MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Do these things if you want a work promotion soon

Peeps who’ve been with the same company for some time now, it’s normal to be thinking of a pay increase or title raise.

Well, who wouldn’t want some extra cash in the bank each month for savings or investments? We could all do with a bit of perk-me-up via a position raise from “executive” to “manager”, right?

But if you’ve been working for a decade or longer, you would know that a career advancement doesn’t come that easily. Do these things if you want a work promotion soon.

#1: Seek feedback from your superior

One of the best ways to get promoted is to ask for one. Set a time to meet with your boss, and bring your case for promotion to the table.

But before you do that, make sure you’re ready to share your achievements over the years, your upgraded skills, and the potential value you can bring to the company should you be given a title raise.

If your boss seems to be sitting on the fence amid the discussion, don’t leave the conversation hanging. Seek specific projects that you can undertake or accomplish to get the promotion, and then follow your superior’s directions to earn yourself a chance in the subsequent months to bring the topic back on the radar.

#2: Observe promoted colleagues

Image Credits: Her World

Look at your coworkers who have been promoted ahead of you. Do they have something in common? Are there some aspects of what the company seeks that has made them better candidates than you do?

Maybe there is a specific certification or credential that your company finds very appealing in an employee. To find out, it’s time to be a social butterfly. Attend social work events where possible and be engaged with your peers in the same industry to get updated on what’s up and coming.

You may also volunteer to work on team projects headed by those promoted to give yourself a chance to see for yourself the skills your promoted colleagues hold.

#3: Add value to everything you do

The management team will judge you based on whether or not you add value to the company. In other words, it’s the assessment of worth and your indispensability for the company’s growth.

Give them the very best, no matter how small the task may be, and they will likely see you as someone worth keeping. A job well done will never be overlooked as the benefits it brings add up over time.

#4: Search for ways to be noticeable

Image Credits: moneycrashers.com

Being a great employee and an eligible candidate for that promotion may not be enough if nobody notices you and your hard work.

If you want to start being more visible, being helpful is a great way to get noticed at your workplace. Volunteer to be on projects or initiate leading challenging tasks if you think you’re up for the job. Look out for opportunities to display any relevant niche knowledge you have.

At the end of a project cycle, see if you can set an appointment with your direct supervisor to check in on what they think of your contribution. Should they be unsatisfied with your performance, work on their feedback and take it positively instead of being defensive over it.

#5: Lead whenever you can

As you advance, you will require progressively more leadership skills in the company’s hierarchy. Leadership skills can refer to conflict management and an ability to motivate or steer your colleagues in the right direction.

Keeping up with excellent work performance through taking the initiative is a way to get noticed. Both your coworkers and superiors will come to know of the good shepherd that you are. In the long run, the company will trust you with more significant projects, and if done well, a promotion awaits.

#6: Be a positive presence

a female colleague motivating her coworkers

Image Credits: HealthHub

It can be easier to dwell on negativity amid workplace stress and criticisms. But negativity won’t get you anywhere.

Companies want leaders who have a positive outlook and can inspire people, not pessimistic and off-putting ones. Being a positive presence in the office will set you apart from the crowd and distinguish you when that promotion opportunity opens up.

#7: Recognise workplace issues and solve them

Have you ever worked with someone who complains about anything and everything? Such people can be viewed as toxic as they are consistently whining about things.

Instead of making a fuss over a particular business process and grumbling about it non-stop during break times, craft real solutions to improve the situation. Find specific business cases to convince your manager that it’s worth spending some money fixing a particular process. Then do your best to pitch it to them.

Take it as an excellent way to show that you’re a self-starter and keen on doing something that can benefit the company and its employees.

#8: Keep up with your work ethics

Image Credits: europeanceo.com

One factor that all of these suggestions have in common is that they require hard work to set yourself apart from your peers. One of the best ways to do so is to show an exceptional work ethic.

