Living in major Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, or even our own (not so little) Nanjing can feel exhilarating yet overwhelming for many expats both old and new. The fast pace of life, the intensity of business, and the always-on digital culture can create pressure to keep up or eventually even lead to burn out. Slightly off genre, I’m venturing into new territory by diving into practical time management tips that can help expats old and new navigate their personal and professional commitments while making the most of the opportunities around us. Cultural expectations infused with modern technology, and a focus on individual well-being are littered throughout with my usual sprinkling of sarcasm, so let’s dive right in!
生活在中国主要城市，如上海、北京，甚至我们自己的（不小）南京，对于许多新老外侨来说，会感到令人振奋，但又让人不知所措。 快速的生活节奏、业务的强度和始终在线的数字文化可能会造成跟上的压力，甚至最终导致倦怠。 稍微偏離流派，我正在冒險進入新的領域，深入研究實用的時間管理技巧，這些技巧可以幫助新老外籍人士駕馭他們的個人和職業承諾，同時充分利用我們周圍的機會。 融入了现代技术的文化期望，以及对个人福祉的关注，散落着我一贯的讽刺，所以让我们直接进入吧！
Understanding the Fast-Paced Culture
了解快节奏的文化
A decade ago (I’d be lying if I said it felt like yesterday) I noticed the intense pace of urban life almost immediately disembarking the plane. I remember my first evening discovering a 7/11 in the centre of Chengdu’s city centre and I was blown away; for me, it was the epitome of convenience, a convenience store open 24/7, who would have known? Little has changed 10 years on, from the 24-hour nature of many businesses to the efficiency-driven culture that exists here in China, there is a very strong and ingrained expectation to keep up with rapid developments.
十年前（如果我说感觉像昨天一样，那就是在撒谎）我注意到城市生活的紧张节奏，几乎立即下飞机。 我记得我的第一个晚上在成都市中心发现了一个7/11，我被震撼了；对我来说，这是便利的缩影，一家全天候营业的便利店，谁知道呢？ 10年来，几乎没有变化，从许多企业的24小时性质到中国存在的效率驱动文化，人们非常强烈和根深蒂固地期望跟上快速发展。
Take public transportation as an example. Efficient, yes. Gets you from A to B, pretty much so, yes. Chaotic but yet somehow organised, double-down on that yes. Chinese cities are known for their efficient public transportation systems. Trains and buses run frequently, but during those rush time peak hours, everything moves quickly. Very quickly. Knowing the schedules and getting accustomed to apps like Metro Man or Gaode Maps (although I’m more partial to using my iPhone Maps app) can save significant time on those daily commutes.
以公共交通为例。 高效，是的。 让你从A到B，差不多，是的。 混乱，但不知何故有条不紊，加倍同意。 中国城市以其高效的公共交通系统而闻名。 火車和公共汽車頻繁執行，但在高峰期高峰期，一切都很快。 很快。 了解时间表并习惯Metro Man或Gaode Maps等应用程序（尽管我更喜欢使用iPhone Maps应用程序）可以在日常通勤中节省大量时间。
Prepare for the quick pace of boarding and alighting to avoid delays. Remember to use your elbows. Taste of music blasting through your headphones, down to personal preference.
为快速的登机和下机做好准备，以避免延误。 记得用你的肘部。 音乐的味道通过你的耳机爆炸，归结为个人喜好。
Business in China moves fast. Delving back into my first year here, I remember getting my hair cut on a Friday night at my local go to barber, they closed down on a Saturday. By Sunday, the shop was gutted. Days later it became my go to dumpling restaurant (sans the hair). Everyone’s reluctant best friend WeChat, the ubiquitous communication app, is used not just for social messaging but for professional interactions as well. The back-home debate of WhatsApp work groups just doesn’t exist here. New expats to China need to be aware of the rapid turnaround times for replies, expectations for responsiveness, and quick decision-making in workplace settings.
中国的生意发展很快。 回到我在这里的第一年，我记得周五晚上在当地的理发店剪了头发，他们周六就关门了。 到周日，这家商店被拆毁了。 幾天後，它成了我去的餃子餐廳（沒有頭髮）。 每个人都不情愿的好朋友微信，这个无处不在的通信应用程序，不仅用于社交信息，还用于专业互动。 WhatsApp工作组的家庭辩论在这里并不存在。 新来中国的外籍人士需要了解回复的快速周转时间、对响应的期望以及工作场所的快速决策。
Understanding this helps in planning workdays and responding promptly. Avoid the awkward stickers, the last thing you need to do is send your new boss a cool cat sticker (or maybe do, you never know what the reaction will be!)
