Take care of yourself. Now, how many of us dish that advice to others, but never actually follow our own proclamations? This new year, and in line with Celebration of Life Day on Jan 22, forget the grand gestures.
In fact, focus on starting small, by doing little things that slowly but gradually increase the happiness of your everyday. Here are 15 ideas to get you started.
You can’t sleep when you’re dead cause you’ll be dead. But seriously, poor sleep health is linked to a number of chronic issues: from weight gain, hypertension, mood disorders etc… Start this new decade by prioritising sleep, be it subscribing to a meditation series, buying a quality white noise machine, a non-invasive sleep aid like Smart Nora which helps stop snoring (for you or your partner), or simply commit to a regular lock-in weekend where you do nothing else but catch up on some shut-eye.
The world is changing fast and these days there’s no excuse not to upgrade, or learn, new marketable skills. There’s Skillshare with courses on everything from coding to photoshop, LinkedIn Learning that’ll give you the first 30 days free, or search on YouTube to find out more about something you’ve always wanted to know more about – Bitcoin, biohacking, dropshipping – and take charge of your future.
Red light therapy is all the rage right now. If you’ve ever used an LED face mask or done a session at Pure Wellness Studio, you’ve already reaped the benefits of light therapy. For an at-home solution, Joovv delivers the benefits of red light therapy into the palm of your hand. The Joovv Go is a portable FDA medical-grade device that comes in two versions: the Red Light (650nm) or Near Infrared Light (850nm) wavelengths. Both work by penetrating the skin to give the mitochondria a boost so cell repair is sped up and depending on your concern – anti-ageing (Red Light), joint pain (Near Infrared Light) – it’ll be your new weapon to stave off premature ageing. Best of all, you’ll need to set aside just 10-20 minutes a day!
If you’re waiting for someone else to plan your financial future, don’t. Make time (go online, read books, watch a YouTube series) to bone up on your financial savvy. To get started, secure your own private health insurance plan, so if anything untoward happens, you won’t be out of pocket. Another easy investment is to divert some cash to your SRS account. Not only will it function as tax savings but it’ll also be forced savings as you can only withdraw funds penalty free after 62 years of age. Make sure to invest the monies so inflation doesn’t get to it. Look into stocks, savings bonds or unit trusts which can be easily executed via setting up a separate SRS account within your existing DBS/POSB/OCBC bank account.
The Scandinavians are masters of creating joy out of grey skies. With winter lasting months and the sun not showing up for weeks, it’s important to keep the gloom at bay.
Think of hygge as an elevated form of self love, which can be anything from enjoying a cocktail alone in a cozy bar to spending the last hour of your day curled up in bed reading your favourite book. There’s no golden rule, except one: To do what sparks joy within.
If you’re not living your best life now, start the realisation process by putting all your dreams and hopes down on a mood board.
Clip pictures from magazines, trawl Instagram for inspirational sayings that resonate with you, make a list of great stuff that happened in 2019, and keep adding to it — before you know it, your dreams may come true.
Sharing (food) is caring, so show your love for your gal pals by footing the bill during the next outing. It doesn’t have to be an expensive affair. Whether it’s utilising your credit card privileges (UOB is particularly good for dining options) or signing up for Beyond (by Burpple, from $9.90 a month) offering one-for-one deals at over 300 restaurants (e.g Park Bench Deli, Sunday Folks, Vatos Urban Tacos), or downloading the Eatigo app to get discounts at restaurants, there’s enough variety to pique anyone’s taste buds.
You could whip out your credit card and jet off to Paris for a week… but where would that leave you 10 days later? Saddled with debt, that’s where. Travel is a splurge that should be planned for.
Start making a list of bucket travel plans, big and small. Whether it’s to learn how to dive, spend a week leisurely exploring the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, hot air ballooning in Cappadocia or joining a surf/yoga camp in Costa Rica, it’ll feel so much more amazing knowing you saved for it.
Lower your costs by doing your research (accumulate air miles, explore house sitting and couch surfing options) and don’t be above taking on a side gig to make this dream come true.
Whether it’s a $0.70 vanilla cone from McDonald’s – seriously, how good are they – or the latest artisanal gelato flavour from Birds of Paradise, there’s never a bad time to have some ice cream.
An indulgence to be savoured solo as you window shop, or to be shared with friends – remember Swensen’s eight scoop, eight topping Earthquake? – life always feels better after a scoop or three.
Spend a weekend beautifying your space and you’ll never want to leave home. Make your own soy-based candle, purchase some plants or put together your own stained glass pane.
If you’re not artsy, it’s amazing what a fresh set of pillow covers and curtains will do for the room, or just tidy up your desk space with this cool #SKADIS pegboard from IKEA.
No one loves commuting to/from work. Make this daily chore one you actually look forward to by subscribing to a podcast geared to your interest.
Whether it’s true crime or stories about modern love, it’s a surefire way to pass the crowded commute in a more enjoyable manner. Plus, you don’t have to crane your neck to look at the screen. Hit up Anchor and explore your options.
Call us sentimental fools but there’s something about Pixar films that – to borrow a phrase from them – makes us “grin from fin to fin”. While we have our personal favourite (We’re talking about “Finding Nemo”), others like “Monsters Inc” and “The Incredibles” never fail to get us chuckling. If you prefer films that hit you in the gut, “Inside Out”, “Co Co’, ‘Up” and “Toy Story 4” will make you shed a tear or two.
Support the arts while gifting yourself (and a friend) some culture by becoming a W!ld Rice angel for as little as $350. Depending on your donation sum, you’ll receive tickets in lieu and by inviting a different buddy each time, you’ll expand both your artistic horizons and know you’ve contributed to Singapore’s art scene at the same time.
Go to www.wildrice.com.sg/support-us/be-an-angel for more information.
There’s no better way to empower yourself than through the art of dance. Start by learning the art of Tahitian dancing perfected by Polynesian women from a young age.
While it’ll take time to master movements like the tari tamau and varu – the secret lies in one’s hip movements – to the level of instructor Beatrice Caisson, her encouraging, open attitude will keep you focused and determined to learn those hip-tastic dance moves.
Tahiti Dance Fitness is at 46 Southbridge Road, #02-02, Singapore 058679, tel: 8374 8408. Their Tahiti Basics class is on every Weds at 12.45pm and 6.45pm.
Newsflash: Work is not a hobby. Nor is Netflix, which is really just a fun distraction. This year, dare to delve deep to nurture what really interests you. Just like how your parents exposed you to chunks of ballet, piano, swimming, martial arts while growing up, do the same, but this time you’re in charge of sussing out your own interests.
For a start, if you feel the urge to create something tangible with your hands, have a go at throwing and shaping clay at Mud Rock Ceramics, which runs regular classes.
Mud Rock Ceramics is at 85 Maude Road, Singapore 208357, tel: 6291 1186. Classes are $315 for five lessons, Tues or Weds (7pm to 9.30pm), or Sat or Sun (11am to 1.30pm).
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