KonMari’s Guide To Sparking Joy In Your Desk

From a best-selling author to a Netflix superstar, cleaning queen Marie Kondo has an efficient way of de-cluttering your own house and your workplace desk.

Her KonMari method is so powerful that most of her clients never turn back! When practiced regularly, the results become everlasting.

STEP 1: TOSS OR KEEP

With an honest outlook, select an item from your desk. Hold this item and ask yourself this question: “Does it spark joy in your life?” If your answer is affirmative, keep the item. Items that hold a special place in your heart, items that brighten your day through the toughest days, and items that make you smile are worth keeping.

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If your answer is “no” then, please get rid of the item. State your gratitude towards the item before tossing it away. Remember, it served its purpose to help you in your career. Do the same process for every item on your desk.

STEP 2: PHYSICAL CLEANSING

Marie Kondo believes that you must set a clean slate for all the items that spark joy in your life. After all, your desk is dirtier than you may think!

According to Microbiologist Charles Gerba, the average desk has more bacteria than an average toilet. It is important to disinfect your desk or working space with paper towels, wet wipes, rubbing alcohol, or disinfectant spray.

STEP 3: DIGITAL CLEANSING

Aside from the physical arrangement of your items, Marie Kondo has a way of cleansing your work inbox. She recommends limiting the creation of folders.

Afterwards, go through your email or Facebook inbox swiftly and completely in a single sitting. Rather than checking your inbox throughout the day, she prefers to get things done as quickly as possible.

STEP 4: HERE OR THERE

The last step is to assign a designated place for all the items that spark joy. She loves putting items in boxes or baskets! For instance, you may store your clips, tapes, and other stationary materials in a small box. Put this box inside your drawer. The idea is to put things out of your sight.

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The most important thing to remember is to keep your desk permanently organized! In time, repeated behavior will become a habit. Thus, cleaning your desk will be second nature for you.

Sources:1 &2

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The Varying Types Of Work Leaves In Singapore

I recently came across with an article featuring a story of a Malaysian employee. He applied for a leave as his mother will be undergoing surgery. To his shock and dismay, his leave was rejected as it was deemed “not too serious”.

Early this year, my mother underwent a surgery and I never tried applying for a leave. The thought of having my sister as her companion was enough for me. If my sister was not present, I would immediately apply for a work leave. However, will it be granted?

Let us take a look at some of the work leaves available in Singapore!

Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL)

Gone are the days when fathers are looked down upon! The GPPL grants working and self-employed fathers the right to enjoy the paternity leave benefits. This is to support the shared paternal responsibility when raising a child.

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By default, your paternity leave must be taken in one continuous period within 16 weeks from your child’s date of birth. It can only be taken flexibly, if the mutual agreement between you and the employer states so. The paternity leave, capped at S$2,500 per week, is fully paid by the Singapore government.

Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML)

It is understandable that there are differences between the paternity and maternity leave. When it comes to the later, you can start your leave 4 weeks before the delivery date. By default, your maternity leave must be taken within 12 months from your child’s date of birth.

The Singapore government will pay for the 9th to 16th week of your maternity leave for your 1st and 2nd child. The payment is capped at S$10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of S$20,000 per child order.

Emergency Half-day Leave

Say that your too sick to function, but you still went to work. Even if you leave in the middle of your shift, any leave you take will be considered as a full-day leave.

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However, your employer may consider it as an emergency half-day leave following your contract. Check with the Human Resources department or your employer whether the company grants half-day leaves or not.

Annual Leave

In accordance to the Employment Act, you are entitled to paid annual leave for up to 14 days. If you have worked for an employer for at least three months and less than a year, you will be eligible for a prorated annual leave. The year of service will dictate the days of your leave. For instance, you will get to enjoy 7 days of annual leave in your first year of service. If you have served the company for 8 years and beyond, you will be entitled to 14 days of annual leave.

Marriage or Grievance Leave

There is no statutory entitlement for marriage or grievance leave. These types of leave depend on the contract or mutual agreement between you and your employer. Otherwise, you may treat it as an unpaid leave.

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Approach your employer for the leave application procedures! 🙂

Sources: 1 &2

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Surefire Ways To Survive A New Job

New year, new job! Congratulations on acquiring a new position. You have your budding career ahead of you!

Are you feeling excited or nervous? It may be exciting to begin a new phase of your career, but it can also be nerve-wracking to start from scratch! Review the following tips to ensure your smooth transition.

DO A PHYSICAL TOUR OF THE WORKPLACE

From drafting your resignation to completing your unfinished projects, you need to carefully plan out your departure. The same amount of careful consideration must be poured out to your arrival.

Upon arriving to your new workplace, notice the key locations and the overall environment. Where are the pantries, toilets, conference rooms, and so on. Find a place of solitude where you can retreat every once in a while. Remember to schedule small breaks in between your tasks to walk around the office. More importantly, ask for some lunch recommendations.

