LettersYounger Hongkongers are taking it slow and steady? Good
Readers discuss how young people are reshaping ambition, brain health awareness, and the Book Fair
One afternoon in Mong Kok, I watched a mother place a milk tea beside her daughter, who sat quietly with her laptop closed. No lecture, no judgment – just quiet understanding. That small gesture stayed with me. As someone who works in vision coaching with Hong Kong youth, I see this same quiet recalibration in many of my sessions: young people choosing to pause.
This shift isn’t about laziness. It’s a sign of reflection. After years of racing towards grades, titles and expectations, many are asking better questions. One young client said, “If I keep sprinting like this for 10 more years, what kind of person will I be?” That isn’t apathy – it’s awareness.
There’s even a name for it: “cozymaxxing”, a trend where young people build comfort and recovery into their daily lives. I’ve seen clients replace all-nighters with slow walks, side hustles with sleep. They’re not rejecting ambition, they’re reshaping it.