ThunderStorm

Dear Readers, Welcome to mid 2026! In our day-to-day rush, it is easy to neglect our own health. (See Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.) Quick check: have you been utilising your annual leaves and other staff benefits? In addition, to help us support our children together, I want to share a wonderful resource from the Social Worker’s Toolbox: the Unmet Children's Needs Checklist . By offering a listening ear and emotional support before we jump to correction, we help ourselves and others navigate big emotions safely. Remember: Be gentle with yourself. Your time to bloom will come. "Imagine if you loved yourself as much as you love your pet." — Anonymous Warmest regards, ThunderStorm

Here are a few studies that illustrate memory loss over time. The studies cited provide strong evidence for the rapid decline of memory over time, especially within the 3-4 week timeframe. These findings are well-established in cognitive psychology and have been replicated numerous times. Roediger & Butler (2011):  This research focused on the benefits of retrieval practice. They noted that information actively recalled and practised over intervals (spaced learning) was retained much better than information that was crammed, reinforcing the idea that significant forgetting can occur without regular review.  Cepeda et al. (2006):  Cramming vs. Spaced Repetition: Their research supports the idea that spaced repetition significantly enhances long-term retention compared to cramming. Findings indicate significant forgetting occurs within 3-4 weeks without spaced intervals or review. Landauer & Bjork (1978):  This study examined the effects of practice and recal...

(Generated by Google Bard) The world of ongoing longitudinal health studies is vast and fascinating! Here are just a few examples across different areas, showcasing the diversity of research happening: **Aging and Chronic Diseases:** * **The Framingham Heart Study:** Launched in 1948, this landmark study continues to follow the descendants of its original cohort, studying cardiovascular health and risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure across generations. * **The Nurses' Health Study:** Begun in 1976, this study follows female nurses, investigating the links between lifestyle factors, diet, and chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and dementia. * **The Whitehall II Study:** Established in 1985, this study examines the relationship between socioeconomic position, stress, and health outcomes in British civil servants. **Child Development and Mental Health:** * **The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study:** This New Zealand study tracks nearly 1,000 ...

Do you live in Singapore? Do you want to upgrade your skills or immerse yourself in arts and culture? Look no further than these links below. (Disclaimer: Some activities may require payment and/or registration.) Limited-time Events 🥬♼  GoGreen Events Jan - Feb - 🖼 Singapore Art Festival 🖼  Objectifs 17 Jan - 2 Feb 2025 - 📝  VERSE at The Arts House  @ the Old Parliament (Free & ticketed) 🎨 22-31 Jan 2026 -  Singapore Art Week 17 Jan - 6 Feb 2025 - 🖼💡 Light To Night Festival 📚 Nanyang CET Academy - Make The Move Event (until Mar 2024) 🖼  Singapore Night Festival 🐕🐈🪴  Pets and Plants Extravaganza @ Guoco Tower 27 April - 3 May 2026 1 May 2026 - 🎶  VOS - SingNation 2-3 May 2026, 11am - 7pm - Star Wars Day @ National Library 10 May 2026, 6pm - 🎹🎺🎻🎶  SSO's Mother's Day Concert  (1h) 1-24 May 2026 - 🪭  Singapore Heritage Fest 10 - 14 June 2026 - 💐  Flower Market Singapore By Cj Hendry  Every visitor rece...

I'll be documenting my Covid experience this week. "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump 28 Jan, Sat: I had a bout of diarrhoea and thought nothing of it as I had had spicy food earlier that day. 29 Jan, Sun: It had been a cold week so far and I thought nothing of the chills I was having the entire day. It was only when I returned home, felt like my head was on fire  and m y throat had become a little itchy  that I took my temperature and an ART test. It was 38.9 °C  and the test kit immediately showed a positive result. Even after showering, as I kept the wet towel on my head to cool my temperature, I could even feel the heat through the towel. My hot head dried my hair, and even my towel completely within half an hour on that cold night. Heck, I even hung extra wet laundry on myself to dry them. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, am I right?  I was unable to book a doctor appointment online so I t...

