Taking Care of Your Mental Health During The Pandemic

The ongoing pandemic has led to heightened awareness on the importance of taking care of one’s mental health. What is often not known is that while the pandemic takes a physical toll on the infected, it can also affect the mental health of those around. Whether it is the effect of losing a loved one to the pandemic, the requirement to be isolated and kept in quarantine or simply the loss of socialising, these could all have insidious effects on our emotional well-being. Here are 5 tips on how you can take care of your mental health during the pandemic.

1. Cultivate a Habit of Gratitude

Write down the things that you are grateful for in a journal

Cultivating a habit of gratitude is one of the easiest, yet immensely powerful, ways of investing in your mental health. It allows you to recognize and appreciate the things and people around you, regardless of your current life circumstances. This is one direct way of ensuring some quiet time for yourself and disconnect with the outside world from time to time.

To cultivate more gratitude in your life, here are 5 exercises to get you started.

2. Make Time for Movement Everyday

Keeping the body and mind supple

Being in a confined space for long periods of time, especially the case as we work from home, can feel depressing. Whether indoors or outdoors, it makes a big difference to your mood when you schedule time for 30 minutes of movement every day.

Here are some ideas for moving daily:

  • Take a walk or jog around the neighbourhood park
  • Do some light stretches or yoga exercises
  • Try a home workout on YouTube (remember to ask your friends along)
  • Find some fun ways to incorporate exercises that you have been doing outside

3. Achieve Better Sleep

Stick to regular bedtime routines

The shift to working from home means that we might be less inclined to stick to our previous bedtime routines. Without the need to report to your worksite physically, the temptation of sneaking in an extra episode of your favourite Netflix drama presents itself. However, it is still important to maintain regular sleep and wake times. Going to bed and waking up around the same time every day is important in syncing your circadian rhythm, which is the internal biological clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. With a consistent sleep and wake schedule, you will start finding yourself getting sleepy around your bedtime and waking up naturally around your set wake time as time goes.

4. Stay Connected With Others

Leverage on technology to stay connected, no matter how far away

Maintaining healthy relationships with others is important for our mental health. Precisely because of the pandemic where large-group settings are not allowed, extra effort may be required to ensure that you stay connected with your circle of friends.

Here are some ideas for staying connected while staying home:

  • Organising daily or weekly accountability calls with friends or colleagues
  • Holding social gatherings via video conferencing
  • Having a Netflix Party with friends
  • Staying in touch with friends and family members via phone messaging, video calls, or via social media platforms

5. Go for Therapy

Sofia Wellness Clinic, a group of professional counsellors and psychotherapists

The idea of counselling and psychotherapy has always been shrouded with misconceptions and taboo. Therapy is actually as normal and as accessible as having a personal trainer, or going to the dentist. Just like sending in your car for its scheduled maintenance, therapy serves as maintenance for your mental health.

More importantly, going for therapy is perfectly normal. It does not mean that you are weak or crazy. There is a serious misconception that if you need therapy, there must be something wrong with you. However, the truth is that therapy is for everybody. It is not just for individuals in distress or with big problems – a good number of people go to therapy just to better themselves. Their goals for therapy may be to make a good marriage great, become a better parent, or to work on making better decisions at work. Under the guidance of a professional counsellor/ psychotherapist, both of you will be able to better understand the issues that you have been struggling with and collaboratively decide the best way to move forward.

Therapy helps you better overcome life challenges or difficulties (which are so normal!). Sometimes it may just be a space for you to share about your life in general, and to learn more about yourself. If you can afford it, therapy is another way for you to invest in your mental health.

Working on your emotional health will reap both tangible and intangible benefits in the long run, so work on these 5 tips right away, today!

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Consider these responses to cope with hostile colleagues

difficult colleagues

It’s been a month since we’ve been given the green light to head back to the office.

But with the increase in COVID-19 community cases in recent days, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised employers to allow their employees to work from home as far as possible.

Whether it be reporting to the office or clocking in from the comforts of home, we inevitably have to face our colleagues, occasionally hostile ones. If that is you, consider these responses to counter the unfortunate situation.

#1: Self-examine the case

We think it’s easy to point fingers at others when things go wrong. But why not take this chance to do some self-examination?

Ask yourself if the unfriendliness from your coworker could be a reaction to your actions? Maybe you’re a relatively straightforward person who speaks your mind without considering much. If so, then learn how to catch the right opportunity to share an opinion and keep mum when you should.

#2: Stay respectful but firm

Let’s say you’ve done some introspection and realised that the unpoliteness comes from your colleague despite you having done no wrong. Okay, fair enough. However, don’t rush to counter hostility with aggressiveness.

Unless you want to aggravate the already less-than-ideal work relationship, stay respectful but firm. Perhaps you are partnering with someone who likes to delay his or her work and then gets defensive when you ask for the output. Instead of asking an open-ended question, stick to this:

“Our presentation to the boss will be scheduled this Monday, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me the reports by mid-week.”