DO NOT IGNORE THEIR CULTURE

Aside from being qualified for the position, the hiring manager chose you because he or she deems you to be a great fit for the company. I remember when my supervisor told me that she strategically put my desk beside a co-worker due to my background in Psychology. She believes that I can help resolve some of my co-worker’s inner conflicts. I learned about her strategy after a year of interacting with my co-worker. It worked out for the best.

Catch onto the workplace culture and bring something to the table. If your department goes out to lunch every Friday, join them. Is your office looking for volunteers to help organize an upcoming event? Do sign up! Send the message that you are a good team player by respecting the unspoken rules and engaging in their social activities.

DO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS STRATEGICALLY

It is understandable that you will have a lot to catch up on as a new employee. So, use your time wisely. Rather than sitting silently on a corner after a meeting, ask your peers about the tricks of the trade.

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Keeping quiet will not establish a good impression! However, listening actively and asking smart questions will.

DO NOT FORGET TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS

In spite of having years of experience and significant educational background, you can never know the answer to everything. Many marketing and advertising executives agree that new employees make a mistake of not asking questions. No one expects you to know it all in one or two days! Do not be afraid to ask your supervisor or co-workers on the processes as well as their expectations of you.

Requesting clarification entails that you are eager to get things right! While you do not want to bother others with endless requests for assistance, most people will be happy to help.

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The bottom-line is: “do not stress yourself too much”. No one expects you to get it right in the first few weeks! Ask questions, if necessary.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Top 5 Places to Get the Best Pineapple Tarts and Cookies in Singapore

Top 5 Places to Get the Best Pineapple Tarts and Cookies in Singapore:

Pineapple tarts are a standout amongst the most famous Chinese New Year delectable delights for pretty much every family staying in Singapore considers must-have festive delicacies amid this happy season. Be it as balls, rolls or open-faced tarts, everybody likes to appreciate this rich, creamy and sweet treats.

With the joyful festive merry season around the corner, we all might gear up tight for a significant shopping and sourcing delightful treats for Chinese New Year. Moreover, when it comes to sweet treats it’s for sure you can’t miss Pineapple tarts and Cookies!

Here’s a rundown with the Top 05 Places to Get the Best Pineapple Tarts and Cookies in Singapore, with taste as the main consideration. Indeed, some may cost somewhat more than others.  Regardless of whether it is tied in with getting pineapple tarts for your family, for your visitors over for the merry season, or just for your own eating delight, you can discover pineapple tarts which take into account your preferences.

  • CNY Goodies & Yummy Pineapple Tarts in Singapore

When you are in search for best pineapple tarts in Singapore, the best recipe by Bing Liang’s high-quality handmade pineapple tarts and cookies will bowl you over with their ultimate heart-melting buttery texture and flakiness layer all over them. Their pineapple jam filling is purely handmade unlike most of the bakers who use to make pineapple tarts with readymade jam. Bing Liang Bakery in Singapore offering the mouth-watering delights and providing ultimate baked cookies to an immense number of Singaporeans, who are a huge fan of Bing Liang’s one of a kind recipes.

So, with huge varieties of pineapple tarts and cookies by Bing Liang, how can you resist to relish these mind-blowing creations? If you still didn’t buy your pineapple tarts this Chinese New Year, Look no further head over to cnygoodies.sg by Bing Liang and enjoy the delicious tarts this New Year season.

  • Glory

The traditional love for bona fide Peranakan authentic food is the thing that propelled the Chin family to share their most loved recipes at Glory since the year 1979. Glory offers five sorts of pineapple tarts – traditional delight, large tarts, golden glow, apple shape and pineapple shape. A 650g of apple shape pineapple tarts has a cost of around $20. Other than pineapple tarts, Glory offer clients merry treats and snacks, for example, green pea cookies, almond treats, bean stew custard crackers and agar in states of goldfish and rabbit. So, check out today the perfect blend of sour and sweet flavors by Glory, Singapore.

  • Amethyst Pastry & Cakes

Throughout the years, Amethyst Pastry and Cakes has made two signature festive delights, their popular cheese pineapple tarts available for you every Lunar New Year and their Hainanese mooncakes which you can get by the mid of each Mid-Autumn Festival, that has charmed Singaporeans. Since the year 2000, they have consistently enhanced their pineapple tart unique recipes and presented new things over their regular top picks. Their conventional pineapple balls go at $24 for around 36 balls while their pineapple cheese balls go at $26. Amethyst offers other Lunar New Year cakes, such as Love Letters, Prawn Roll, Sugee Cookies and so on.

  • Joyus Pastries

Since many years, Joyus has maintained their belief that, each tart and each cookie is crafted using conventional recipes that passed down from age to age. Its modest beginnings began as an unattractive setup and Joyus is pleased to have developed to become one of our top picks when it comes to finding the top CNY pineapple tarts in Singapore. They confidently believe that regular, high-quality freshness is all important, they select just the best ingredients and meticulously carefully created pineapple fillings. They take each step just to satisfy their clientele desires with their utmost delicious tarts & cookies along with dedicated customer service. So, they can be your favorite place this new year to buy pineapple tart and cookies.