Here are some key takeaways after attending a Resilience and Your Success Workshop with Paula Eddy and Becky. Related articles: Women's Health: How to Destress Resilience is About How You Recharge, Not How You Endure You can't give from an empty cup. To build resilience, recovery needs to take place in your mind, body and soul , so that you can refill your cup. Recovery is the key to boosting your positivity, energy levels and morale/confidence. Reflect: - Which aspect of you (mind, body and/or soul) is needing nourishment? - How can you prepare yourself/fill your tank? - Change one thing at a time, and slowly build up this habit - Tell an accountability partner - Keep practising Ways to relax your mind: Breathe Meditate Eat/drink Listen to calming music Taking a walk Take a shower/go for a therapeutic massage Journalling/drawing Reframe your perspective Adopt a growth mindset Ways to strengthen your body: sufficient exercise proper nutrition sufficient sleep Ways to nourish yo...

Image source:  https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/shorter-operating-hours-for-national-care-hotline-after-dip-in-late-night-calls Crisis hotlines:  IMH Mental Health Helpline (24h Mobile Crisis Service) – 6389 2222  SOS (24h) Hotline – 1800 221 4444   Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin)  –  1800 353 5800 (10am to 10pm, except public holidays)  Tinkle Friend (for children)  –   1800 2744 788 ( Monday to Friday,  2.30pm to 5.00pm)

These are some strategies I use to help me have a restful sleep. You can test them out and see if they work for you.

After a long dream that ended with me eating the moon and stars at a picnic, I lay partially awake in bed and began stretching my arms overhead to ease the tension in my back. That nagging backache has been with me for a couple of years and no amount of stretching advice that my mother gave me had helped. Just then, my shoulders responded with several cracking sounds. I shifted my body a little to see if I could move. Not only was I alright, but the tension in my back was gone! Praise God! I was reminded of the bible verse that had been in my phone app for the past couple of days, a sobering warning about what is to come. Watch Yourselves 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that ar...

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fireladyswag : loonacy : All of these food sources are 100% clean, natural & VEGAN ! To read specifics about each vitamin: Vitamin A Vitamin B Vitamin C Vitamin E Iron Protein Just gonna leave this reminder for myself. Time to start eating organic.. Genesis 1:28-30 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Kids may say the funniest things, but they can be wise beyond their years... even without knowing it. I was on the train earlier and I overheard this little boy talking to his sister. His sister was eating some candy and she offered some to him, but he refused and gave some golden advice. "姐 (sister), don't eat it. Too sweet. Later you get diabetes." Oh my word, that boy is gonna be a health specialist someday. You can tell what the children will grow up to be by what they say. For example, Why so sad? = Counsellor Because I said so. = Mother You're fired. = Boss What's the problem? = Doctor Boo! = Ghost in the haunted house in the amusement park Really? I don't think so. = Critic/Skeptic How do I look? = Model *screaming cries* = Child star Just kidding. :)

Admittedly, I have some emotional baggage to deal with, so I had to go for a counselling session this morning. During which, I was asked to do several things: list my problems chart my happiness level throughout my life on a line graph prioritise my problems in a pie chart make a plan take action Later at home, I was surfing online, read about a reflection tool developed by Paul J. Meyer, founder of Success Motivation® Institute, Inc. called the Wheel of Life and found websites to chart my life where I could plot different aspects of my development on a scale of 1 (pathetic) - 10 (awesome). Other Wheel of Life tools: Goal-life.com Noomii Resources of Life Living Compass Assessment My Self-Assessment (Aug 2011):  *Updated with environment and personal growth sectors* In hindsight, I might have been making up for it in these aspects via online alternatives. For example, to make up for my non-existent love life, I turn to shipping. I enjoy ...

Stuck with constipation in the toilet? Ever went to the loo knowing you had to do some big business but nothing comes out? Need a quick fix to move your bowels? There are many practical guides and health tips out there that teach you how to fight constipation in the long term, but few that tell you what to do when you  need to go but can't . Here are 2 simple last-resort tips that just might help you do the #2 with less effort: ["Physics"-like explanations provided. There's no guarantee that it eases pain. Do so at your own risk. But seriously, there's no harm trying when you're really desperate.]

Helpful links: FamilyFun - Fun Stuff For Kids & Parents KidsHealth - For Parents, Kids & Teens KidsHealth in the Classroom - A Teacher's Guide Want to find out how fast you are aging? Take this quiz then learn the 7 steps to a better you . Some tips on growing old gracefully: Maintain a healthy weight Quit smoking/avoid second hand smoke Avoid exposure to polluted air Exercise Decrease the use of antibiotics Brush & floss your teeth Love & be loved Laugh Get a massage Eat several small healthy meals a day Take a multivitamin daily (an hour before the biggest meal of the day) Do not be easily-angered Reduce your anxiety level Avoid depression Get sufficient sleep Listen to soothing music