A city in timeout: What Hongkongers do during “lockdown”
Everybody watches Netflix, but there’s more.
In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures have been put in place in Hong Kong much like other places around the world. While self-isolation to quell the spread of the novel coronavirus has now become the new normal in the west, the people of Hong Kong have been adapting to this way of life since the end of January 2020. Working from home has become socially acceptable (if not advised) for the city’s work force who has the reputation of pulling ridiculous hours in the office. As a lawyer, much of the time that I would have spent in court has been relegated to time stuck at home.
‘Without the obligation to physically show up to work, there is a greater potential to plan days around tasks rather than around office hours.’
Although my pre-pandemic life has no doubt been put on hold, I have been enjoying a greater sense of control over how my time is spent. Without the obligation to physically show up to work, there is a greater potential to plan days around tasks rather than around office hours. So how do people structure their lives when they can do so according to their own whims? In her book Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson, E. Jean Carroll provides an account of the gonzo journalist’s daily routine:
‘3:00 p.m. rise
3:05 Chivas Regal with the morning papers, Dunhills
3:45 cocaine
3:50 another glass of Chivas, Dunhill
4:05 first cup of coffee, Dunhill
4:15 cocaine
4:16 orange juice, Dunhill
4:30 cocaine
4:54 cocaine
5:05 cocaine
5:11 coffee, Dunhills
5:30 more ice in the Chivas
5:45 cocaine, etc., etc.
6:00 grass to take the edge off the day
7:05 Woody Creek Tavern for lunch-Heineken, two margaritas, coleslaw, a taco salad, a double order of fried onion rings, carrot cake, ice cream, a bean fritter, Dunhills, another Heineken, cocaine, and for the ride home, a snow cone (a glass of shredded ice over which is poured three or four jiggers of Chivas)
9:00 starts snorting cocaine seriously
10:00 drops acid
11:00 Chartreuse, cocaine, grass
11:30 cocaine, etc, etc.
12:00 midnight, Hunter S. Thompson is ready to write
12:05–6:00 a.m. Chartreuse, cocaine, grass, Chivas, coffee, Heineken, clove cigarettes, grapefruit, Dunhills, orange juice, gin, continuous pornographic movies.
6:00 the hot tub-champagne, Dove Bars, fettuccine Alfredo
8:00 Halcyon
8:20 sleep’
I was interested to find out whether I was the only one whose routine bears scant semblance to that of Thompson’s, so I asked four Hongkongers* from different walks of life to describe how a day under lockdown looks like for them and how they cope.
‘Netflix and lunch’
Doris
Lawyer
8:50 a.m. waken by alarm and scroll through phone
9:00 go back to sleep
9:20 waken by alarm, snooze and go back to sleep
9:30 waken by alarm
9:35 log into work system on computer
9:40 brush teeth
9:45 click on computer screen to prevent activity status from showing me as “away”
9:46 prepare breakfast
9:50 eat breakfast
9:55 click on computer screen to prevent activity status from showing me as “away”
10:00 make tea
10:05 drink tea and check emails
10:10 file emails
10:15 begin work
10:30 switch on Spotify playlist
11:00 scroll through phone aimlessly
11:15 switch Spotify playlist and work
12:30 p.m. prepare lunch
1:00 Netflix and lunch
2:00 work and about to lose focus
3:00 snack and work
4:00 check for promo codes and browse online stores
4:15 work a bit more
5:30 Youtube workout or groceries
6:30 prepare dinner
8:00 soap opera and dinner
9:00 fruit/dessert
9:30 check US stock market
10:00 shower
10:30 Netflix
12:00 midnight, mess around on phone
12:30 a.m. sleep
What is the best thing about working from home?
No time is wasted on traveling to work and going out for lunch. My printouts are also no longer a 50 metre walk away.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
Reading news about law firm layoffs. I tell myself that I cannot afford to lose my job - I need to make sure that my work is done and seen to be done.
What advice do you have for those working from home?
I used to make fun of people for hoarding toilet paper, but I realised that the rapid rate of consumption is very much real when I started working from home. I would suggest that everyone keep two weeks’ worth of toilet paper at home at any one time.
‘Holy f***! How long have I been watching Tiger King?!’
Joanna
Kindergarten Teacher
9:00 a.m. wake up with crushing realisation that a global pandemic has changed world beyond recognition
9:10 check friends and family are still alive
9:30 fridge full of decomposing cucumber and soy sauce sachets, skip breakfast
10:00 back in bed, depressive slump
2:00 p.m. order lunch on FoodPanda
3:00 study online course
5:00 online tutoring to retain some semblance of financial stability
7:00 drink dregs of leftover alcohol from parties, watch Tiger King
8:00 watch Tiger King
9:00 watch Tiger King
12:00 midnight, holy f***! How long have I been watching Tiger King?!
12:30 a.m. read all global news outlets, correlate COVID-19 data, google all possible symptoms I have or have had in lifetime
2:00 pass out
What is the most difficult thing about self-isolating?
The uncertainty of not knowing how long the pandemic will last and constantly evaluating the risk versus benefit of going outside.
Have you gained any new perspectives from the experience?
I have been really touched by the informal networks set up for helping people across the world. In the face of governmental mismanagement, individuals have banded together to support each other.
Victor
Business Development
9:30 a.m. check/respond to emails, head back to bed if nothing urgent
10:15 check/respond to emails and start work
10:30 work and maybe light breakfast
11:30 shower and work
12:30 p.m. lunch — pickup sandwich from Subway downstairs or order from FoodPanda/Deliveroo
1:00 work
3:00 grab takeaway coffee from downstairs
4:00 work, phone calls and video calls
5:30 clean house / do laundry
6:00 buy take-out downstairs for dinner or order from Foodpanda/Deliveroo
6:30 dinner and read coronavirus news
7:30 catch up on work and/or Netflix or Youtube — depending on how much work done during day
10:00 home work-out
11:30 shower, more coronavirus news and watch Youtube/Netflix
1:30 a.m. sleep
‘Have fun and do some Instagram challenges that your friends tag you in — Nothing is too stupid!’
What have you learned about yourself through social distancing and working from home?
Taking for granted the every-day social interactions that happens (ie. at work, at the gym, and seeing friends and family regularly).
What tips do you have for those still adjusting to social distancing?
Do regular video calls or phone calls with your friends and family to keep sane and check in on people. Have fun and do some Instagram challenges that your friends tag you in — Nothing is too stupid!
Dylan
Photographer
9:00 a.m. wake up, shower, make breakfast
9:45 check e-mail, read news
10:00 video meetings with clients
11:00 exercise
12:00 p.m. make lunch
1:00 work on prioritised projects
4:00 power nap
4:30 continue working on project
6:30 cook dinner/drink and smoke up
7:30 video call friends and quizzes
9:00 read/ watch tv
12:00 midnight, sleep, rinse and repeat
‘Drinking and smoking up whilst staring out the windows during sunset is really relaxing and almost meditative.’
What do you enjoy the least about working from home?
Not knowing when to start and stop working as there is technically no lunch break for you to leave work and go out for fresh air.
How do you keep yourself sane with all this time on your hands?
Drinking and smoking up whilst staring out the windows during sunset is really relaxing and almost meditative. With all the extra time, I’ve been able to go through my hard drives and revisit old photos — A lot of good feelings and smiles provided.
Any final thoughts on spending time at home?
Take the time to be present and enjoy the space of your home. I see a lot of whiny b****es who complain that they’re stuck in the house all day.