Work ethic can be defined as an attitude of determination and dedication towards your job. Maintain your focus at work, be punctual for all work meetings, and make sure you’re keeping up with the deadlines. You can’t be asking for a promotion if you can’t even get your foundations right.

Final thoughts

We’re not going to lie because it will take a lot of effort to get ahead and receive that promotion. Besides the tips mentioned above, you will need to find a way to stay motivated as you work towards that pay raise.

Organise your thoughts by making a plan to achieve that long-awaited promotion. When you have it all written down, it’s easier to check back and evaluate to see if you’re on the right track. Your time will come. Keep at it!

3 Trendiest Spots To Explore In Singapore

Travelling outside Singapore may be restricted for the time being, but it does not mean that you will stop discovering new places. Just look at the places found this list!

#1: TROPICAL MONTANE ORCHIDETUM AT SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

Feast your eyes with nature’s beauty as you stroll in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. When you arrive, do not forget to visit the recently opened Tropical Montane Orchidetum. This Orchidetum spans around 2,480sqm and features the largest collection of high-elevation montane orchids in Asia.

Nestled within the National Orchid Garden, this attraction features whimsical trails from the Secret Ravine to the Sembcorp Cool House. The latter not only brings a delightful escape from the heat, but also emulates the climate at 1,000 m to 2,000 m elevation. This air-conditioned glass house has high ceilings paired with its beautiful array of fauna. Visitors may wander amidst a garden of more than 1,000 species of orchids and hybrids. Apart from these, the Orchidetum has a lot more to offer!

If you are planning to experience this attraction soon, do visit during weekdays or off-peak hours. Strict safety management measures are placed for the well-being of all its visitors. Thus, they employ temporary closures when the maximum capacity of the place is reached.

Good news! Entrance fee is waived for Singaporeans and PRs until April 11, 2021. Nonetheless, the regular ticket prices (*for Singapore residents) are S$5 for adults and S$1 for students or senior citizens. Tickets are free for children under 12.

Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
Visit nparks.gov.sg/sbg for more details.

#2: LEGO® CERTIFIED STORE (LCS) BRICKS WORLD AT SUNTEC CITY

Whether you are a LEGO® enthusiast or a hobbyist, you will be happy to know that the revamped Bricks World – Suntec City is bigger than ever! During its opening (April 9), this LEGO® Certified Store showcased its unique features such as the Merlion mosaic wall.

The bespoke Merlion mosaic wall was made from 92,160 pieces of LEGO® bricks and was designed by LEGO® Certified Professional Nicholas Foo. Spanning 3.9 meters high and 1.6 meters wide, the Merlion mosaic wall took over 128 hours to complete. Apart from this, visitors may happily spot the hidden Mickey and Minnie Mouse in the display scene. Moreover, younger visitors will be able to enjoy its LEGO® play wall in the future.

Best of all? Its grand opening includes exclusive deals!

Image Credits: facebook.com/BricksWorld

Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-305, West Wing, Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
Visit bricksworld.com to build more.

#3: MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM AT DEMPSEY

Amp up your social media game by taking aesthetically pleasing snaps at the Museum of Ice Cream – Singapore. The highly anticipated opening of this colorful museum marks its first outlet outside United States. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced that it will be opening by the second half of the year.

As the Museum of Ice Cream graces our shores, you can expect to enter 14 never-before-seen installations. These multi-sensory installations are dedicated to the celebration and experience of enjoying an ice cream. In fact, its American counterpart features the Rainbow Tunnel and the Sprinkle Pool.

It is set to open its sweet doors in August 2021 at a 60,000 sq. ft. property along Dempsey. For the meantime, you can sign up for early ticket access at museumoficecream.com/early-access-sg.

Visit facebook.com/museumoficecreamsg to get the latest scoop!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Try these strategies to counter anxiety

The words “anxiety” and “panic” are often used interchangeably, especially among laymen. Though both terms have similarities, they are two different conditions according to medical professionals.

But that’s not the ultimate aim of this article, though it’s vital that we know the differences between them. Anxiety usually arises as a result of worry, stress, or an influence that causes both. On the other hand, panic attacks do not happen because of such triggers and may just come by “out of the blue”.

