ThunderStorm

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/voices/workplace-office-norms-culture-say-no-6200256 "But I'm learning to draw boundaries where I need to. Now, I refuse to look at my phone from 6pm to 9pm every evening [...] winding down and being put to bed. Sometimes I even turn my phone off entirely during those hours. What matters more is making an effort to understand their needs and concerns, and communicate openly about how we can work together to achieve shared goals. If that requires sitting down to the occasional lunch with colleagues every now and then, so be it. [...] However, that does not mean we must accept and participate in every single practice offered up as a "norm"."

My steps to ease myself into retirement: 20s: 5-day work week 30s: 4-day work week 40s: 3-day work week 50s: 2-day work week 60s: 1-day work week 70s: Retirement 🌴🏖️😎👍

日行一善，功德无量。 Doing a good deed a day brings boundless merit. "But the grass ain't always greener on the other side. It's green where you water it." - Justin Bieber 💚🌿 I was wondering where this quote came from until I found the source. Colour me surprised. Here's to the days when tackling your chores seem too tough.

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

You can't have the best of all worlds. Everything has trade-offs. The four burners - family, health, friends, and work - demand time and effort. David Sedaris' Four Burners Theory says that “in order to be successful you have to cut off one of your burners. And in order to be really successful you have to cut off two.” Credit:  https://jamesclear.com/four-burners-theory

In this TED talk, Jennifer Parlamis shares that activities which reduce your physiological arousal can help reduce anger. These include things like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga ( 11:48 ). Conversely, physiologically arousing activities, such as verbal venting, or even running, working out, or screaming into a pillow, do not decrease anger ( 11:14 , 11:31 ).

https://simonsinek.com/stories/is-it-wrong-to-be-friends-with-your-coworkers-a-therapist-weighs-in/ Simon Sinek, what an inspiration. Encountering his videos many years ago changed my perspective on leadership, work, and life, and challenged me to reconsider my life path and take a leap of faith away from my previous job. There are more alternative pathways to success and fulfilment in life today. However, it requires courage, wit, humility, and grit to reach that dream destination. For an average person like me, it took close to a decade of God's mercy and inner work before I could find peace in my heart. It has been an honour and privilege to have found many friends in my workplace past and present. You all have a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for your friendship all these donkey years. 💖💝 I wish you good success and opportunity in your life, my friends.

In this season, I have learnt to enjoy the little moments and things. I don't crave going out as much, and I'm fine with that. Rest is good. Finding peace in my circumstances and rest in Christ is even better. ⚓️✝️

The clock ticks on, a relentless beat, For those whose wallets know defeat. CPF untouched, a morbid dread, "Will I live long enough?" hangs overhead. A lottery ticket, a four-digit dream, A fragile hope, a fleeting gleam. "Investment," they sigh, with weary smiles, For a chance to escape these thankless miles. Canned beans and noodles, a convenience store's fare, A cheaper sustenance, a burden to bear. Hawker's delights, a luxury untold, As every dollar must be closely controlled. Government handouts, a much-needed grace, A small reprieve in this relentless race. Vouchers clutched tight, a lifeline so thin, Stretching each cent, to somehow just win. Across distant seas, the parcels arrive, Taobao's allure, where savings survive. Local shops suffer, a silent lament, As budgets dictate where each dollar is spent. Retirement's a whisper, a faraway shore, Two jobs, or maybe more, forevermore. Community spirit, a vibrant display, But time is a thief, stea...

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol” - Brene Brown, Gifts of Imperfection "It takes courage to be kind." - Maya Angelou

A response to this article: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/work-emails-messages-after-office-hours-separate-phone-4713696 I don't need an advert persuading me to get another phone. (A switching of accounts on my phone works fine for me.) I just need the assurance that I am not expected to respond to after-work "urgent" calls, texts and emails about work. If I wanted to work in the emergency department, I would have applied for that job.

Daily Affirmations 1. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) 2. I am loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) 3. I am forgiven and set free from all my sins. (1 John 1:9) 4. I am a vessel of God’s love and grace. (1 John 4:7) 5. I am blessed to be a blessing to others. (Genesis 12:2) 6. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10) 7. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) 8. I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. (Romans 8:37) 9. I am a light in a world of darkness. (Matthew 5:16) 10. I am patient and have peace, knowing that God’s timing is perfect. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) ~♡~ Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you. ~ L.R. Knost

"The Habit Revolution" by Charles Duhigg summarises his previous works and provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and transforming habits. Here's a concise summary: *Key Takeaways:* 1. *The Habit Loop*: Identify the cue, routine, and reward that drive your habits. 2. *Keystone Habits*: Focus on small, strategic changes that can cascade into larger transformations. 3. *Make It Obvious*: Increase awareness of your habits and triggers. 4. *Make It Attractive*: Create an environment that supports good habits. 5. *Make It Easy*: Reduce obstacles and simplify good habits. 6. *Make It Satisfying*: Celebrate small wins and create rewarding experiences. 7. *Don't Miss Out*: Use implementation intentions to maintain habits even when you're busy or stressed. *Additional Insights:* Implementation intentions are specific plans that link an if-then scenario to a specific behavior or action. They help bridge the gap between goals and habits. Here are some examples: 1. _...