#3: Don’t blame yourself
a man stressed at work

Image Credits: The Independent

Have you noticed that whenever a new hire enters the company, there will be a period where “work kakis” get awkward? From schools to the workplace and social groups, there are “cliques” everywhere.

Sometimes, your colleagues’ coldness towards you may not be that they dislike you or have something against you. Everyone responds differently to a new face, so allow time to pass and conversations to flow naturally.

#4: Incorporate little kind gestures

A little kindness goes a long way to make someone’s day brighter, and in return, yours too! It could be as simple as guiding a table buddy on using a function on Microsoft Excel or offering to buy tea or coffee for a bit of perk-me-up.

But as with all things, don’t get overboard with being helpful. Since it may appear too “fake” when your actions don’t tally over the months or years, use little gestures when opportunities present themselves.

#5: Ask for advice

To round us up our list of responses to coping with hostile colleagues, we would recommend that you ask for advice from your HR department. Since HR personnel are usually trained in their field, they will know how best to handle workplace relationships.

Often, there are people in the office who get too comfortable “bullying” their fellow workers but have not been formally reported by anyone. Trust your gut and do what is suitable if you want the situation to be rightly dealt with by the management.

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6 Thomson-East Coast Line Stations Will Soon Open In Q3 2021

Represented by the color brown on the rail map, the Thomson–East Coast Line (TEL) is a new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore. It is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by year 2024. Its completion will provide the residents in the East and along the North-South Corridor a faster access to the city.

The TEL’s development spans five different phases. When these phases are accomplished, it will serve approximately one million commuters a day. The first phase of TEL (TEL 1) opened for service last January 31, 2020. TEL 1 includes Woodlands North, Woodlands, and Woodlands South MRT stations. The second phase of the TEL (TEL 2) is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2021.

EXPERIENCING EARLIER DELAYS

Due to the circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and further system review, the second phase of the Thomson–East Coast Line had been delayed twice from its original target opening date. A system review was prompted by a five-hour disruption along the line last Dec 4, 2020.

In a glimmer of hope, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) handed over six MRT stations along the second phase of the Thomson-East Coast Line to SMRT last Friday (April 30, 2021). This entails that there will be nine operational stations in the TEL soon.

Image Credits: facebook.com/WeKeepYourWorldMoving (LTA)

MORE ON THE SIX STATIONS

The six stations (TEL 2) that were handed over to SMRT included Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson, and Caldecott. The Caldecott station will become an interchange that connects to the Circle Line.

According to LTA: “The civil and structural works for the six stations have been completed, with some architectural, electrical, and mechanical works ongoing.

LTA has also completed rigorous testing and commissioning of the trains and systems for (the second stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line), including tests to ensure that the new stations operate seamlessly with the three (operating) stations.”

Train operator SMRT will continue with more tests to ensure everyone’s safety.

UPGRADE IN THE COMMUTER’S TRAVEL TIME

LTA highlights the convenience of faster travels upon the opening of the Thomson-East Coast Line’s second phase. By Q3 of 2021, residents from households near (i.e., within a 10-minute walking distance) one of the nine stations can expect travel time savings of up to 50%. For instance, a Sin Ming resident travelling to Republic Polytechnic by public transport will enjoy a 25-minute journey instead of the current 50-minute travel time.

Image Credits: facebook.com/WeKeepYourWorldMoving (LTA)

More TEL stations will be opened in the next three years. Moreover, the Jurong Region Line and the Cross Island Line are still under construction. Let us stay tuned!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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5 Mother’s Day gift ideas for the ones who like to DIY

gift boxes

Here’s a warm welcome to May from all of us at Money Digest.

With the increase in community cases recently, the government has encouraged residents to limit their social interactions.

For those planning to tone down this year’s Mother’s Day celebration, given the current situation, how about having a simple meal at home? Just in case you’re unaware, you can still keep to the eight-person limit for now.

As you prepare your mini celebrations for mummy, allow us to share some Mother’s Day gift ideas for children and adults who like to DIY.

#1: Meaningful bilateral self-portrait
bilateral self-portrait

Image Credits: Pinterest

Make mum a meaningful bilateral self-portrait with two halves of your photo! You can choose your favourite childhood picture and attach another current adult photo to make one whole. Or, if you have kids, use your child’s picture to mirror the other half.

#2: Handmade everlasting flowers
paper flowers in a vase

Image Credits: thinkmakeshareblog.com

Are you thinking of getting flowers for the first woman in your life? While real flowers are pretty and can instantly lift a person’s mood, their lifespan is relatively short. Not to mention, they are quite expensive too. Click through the link to view 12 DIY paper flower types you can make for 9 May.

#3: Creative stone paperweights
Fabric-covered stone paperweight

Image Credits: Pinterest

See if you can grab hold of some fabric scraps from a friend or neighbour who likes to sew. If not, visit Daiso to get some affordable printed fabric. Then, find a heavy pebble and cover it with your choice of material. There you go, a simple but useful paperweight made with love.