For those who think they may be suffering from severe panic attacks, we advise you to seek help from a mental health professional. As for those with anxieties, you may want to try these strategies to counter your uneasiness.

#1: Get moving

Exercising causes your brain to release chemicals called endorphins that aid us in feeling good. It can alter our mood for the better, which is why we often feel more relaxed and less stressed after a good workout.

Anxiety sufferers should engage in exercising as often as possible because there are tremendous benefits. For one, exercise is negatively associated with anxiety. The more consistent you are with your workout routine, the less anxious you might feel over the long term.

#2: Gamify your stressors

Gamifying a stressor is the mental process of converting an anxiety-inducing task into a more fun situation.

For instance, you have a pending assignment that makes you feel anxious. Why not turn it into a competition with yourself? Break the work down into small bits and find out how quickly you can achieve each mini task. When you succeed, remember to reward yourself!

Or, if you constantly feel stressed over your monthly presentations to the management, try wearing something comical under your formal workwear when the day arrives. It could be a skintight superman t-shirt or a colourful pair of socks to lift your mood instantly.

#3: Pen down your thoughts

Image Credits: travelandleisure.com

Anxiety can happen due to non-stop racing thoughts. When you find yourself getting trapped in a mental loop, penning down what bothers you can be a very effective way to offload it from your consciousness.

Interestingly, experts have hypothesised that the average person now remembers fewer things because of the ease with which we can look up information on the internet. Now, you can do the same with a journal. Write down your anxious thoughts somewhere, and let your brain offload them as you let the ink flow. Make it a habit to do so frequently or set a specific time to develop a routine.

#4: Stay hydrated

When work gets busy, it’s easy to forget our meals or stay hydrated. While most people are not dehydrated to the point of needing medical attention, it is fair to say that the average person does not drink eight glasses of water daily.

Dehydration can lead to symptoms such as bad headaches as a result of slower blood and oxygen flow to the brain. With that said, the loss of blood flow to the brain can exacerbate your anxiety numbness, which you want to avoid.

#5: Engage in positivity

We have more control over our minds than we think, and one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety is to begin rewiring yourself for positivity. Have you realised that it starts to snowball when you allow one lousy thought to enter your mind?

When you find yourself entertaining negative thoughts, redirect yourself and find something nice to say. Thinking more positively, in general, is likely to improve your anxiety and your general outlook on life.

#6: Observe your social environment

Image Credits: shrm.org

While being positive helps, it is sometimes hard to maintain that attitude if surrounded by relentlessly or persistently negative people.

Yes, we all have that one co-worker who is always gossiping about someone else. That same colleague could also be a friend or family member who complains non-stop about his or her life. While we obviously can’t disengage from our co-workers or cut off contacts completely, it’s possible to be aware and adjust your exposure with them accordingly.

#7: Find a healthy distraction

Sometimes when anxiety visits, we seek solitude to be with our thoughts or remove ourselves from a stimulating environment. This can be an excellent mechanism to cope at times, but it can also work against us when we allow our thoughts to take over.

Finding a way to distract yourself when you feel anxious can help minimise those thumping thoughts and regain your focus. While meeting friends or picking up a new hobby may help, introverts can sometimes feel overwhelmed with such activities.

If that is you, why not try spring cleaning as an effective distractor? Engaging in the act helps us alter and clean our physical environment, which is also therapeutic. On days when you don’t feel like cleaning, how about solving a puzzle or playing a simple game?

By limiting the amount of time anxiety creeps up on you, you can reclaim your mind control and strengthen your stress control muscle. All will be well again!

6 ways to approach someone who has lost a baby

Long-awaited pregnancies can bring immense joy to expecting parents.

But when one faces a miscarriage, the feelings of loss can be tough to cope with. Whether it’s a loss at three months or a miscarriage at six months, it’s indeed an incident to grief over. It can be even more challenging as a bystander if one does not know how to approach the situation.

