding entrepreneurs. It can be overwhelming when you’re responsible for an entire business or a big idea, but we all know the global potential a good idea can have. So, we recommend you delegate the small stuff, like registering your company. When you sign up for this entrepreneur’s dream Starter Kit, The Desk’s resident CPA takes care of your paperwork and registers your company, plus you receive 30 hours of workspace access.
Collaboration is key.
No man is an island, and the saying still stands true in Hong Kong. Use free apps like Asana, Trello or Wrike to organize your life and easily collaborate across teams. Don’t forget offline collaboration though. Whenever possible, work alongside a community of passionate dreamchasers, and be inspired by their energy. Bonus: you’ll have a network of like-minded people when you feel like a chat on the patio or an impromptu barbeque party.
Find the right workspace for you.
You probably know your favorite work environment by now. You might like a location buzzing with activity. Or do you prefer the solitude of working in a quiet study? Not all workplaces offer a choice of environment, but a choice is exactly what you need to be at your most productive. To optimise your workday, choose a work area designed for unstructured creative thinkers, or a quiet space for those who thrive on focused concentration.
The Desk is Hong Kong’s premier workspace for creative individuals, tech developers, entrepreneurs and business minds. Membership at The Desk starts at just HKD60 per hour and comes with tons of perks. Just click over to their website to find out more.
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