#4: Lovely stitched card
love-stitched card

Image Credits: crafts.tutsplus.com

With most things going digital nowadays, wishing mum a Happy Mother’s Day can be done in a simple text message. But we believe the old school way of writing cards would definitely be a great surprise for all mummies!

Don’t just pick one off the shelves. Make a simple stitched card along with your handwritten message. All you need is a printed heart template, a needle, and coloured threads of your choice. Paste the template lightly on your card, poke holes along the heart’s outline, and run the strings from end to end. Easy peasy.

#5: Practical coaster creation
felt coasters

Image Credits: delineateyourdwelling.com

We’re not sure about you, but we think most households have watermarks on their desks or dining tables, thanks to the absence of coasters. Make mum one if she doesn’t already have it.

All you need is to purchase some adhesive-backed felt (as the base) and coloured ones from Popular. Cut them into different shapes and sizes, and then paste them on the base to form your unique one-and-only practical coaster! Make a few designs, so mum has enough replacements to last her through the year.

For more creative gifts and adorable card ideas, click here and here. Blessed Mother’s Day to all the superwomen in the world!

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Apple AirTag, Samsung SmartTag & Other Location Trackers In Singapore

Are you looking for the perfect present for that one friend who loses absolutely everything? Search no further than this list of location trackers.

People who tend to forget where they last placed their items can benefit from location or GPS trackers such as Apple AirTag and Samsung Galaxy SmartTag. These trackers can be used for a variety of ways such as locating where you parked your bicycle or locating your beloved pet. People who are suffering from memory loss may also use these devices as aides.

On that note, here are 4 location trackers that can be purchased in Singapore.

#1: APPLE AIRTAG

Before its launch in April 30, numerous Apple fanatics have been raving about the technology of the Apple AirTag. Apple AirTag aims to provide its users with an easy way of tracking your items. You can attach this portable AirTag to your keys, slip it to your backpack, or place it at the back of your iPad.

Locate your item by asking Siri for help (e.g., “Hey Siri, find my bag!”) or by playing a sound on its built-in speaker. You can activate its alarm by using the Find My app. If it is hiding nearby, you can simply follow the sound and end your search. If you have misplaced it outside, you can assign a phone number to a lost AirTag.

When it comes to privacy, Apple has put several measures to ensure that the AirTag cannot be misused. For starters, you cannot activate an AirTag on behalf of someone else. Secondly, the AirTag will draw attention to itself by playing a sound if it has been separated from its owner for a long period of time. Lastly, your iOS devices can identify if an unknown AirTag is travelling around with you. This will give an alert that the unknown AirTag’s owner can see your location.

Price starts from S$45 at apple.com/sg/airtag.

#2: SAMSUNG GALAXY SMARTTAG

Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag is a small, battery-powered device that you can attach to your important items such as your wallet or backpack. It is a black square device with a hole for your key ring or clip. As a responsible pet-owner, you may attach it to your pet’s collar too. Once it is set up, you can link it to your Samsung account. The tag can be located using the SmartThings Find app on your phone.

Activate its sound feature by tapping the ring button on your mobile and follow the familiar sound. Even when you are offline, the Galaxy Find Network can be used to find your SmartTag privately. Furthermore, it is easy to retrace where your tag has been by scrolling through its history.

Price starts from S$34.90 at mobyshop.com.sg. You can also purchase the SmartTag from different stores.

#3: NUT MINI SMART TRACKER

One of the most affordable GPS trackers in the market is the Nut Mini Smart Tracker. Its lightweight and compact design weighs no more than 70 grams. Speaking of its compact design, it is as small as a mobile SIM card. Its size makes it easy to insert it in your wallet, your car, or your child’s bag. It is compatible to both Android and iOS devices.

All you need to do is to beep the button to know where the item is. If your item goes out of range, it will alert you through its application. The only downsides to this tracker are the lack of an emergency button and the lack of a battery life indicator. Considering its price of about S$9.52 in Shopee, it is already a steal!

#4: ORBIT SMART TRACKER

Save yourself the hassle of searching for your misplaced items by attaching the Orbit Smart Tracker to your keys or your purse. If the Orbit is within the range, it will play a loud sound. This will help you locate your item. If you lose your phone, you can press the button on the tracker to make your mobile phone ring. This works even when you are on silent mode.

It is possible to know the history of the tracker too. Give your memory a break and let the app tell you where you last left your item. This way, you will know where to look first. What is more? You can take the perfect selfie by setting up your phone and using the Orbit as a camera remote.

This tracker has a replaceable battery, a battery notification, and no yearly subscription. Having a replaceable battery reduces product wastage. Get your own Orbit tracker on eezee.sg for S$46.27 (exc. GST) or on shopee.sg for as low as S$40.50.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The abovementioned location trackers can locate your prized possessions as well as your beloved pets and family members. Leaving your home knowing that your valuables are protected can be possible with these tracking devices.

Sources: 1 & 2

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