  • Le Café Confectionery & Pastry

Le Café is one of Singapore’s most established and best cake shops since its foundation in 1949. Thus, it’s nothing unexpected that they are all around perceived for their quality and novel taste of their items. Their determinations are 100% created by handmade and contain no pork or grease. Le Café is additionally the first to present round pineapple tarts otherwise known as Gold Ball tarts! The soggy pineapple filling is encased in their rich, buttery cake. So, A bite to that yummy tart gives 100% delight. So, try the all-new form of Pineapple tarts this CNY and fill your festive season with sweet delights.

Hope you have enjoyed reading about Top 05 Places to Get the Best Pineapple Tarts and Cookies in Singapore! If you know some other places to get the best pineapple tarts in Singapore, then, let us know in the comment box below!

 

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5 Best Sites To Order Flower Online For Any Occasion

We all have plenty of reasons to send flowers to someone we love, we appreciate or to commemorate an important occasion, to congratulate someone for their achievement and many more reasons that create an urgent need for a place or any online flower stores where we can place the order to get flowers for any occasion anytime.

The flowers have a gesture, a tender touch that is not less than a language to express someone your feelings. And you may not know that the language of the flowers was first invented in Victorian times and after that which is known as the science of floriography. Particularly, the science of floriography was used in early times to express and to pass secret messages to someone. It was then a mode of communication and still, this tradition continues as an important part of our lives.

So, here come the Flower retailers who provide varieties of flowers with dedicated arrangements for every moment, event, or occasion.

To make your search for best flowers simpler, we have done some groundwork for the “Top 5 Sites to Order Flower Online for Any Occasion.”

  • LVLY

LVLY is a collaboration between Co-Founders Hannah Spilva and Verity Tuck. The idea for LVLY started with a purpose rather than a product. They wanted to build a business that would help keep loved ones connected and spread a bit of joy in the world. Han and Vez were living away from home, missing friends and family and saw a gap in the market to send affordable flowers and gifts that were authentic, fun and thoughtful.

  • Flower Chimp

Flower Chimp is the largest and most trusted online flower delivery company in Southeast Asia with branches in The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.
Based in Singapore, Flower Chimp receives orders from all over the world to have flowers and gifts delivered to their loved ones across Singapore – going the extra mile to put a smile on the face of their loved ones.
Their motto is backed by the “Flower Chimp Guarantee” which promises unique freshness, superior flower quality, and competitive value for every single order. The brand delivers happiness – one blossom at a time!

  • Farm Florist Singapore

With more than 100 successful years of ruling over the Singapore market, Farm Florist has made itself a renowned florist brand just because of their satisfied and happy clientele. If you live in Singapore and you want to send the ultimate flower bouquet to someone special, farm florist is the ideal destination site for you.

They make the flower delivery process easy and convenient and same day flower delivery Singapore is exactly what they believe to follow in their vision. They provide luxurious and attractive flower bouquet anytime in Singapore. The best part in Farm Florist Singapore is that they put innovative thoughts while presenting flowers that can melt anyone heart away! They never fail to provide valuable services to their clientele. So, go ahead and place your order online at farm florist – a trusted florist brand in Singapore to send flowers anytime for any occasion.

  • A Better Florist

A Better Florist most likely one of the fastest quickest flower delivery services in Singapore. Apart from their quick delivery, this online flower retailer truly sparkles with their fresh and reasonable handmade flower bouquets with stylish decoration. The moderate and easy to use the online site of better florist shop features an all-around curated array of flowers.

Their stylish and aesthetic presentations prove them a top of the line youthful expert. Their standard same-day delivery is offered for free, yet in case you’re in a rush, their 90 minutes flower delivery benefit is the best thing they provide to their customers.

  • Valen Fleur

If you are not bothered on your expensive purchases when it comes to luxurious flower bouquet range then Valen Fleur is the perfect flower specialist for you. They have been known as one of the best flower vendors in Singapore for their rich and extravagant flower arrangements.

You get vast and ultimate packaging from their ultimate flower collection, but the best specialty of Valen Fleur is their bespoke online service allow you to customize the bouquet as per your desire by choosing the color, theme, flower type and as per your budget as well

  • Floral Magic

The best Weddings arrangements in Singapore are Floral Magic’s area of expertise. They have up to nine assortments in their flower bouquet arrangements, each truly amazing and correlative to any wedding subject or theme.

They have banded together with various brides and grooms to mount special & memorable occasions with their exquisite services along with their setting of rich and plush blossoms. In the meantime, their handmade bouquets can grab all the attention of an event which features blooms like roses, freesias lilies and many more.

  • Fleurapy

Fluerapy incorporates the restorative impact of blossoms and creates into imaginative bouquets. Their flower vendor takes motivation from the absolute most delightful places on earth, catching their vitality and environment into a wonderfully organized heap of fresh flowers from frantic Tokyo to opulent London and clamoring Hong Kong.

Not exclusively they will set your mood, but you may even be enlivened to give your craving for something new.

With this list of Top 5 Sites to Order Flower Online for Any Occasion, you can get beautiful flowers anytime. Let us know if you have some other options for online florist delivery services in Singapore!

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