Passion & Perseverance Fuel the Fire 🔥 Passion and perseverance drive long-term success 🏋️ Grit keeps athletes and artists dedicated to improvement Effort: The Unsung Hero 🌟 Consistent effort and deliberate practice lead to mastery 🏆 Grit propels you forward, even if talent gives a head start Develop a growth mindset 💪 Believe abilities can improve with effort and dedication 🌱 Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow Find your flow ⏰ Flow is a state of focused enjoyment with balanced challenge and skill 🎯 Identify activities that challenge you and are within your skill range Set stretch goals 🚀 Aim high and push yourself beyond your comfort zone 🏅 Stretch goals lead to growth and persistence Embrace the power of interest 🔍 Find goals that genuinely spark curiosity and passion 💖 Intrinsic interest fuels sustained effort and perseverance Develop effective practice strategies 🎯 Deliberate practice involves specific goals and focused feedback 🔄 Mindless repeti...

  The Paradox of Self-Awareness Positive and Negative Effects 🌟 Self-awareness can be harmful if taken to excess 🌟 Like medicine, too much self-awareness can be detrimental to our well-being Therapy and Context 🔎 The value of therapy lies in the context and environment it provides 🔎 Type of therapy is not as important as the act of seeking therapy 🔎 Journaling can be an effective alternative to therapy in providing a non-judgmental setting The Consciousness Paradox 🔬 Consciousness can be divided into the subject and object 🔬 When we focus on ourselves, our thoughts and feelings become the object of our consciousness 🔬 Detaching ourselves from our thoughts and feelings helps us put them into perspective Pathologising the Normal 🤔 Unhealthy self-awareness may lead to self-delusion and inflating small problems 🤔 An overemphasis on awareness of mental health issues can lead to a decrease in overall mental health Advice for Overwhelmed Self-Awareness ✋ Stop seeing discomfort o...

Biggest regret: Caring too much about what others thought about me. The truth is that most people are too busy thinking about their lives to care about yours. Biggest lessons: The people you surround yourself with can make or break you. The saying that "it takes a village to raise a child" is so true. It is important to surround yourself with good company who help you develop solid values, habits, and relationships. Advice to my younger self: The trick to building your self-confidence and losing your social anxiety is to seek out and help others with shared struggles. By serving others who struggle just like you, you end up being able to solve your own problems by viewing it from an objective third party perspective.

I was just watching the CNA podcast on a law protecting employees' right to disconnect and was infuriated 🔥by the majority's biased stance towards not mandating that law to maintain Singapore's competitiveness. Year after year, the government speaks of the need to improve worker productivity, which means doing more in less time. How does working overtime improve productivity rates? Oh, the irony. Hence, I believe a right to disconnect law is essential for Singapore's workforce. It would offer several key benefits: Protection from Exploitation : This law would be a safeguard against employers who pressure staff to be constantly available. With clear boundaries, workers are less vulnerable to feeling obligated to respond to emails or calls outside of work hours. Stronger Families and Communities : By ensuring time for personal lives, the law would allow employees to prioritise family. This could lead to more quality family time, potentially contributing to a rise in bi...

Tools to combat stress: 6 breaths per min or Box breathing (Navy Seal technique) Physiological sigh Power posing The importance of recovery: top athletes sleep at least 8h a day Growth mindset courage to take risks > fear of loss "A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are." - Bill Shankly (Former Liverpool manager) More:  Brown Bag Series

As a new employee, it can be daunting to enter the world of an unfamiliar industry. With constantly changing standards and expectations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of your abilities. However, building self confidence is crucial for success in your field. In this article, we will discuss some techniques for building self confidence. Embrace a Learning Mindset by JESHOOTS.COM (https://unsplash.com/@jeshoots) One of the most important things to remember is that you are constantly learning and growing. Embracing a learning mindset means being open to new ideas and approaches, and being willing to make mistakes and learn from them. This mindset allows you to see challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than failures. By embracing a learning mindset, you can build your confidence by constantly improving and expanding your skills. Seek Feedback It's important to seek feedback from your colleagues and superiors. This can be intimidating, but remember that feedback i...

Lately, I've been hearing the term DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) among my peers. It sounds pretty vulgar, in my opinion. Instead, I would like to propose the acronym MBS (Married But Single) as an alternative. Similar to the Marina Bay Sands, it represents a lifestyle of luxury and freedom that such couples enjoy. How about that?