If you have a friend or a close relative going through such an unfortunate situation recently, read on.

#1: Keep it simple

In a situation where someone you know has lost a baby, the most effective way to communicate is to keep your sentiments brief and straightforward.

Lengthy messages can be emotionally taxing for people who have just experienced a tremendous loss, even if the messages intended to provide comfort. Simple statements such as, “we are here for you if you need to talk” or “we are thinking of you, and your family” are easy to process, sincere, and meaningful.

#2: Acknowledge the reality

Losing a baby causes tremendous, deep-rooted grief. When a person mourns a lost baby, it is crucial to understand that there is no replacement for the baby that they bore.

While no single prayer or conversation can ease their grief instantly, we mustn’t simply pull away from reality. Yes, it might be difficult and awkward to talk about it. However, acknowledging the miscarriage and being present with a grieving friend can provide a safe space for them to talk about their loss openly.

“When you bring a healthy baby home from the hospital, everyone wants to come over and see the baby and talk about the baby. When your baby dies, people don’t want to come (to) visit; they don’t want to talk about your baby — and that hurts. I wish people didn’t assume we didn’t want to talk about her,” shared a mum who lost her daughter at six months.

#3: Read the room

Image Credits: helpguide.org

This is a time to be sensitive, and one way to do that is to read the room. Whatever situation you find yourself in, it is okay to follow the parents’ lead.

Listen to their tone and the language they use, then try to mirror their chosen words and phrases in your conversation. If the parents are referring to their baby by name, follow suit. If they are using another term, such as “our baby”, follow their preference.

For those holding on to religious or spiritual beliefs, listen and subtly acknowledge their thoughts even if you may disagree. This is not the time to share your views, start preaching to them on what you trust or oppose the bereaved’s feelings.

#4: Allow silence

Know that there may not always be the right words for a mother who has lost a precious child. If you do not know what to say, keep silent.

Gossip, meaningless chatter, over excessive verbal sympathies may sometimes do more harm than good. Everyone grieves differently, and as a bystander, simply being present and tolerating silence can make a massive difference to the affected parties.

With that said, do avoid such phrases:

It’s meant to be.
This is all God’s will.
Maybe it’s for the best.
He/she is in a better place.
Everything happens for a reason.

#5: Present open-ended offers

It can be hard to know what to offer to someone who has lost a baby. Sometimes, we might try to guess what they need out of goodwill and miss the mark completely.

Thus, sometimes it may work if you ask them directly. An open-ended question is best. For example, “What can I do to help you?” or “Is there anything you need?” is an excellent way to open a direct line of communication.

Another way to make an open-ended offer is to volunteer for a specific task that might need to be done. If they have a young child to take care of, offer to babysit them after school so they can get some quiet time. Or you could also help pick up their groceries from the supermarket or even share a dish for dinner.

#6: Check-in regularly

Image Credits: themakingofamillionaire.com

A psychologist shared in her book that it can take a few years for a mother to conclude the episode of her baby’s death.

Since no one person is wired in the same way, different individuals may get over the intense grief at various periods. If there’s something you can do, it is to check in regularly with them. Make it a habit to listen rather than just comfort whether you’re on the phone or seeing them face-to-face.

Being available to listen, especially when paired with an acknowledgement of what happened, can be a powerful way to help someone who is processing the loss of their baby.

Final thoughts

Facing a miscarriage is a heartbreak no one can understand unless they’ve been through it before. Even so, it can be very different between mothers who carry their own stories and pregnancy histories.

More often than not, well-intended words and phrases offered as comfort may come across as belittling, downplaying, or simply just unhelpful. Heed the advice given above if you know not where to start, but if you’re too afraid, then sometimes just being silent but physically available can be an appropriate way to approach a friend who has lost a precious one.

Is it possible to lose weight without exercising?

If you’ve ever wanted to lose weight, it’s most likely that you’ve heard of the exact same phrase repeatedly uttered: “exercise more and eat less”. Even though that method is tried and tested, exercising more sometimes isn’t an option for everyone.