了解这一点有助于计划工作日并及时做出回应。 避免尴尬的贴纸，你最不需要做的就是给你的新老板发一张很酷的猫贴纸（或者也许会这样做，你永远不知道会有什么反应！）
The expectation for swift communication extends way beyond business and in to everyday life. Quick responses via WeChat or email are often seen as respectful and professional (I’ve fallen victim to this many times…) I’ve had to factor this into my own time management strategies recently, setting aside specific windows in the day to respond to messages rather than being reactive all the time.
对快速沟通的期望远不止于业务，也延伸到了日常生活。 通过微信或电子邮件的快速回复通常被视为尊重和专业（我多次成为受害者……） 我最近不得不将这一点纳入我自己的时间管理策略中，在一天中预留特定的窗口来回复信息，而不是一直被动。
Sitting on the toilet and replying seems to be the optimum time and best strategy.
坐在马桶上回复似乎是最佳时间和最佳策略。
Sticking with your new “bestie”, WeChat. More than just a messaging platform, WeChat is a one-stop app that handles payments, transportation, event bookings, file transfers and more . Using WeChat to multi-task can help us expats save time by centralising our daily activities, whether it’s paying utility bills, ordering takeaway, or booking movie tickets (much cheaper than at the actual cinema!)
坚持你的新“最好的朋友”，微信。 微信不仅仅是一个消息平台，它是一个一站式应用程序，可以处理付款、交通、活动预订、文件传输等。 使用微信进行多任务处理可以通过集中我们的日常活动来帮助我们外籍人士节省时间，无论是支付水电费、点外卖还是预订电影票（比在电影院便宜得多！）
DiDi (the Chinese equivalent of Uber and a fraction of the cost, made that mistake in Vienna over the summer…) and Alipay can be used to quickly book rides, split fares and make fast payments. I’m more of an AliPay fan myself rather than WeChat, it must be the calming blue… For those who enjoy the fast paced lifestyle and are constantly on the move, these tools offer seamless integration into everyday life, allowing to schedule pickups and pay for services instantly.
滴滴（中文等同于優步，成本只有一小部分，夏天在維也納犯了這個錯誤……）和支付寶可以用來快速預訂乘車、分攤票價和快速付款。 我自己更像是支付宝的粉丝，而不是微信，它一定是平静的蓝色……对于那些喜欢快节奏生活方式并经常移动的人来说，这些工具可以无缝集成到日常生活中，允许即时安排取货和支付服务费用。
If you’re feeling environmentally friendly, there’s even the Ant Forest feature, where AliPay usage results in being able to collect “energy” and then planting trees in real life!
如果您觉得环保，甚至还有蚂蚁森林功能，使用支付宝可以收集“能量”，然后在现实生活中植树！
Not going to go into this one too much, my student Emma wrote a fantastic article on “Ordering Food in China 4 Non Chinese Speakers”; it’s Ele.me or Meituan (pick your poison). Both apps are leaders in food delivery, but they also offer services ranging from grocery deliveries to parcel pick-up. Feel like the house party is winding down too early at 11pm, order an extra six pack of Tsingtao (or two) on Meituan! Using these apps can help cut down on errands, freeing up more time for personal activities. Or it can just make you lazy and antisocial and you’ll never leave your apartment again.
我的学生Emma写了一篇关于“在中国订购食物4个非华人”的精彩文章；是Ele.me或Meituan（选择你的毒药）。 这两个应用程序都是食品配送的领导者，但它们也提供从杂货配送到包裹取件等服务。 感觉晚上11点的家庭派对结束得太早了，在美团上多订购六包（或两杯）青岛！ 使用这些应用程序可以帮助减少差事，腾出更多时间进行个人活动。 或者它只會讓你變得懶惰和反社交，你再也不會離開你的公寓了。
Amid the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to lose sight of personal well-being. However, carving out personal time is essential to avoid burnout and maintain mental health in the high-paced environment that is China.
在喧嚣中，很容易忽视个人健康。 然而，在中国快节奏的环境中，留出个人时间对于避免倦怠和保持心理健康至关重要。
Firstly, you need to set digital boundaries. The always-on culture of apps like WeChat can blur the line between work and personal life. I’d encourage new expats to establish boundaries, such as setting “do not disturb” hours or turning off notifications after a certain time to avoid being pulled into work-related matters outside office hours. Old expats can even try it too. It’s something that I’ve been working on myself in recent weeks.
首先，你需要设定数字界限。 像微信这样的应用程序的常时文化会模糊工作和个人生活之间的界限。 我会鼓励新的外籍人士建立界限，例如设置“请勿打扰”时间或在一定时间后关闭通知，以避免在办公时间之外被拉入与工作相关的事务。 老外籍人士甚至可以尝试一下。 这是我最近几周一直在努力的事情。
Secondly, in this fast-paced environment, regular breaks can help restore focus and maintain productivity. Scheduling breaks into your day, whether it’s a quick walk in the local park or a 10-minute tea break (you are in China after all, although for me, if it ain’t Yorkshire, I’m not drinking it) can be a simple but effective way to recharge.
