Work-Life Balance

Maintaining Work-life balance whilst WFH is a mental fitness exercise. It is as important, if not more, than physical exercise that affects our overall health.

According to a CNA report, Singapore ranked the second most overworked city in a study of 40 cities.

Aside from the external environment, it can also be intrinsic or “wired” inside us to push ourselves to our limit, forsaking our health and loved ones.  We may see people around us get applauded from their over-time work. Busy does not always mean results. We may need to work for money so that we can pay for “future” hospital bills. (Knock on wood) Had we taken the rest hours we deserve, we could have avoided the chronic stress caused by work-life imbalance. What a conundrum! Drum this up and it may run into a rut.

Here is a suggestion on how to exercise mentally for work-life balance:

A. Prioritize those tasks into four categories:

• Urgent and important (do now)
• Important but not urgent
• Urgent but not important
• Neither urgent nor important (forget it)

B. Dedicate at least 30 minutes to work out each day. (Walking your dog or to the local market counts too).

Do ensure there is sufficient warm up and cool down too. If your day has been hectic or you have  not fueled up sufficiently on food, do listen to your body and adjust the intensity of your workout.

If you are reading this, I thank you. Take a 3 minute breather and thank your body and mind for being fit.

12 Day of Christmas for HER!

1. Start the season of giving early, head to Sephora for their Holiday Advent Calendar! What better way to start the holiday by counting down the days till Christmas with new beauty products.

2. No matter your body type, Bellissima at Tanglin Mall has you covered. With a wonderful selection the shop owner does her buying in Italy and brings in sizes from XS - XXL it’s worth the trip.

3. Who doesn’t love a new lipstick, try ordering from the comfort of your home with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Email Julia Shantal for your catalog juliana@styleandbeautyexpert.com

4. Fill her stocking with the perfect mask, check out What Women Want at Mandarin Gallery from silk to bamboo she’s got it all.

5. Little sparkle for your pinky, check out Monica Vinader at Ion Mall! Pinky rings are all the rage for 2021!

6. Spark times two! I’m obsessed with this Canadian label Fervor Montreal’s bangles. Order www.fervormontreal.com or at Takashimaya.

7. Perfect for the humid weather try Jo Malone for a fresh easy to wear perfume. Who can resist the beautiful wrapping? My personal favorite, English Pear!

8. If she’s obsessed with all things Apple: You can’t go wrong with the new Apple Watch loving their selection of bands!

9. Treat yourself to a silk camisole. Perfect for wearing on its own, under a kimono or sequin blazer you choose. www.storiesofsaturday.com

10. Club Monaco has a wonderful selection of cardigans! Yes, I said cashmere.. its great for keeping her cozy at the office, movies, trips to the mall and hopefully in the near future perfect for wearing on a flight.

11. Make a trip to lululemon for their Align High-Rise Pant, Ion Mall! 

12. The most” Beauty – Full” gift of all, surround yourself with family (expat Family) and friends! Have yourself a Happy Holidays.

This months Island pick Bellissima boutique (located main entrance at Tanglin Mall)

Check out my new Instagram handle: 

@andtheniwashere for fashion tips and tricks  or email me Florence.sorgini@gmail.com

Ask the Dentist: Teeth Whitening

 

Q: Is teeth whitening safe? How long will it last?

A: When done under the supervision of a dental professional, teeth whitening is a safe dental treatment. Your dental specialist / dentist will first check on the root cause of discolouration and advise whether whitening is suitable for your dental condition. If you have the following conditions, you may experience more teeth sensitivity during the teeth whitening process: 

• Generalised gum recession
• Dentin is thinner and enamel is more porous
• Presence of enamel loss due to wear, grinding habits or an acidic diet
• Existing teeth sensitivity (e.g. to hot and cold food/drinks)

Ways to deal with the hypersensitivity include:

• Using a toothpaste that is for sensitive teeth and leave it in your mouth for a few minutes after you’ve finished brushing and before your rinse
• Avoiding consumption of hot or cold food/drinks
• Drinking through a straw

Your dental specialist / dentist will also ensure that the whitening agent used is appropriate and not cause any injury (e.g. chemical burns to the soft tissues in your mouth) or uneven results. 

The effects of teeth whitening generally last for six months to two years, depending on one’s diet and lifestyle habits. If you avoid smoking and staining food/drinks such as coffee/tea, berries and wine, the chances of your teeth staying white will be longer. 

To extend the longevity of your teeth whitening treatment, your dental specialist / dentist may recommend you to carry out a combination of in-clinic teeth whitening and take home whitening kit.

Dr. Tan Kian Meng is a Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics with Specialist Dental Group®. He is also a Clinical Lecturer at the National University of Singapore and Diplomate with the American Board of Prosthodontics. He was formerly a Consultant at Singapore’s Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Fellow of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Oncologic Dentistry Fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Tan has special interest in prosthetic and implant restorative dentistry.

www.specialistdentalgroup.com | 6734 9393

CIS Students Serve Up A Healthy Cookbook

During the circuit breaker, a group of grade 11 students Anna, Keira and Julia decided to collaborate on a healthy cookbook initiative. Their mission: to provide an opportunity for students and parents to enjoy cooking together.

“We have always had an interest in home cooking and enjoy the simplicity of it. During the circuit breaker, we found ourselves in the kitchen more often because we started to realise the importance of living a healthy lifestyle - and of course that starts with a healthy diet,” the students explained. 

The recipes chosen are easy to make, delicious, child-friendly and nutritious. “Not being able to travel has been a huge disappointment so we thought a nice substitute would be sharing different recipes from around the world instead. This way families can ‘travel’ in their own kitchens and experience different cultures through cuisines.”

The recipes come from a range of different cuisines such as Italian, French, Middle-Eastern, Indian and Japanese. “We only included recipes that we had the chance to taste - and love! In short, the cookbook is both a cultural experience and a collection of our own personal favourites.”

Learning about the fun facts associated with each dish and cuisine was one of the most interesting parts the students experienced in creating the cookbook. “There are some crazy and funny facts about the dishes in th cookbook, but we don’t want to spoil the fun so if you are interested, you need to read our book!”

To download your free copy of the cookbook, visit www.cis.edu.sg/student-voice