Maybe you have an injury, a condition like arthritis, or just plainly want to avoid doing anything physical. With that said, is all hope lost? Believe it or not, there are still plenty of ways to lose weight while cutting back on physical activities.

But be aware that it will take longer to lose weight without exercise because your metabolism won’t speed up as much. However, this offers you the opportunity to plan out how you will lose weight with a healthier long-term focus rather than a short-term one.

Let’s jump right into some ways you can lose weight without exercising.

#1: Run the race with patience

When starting, you’ve got to come to terms right away because you won’t see fast results.

In confronting this truth, you will save yourself from disappointment and stay committed in the long run, to where you will inevitably see great results at the end. The quicker you internalise this, the faster you can stay on track to lose weight.

#2: Mind your portions

Image Credits: bestproducts.com

Now, you’ve got patience in place. So, what’s next?

Be sure to pay attention to your food portions when eating. One way to do so quickly is to watch your plates. The larger your plate is, the more you will be eating than if you used a smaller plate instead.

That’s why you can use this trick to your advantage by using a smaller plate when it comes to protein and grains and utilising the larger ones for non-starchy and low-calorie vegetables. Keep this principle in mind for your sweet treats too.

If you’re over at a friend’s or relative’s house and don’t have your usual plates to work with portions, don’t panic. Simply halve what you’re typically served, especially when it comes to generous servings as a guest. For those dining out, don’t be afraid to split the meal before you dig in and pack the rest home for later.

#3: Fix your distractions

It’s common for most of us to eat while the television is running or catching up with K-dramas. But what you probably don’t know is that you’ve eaten more than you needed to, thanks to those distractions.

Registered dietitian Heidi Katte advises us to practise mindful eating by chewing slowly. This is one way to focus on what you’re eating, so you can stop when you’re full. From now on, remember to put away those distractions to avoid overeating.

#4: Take in more fibre

Image Credits: thegreencreator.com

Fibre is a substance in foods such as beans and broccoli that can miraculously help you to feel fuller so that you eat less.

Women are recommended to eat 25g a day, and men should consume 38g, but most people barely even reach that amount. With this knowledge in mind, be sure to load up on the fibre, but keep it in moderation. Folks looking for foods to help curb appetite can check out our list of natural foods here.

#5: Get drinking

Jill Weisenberger, the owner of Food & Nutrition Solutions by Jill in Virginia, shares that drinking water alongside your fibre consumption is a win-win combination for weight loss.

Water can also fill you up and replace those sugary drinks that can add hundreds of more unhealthy calories to your daily diet. Don’t have the habit of gulping? Why not try carrying a water bottle with you the next time you head out? Or you can also set phone reminders to take a break and take that glass of water before resuming work.

#6: Fill your plates with protein

Image Credits: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Foods rich in protein can significantly help fill up your stomach and give you that extra fuel.

Weisenberger highlights that 25 to 30g of protein per meal are generous amounts to start your weight loss journey. Consider adding protein-rich foods like salmon, tuna, chicken, and Greek yoghurt to your meals.

Check out this list of 20 delicious foods high in protein to give you some ideas for your next meal prep!

#7: Get enough zzz

Sleep is one of the most important factors when it comes to regulating your hunger hormones. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body often signals that it’s hungrier and forces you to eat more and hold onto that fat you’re trying to lose.

Night owls will also probably agree that they tend to reach for that slice of frozen pizza in the fridge or cook a pot of ramen to satisfy night cravings. To stay focused and alert for your weight loss plan, get at least seven hours of sleep a night.

Final thoughts

We think you must have heard of the phrase, “you are what you eat”. If you want to lose weight without exercising, that’s not impossible.

As we’ve shared in this article, mind what you put into your mouth, put away distractions while eating, and getting enough shuteye can help. You may even want to try the 80/20 eating plan if you’re up for a fresh challenge. Now, get those jiggly fats out of sight!