其次，在这种快节奏的环境中，定期休息有助于恢复注意力并保持生产力。 安排时间进入你的一天，无论是在当地公园里快速散步还是10分钟的茶歇（你毕竟在中国，尽管对我来说，如果不是约克郡，我不会喝它）都可以是一种简单但有效的充电方式。
A quick pit-stop to LuckinCoffee usually does the trick, just remember to order ahead using the app (yes, another app!) Sit back on a bench, relax and watch the madness of the world zoom by.
快速进站到LuckinCoffee通常可以，只要记得使用应用程序提前订购（是的，另一个应用程序！） 坐在长椅上，放松一下，看着世界的疯狂。
Most Chinese cities, despite their intensity, do offer hidden oases for relaxation; you’ve just got to find them. Nanjing does have a multitude of parks, tea houses, and temples which provide a quiet escape from the city’s hustle. I’d encourage expats to explore these local sanctuaries for mental and emotional rejuvenation, or just to gain a few moments of escapism. For those new to Nanjing, Xuanwu Lake Park or Confucius Temple are nice (quick tip: avoid holidays like the Plague). For me, it has to be one of Nanjing’s many green and mountainous areas, meandering alleys or sat by one of the City’s many waterways (Mochou Lake and Jiulonghu in the south are two of my favourites).
大多数中国城市，尽管它们很密集，但确实提供了隐藏的放松绿洲；你只需要找到它们。 南京确实有许多公园、茶馆和寺庙，可以安静地逃离城市的喧嚣。 我鼓励外籍人士探索这些当地的避难所，以恢复精神和情感，或者只是为了获得片刻的逃避现实。 对于那些刚到南京的人来说，玄武湖公园或孔子庙很不错（提示：避免像瘟疫这样的假期）。 对我来说，它必须是南京众多绿色和山区之一，蜿蜒的小巷或位于该市众多水道之一（南部的莫州湖和九龙湖是我最喜欢的两个）。
Time management isn’t just about scheduling; it also requires an understanding of cultural nuances that can impact how time is spent. Adjusting your expectations to align with local practices can make day-to-day life smoother. Work hours might not be 9-5, but what you will encounter is the concept of “mianzi” or “face”. Mianzi plays a significant role in professional and social interactions in China. For example, in a professional setting, it may not be appropriate to decline meetings or requests outright, even if they conflict with prior commitments. Learning how to navigate these situations gracefully can prevent time-related stress.
时间管理不仅仅是关于日程安排；它还需要了解文化细微差别，这些细微差别会影响时间的花费方式。 调整你的期望，以符合当地的做法，可以使日常生活更顺畅。 工作时间可能不是9-5，但你会遇到的是“面子”或“脸”的概念。 在中国，Mianzi在专业和社会交往中发挥着重要作用。 例如，在专业环境中，直接拒绝会议或请求可能不合适，即使它们与先前的承诺相冲突。 学习如何优雅地驾驭这些情况可以防止与时间相关的压力。
This can include saying “I’ll check my schedule” instead of declining a meeting outright, to avoid losing face.
这可以包括说“我会检查我的日程安排”，而不是直接拒绝会议，以避免丢脸。
While the pace of life is fast, there are certain processes (like governmental services or bureaucratic approvals) that can be slower than expected. New expats should prepare for longer waiting times for official procedures and plan around these delays. By knowing what to expect, you can avoid frustration and manage your time better. But whatever you do, try and avoid visiting the bank… I’m pretty sure Dante missed out that specific Circle of Hell.
虽然生活节奏很快，但某些过程（如政府服务或官僚批准）可能比预期的要慢。 新的外籍人士应该为正式程序的更长的等待时间做好准备，并围绕这些延误做好计划。 通过了解会发生什么，你可以避免沮丧，更好地管理你的时间。 但无论你做什么，都尽量避免去银行……我很确定但丁错过了那个特定的地狱圈。
Building relationships and networks (guanxi) is crucial in Chinese culture, especially in business. While this might take time, it can lead to faster processes in the future, whether securing deals, getting things done through official channels, or even accessing better services. Invest time in building these connections, as they can save time in the long run. Remember, it’s not what you know, but it’s who you know.
建立关系和网络（guanxi）在中国文化中至关重要，特别是在商业中。 虽然这可能需要时间，但它可能会导致未来的流程更快，无论是确保交易、通过官方渠道完成工作，甚至获得更好的服务。 投入时间建立这些联系，因为从长远来看，它们可以节省时间。 记住，这不是你知道什么，而是你认识谁。
