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The pandemic has been brutally stressful, and if there’s anything it has taught us, it is that self-care is crucial. Thankfully, humans are resilient creatures, and many of us now seek new ways of maintaining equilibrium in our well-being.
What is self-care, exactly? Simply put, it’s anything that makes us feel nourished. A good bout of exercise that leaves you sweaty, flushed and endorphin-pumped? A relaxing bath with essential oils? Me time with the trees at a shinrin-yoku (Japanese for forest bathing) session and away from the busyness of life? Self-care can be all that. And much, much more.
Think of self-care as re-fueling yourself to engage with life, so you can do what you need and want every day. From staying healthy to helping others to keeping your finances in tip-top shape, healthier habits, more avenues for connection and/or new ways of thinking invigorate you as you charge ahead in fulfilling your aspirations and dreams in bustling Singapore.
Ultimately, self-care works differently for everyone. Here are four ways to help you relook the act of putting yourself first. Do one. Or all!
If you prefer not to be tied down to a fixed schedule, don’t. Random acts of kindness – holding the door open for someone pushing a stroller or helping an elderly neighbour carry heavy grocery bags, for instance – are also beneficial to well-being.
As for donating money, any small amount is a difference you have made!
2. Spring clean your finances
Financial self-care is both about experiencing money in a more optimal and fulfilling way because the state of our finances can have a major impact on our mental health, especially worrying about debt. So, shake out your current budget, savings details, investment plans, and insurance policies, and review them. Let’s not forget to look at your credit cards, and what you have on them.
The little pieces of plastic are a boon if you know how to use them right, and you’ll never have to pay a cent in interest while chalking up cashback or rewards points. But they can also be a curse if you have trouble keeping your spending in check.
Sometimes, people get so stressed out by credit card debt, they even stop opening their bills! That can happen to anyone, but remember, while we’re playing ostrich with its head in the sand, interest charges are accumulating and adding to the outstanding amount.
A credit card funds transfer is a handy tool to tackle the situation. Leveraging your available credit card limit, it allows a consolidation of debt from several sources onto one card.
So, if you lump all your outstanding balances onto one card (like a Standard Chartered Credit Card) that offers 0% or an attractively low interest rate for specific repayment periods, the savings you’ll get on interest charges are a compelling stress reliever!
If your debts can’t fit into one credit card funds transfer, do it on two or more credit cards. But the ritual is the same throughout – focus on paying off the balance in the shortest possible time, avoid racking up new charges, and make payments on time, every time.
Even if the above draining debt situation is alien to you, a credit card funds transfer can offer sweet respite nevertheless. You know how life sometimes has a way of blindsiding us? Let’s say that were to happen to you, and, suddenly, you’re only able to pay the monthly minimum sum instead of in full, as you usually do. In such a circumstance, a credit card funds transfer will definitely save you money.
Get 0% interest for 6 months with 100% cashback on your processing fee when you apply for Credit Card Funds Transfer for amount up to S$15,000 with Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card. In addition get up to $280 cashback when you applynow.
Interest-free instalments
There are certain purchases in life that may either be unexpected or higher ticket than usual, such as a washing machine that broke down, or that couch that looks a bit too ratty for your liking. For purchases such as these, an interest-free instalment programme goes a long way in helping you manage your cashflow over a period of months.
Here’s how an interest-free instalment programme works, using Standard Chartered Bank’s EasyPay* as an example: Because EasyPay converts local or overseas transactions on your Standard Chartered Credit Card into interest-free instalments, by just sticking with the repayment plan vigilantly, you’ve got yourself an attractive credit facility that effectively keeps unnecessary costs down.
Better yet, combine interest-free instalments with a credit card funds transfer!
Illustration: EasyPay based on a transaction amount of $150 and S$3,000 respectively.
With the new Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card, your one-time service fee will be waived for all 3 months instalments. In addition get up to $280 cashback when you apply now.
If recurring charges related to property, education, insurance and/or rental are your most significant spends, EasyBill automatically gets you cashback, reward points and/or bonus interest. Being rewarded for making compulsory payments may be a small pleasure but still a pleasure, don’t you think?
*Terms and conditions apply.
3. Practise meditation and mindfulness
The proof is in the data: Meditation is good for you. It can reduce stress, increase calm and improve clarity. And oh, it can also promote happiness. Physically, it’s been proven to manage anxiety, lower blood pressure, and help you sleep better.
Give it a go, hit up a meditation class or sign up for package for better value. After all, you can use Standard Chartered Bank’s EasyPay for a hassle-free instalment repayment plan. Throw some bonding into the mix and practise it at home with your partner with a meditation app. “Headspace” is a great choice for more structured sessions and offers meditations for all occasions, e.g. short ones for emergencies or an unexpected lull in a busy schedule.
Meditation doesn’t need to involve a proper class. Here’s a simple breathing exercise you can try anywhere without logging in to an app, with an animated video to help. Hold one hand in front of you. Spread your fingers. Focus on your hand, use the index finger on your other hand to slowly trace the outside of your hand. Breathe in when going up a finger, and out when tracing down. Do this for all five fingers, and reverse direction.
Still not convinced with putting in time for meditation no matter how fast it is? Try mindful eating, and we don’t mean contemplating your plate of fried carrot cake in silence for five minutes.
Focus on your meal and eat slowly. Listen to your body and eat only till you are full. Engage your senses and appreciate the flavours, colours and textures, and take note of how the food makes you feel.
The practice of mindfulness can be applied to just about any activity!
4. Engage in daily mini challenges
Outer order contributes to inner calm, espouses Gretchen Rubin, author of “The Happiness Project”. Let’s look at how you can declutter your home and, in the process, your mind as well.
Keep massive cleaning to one go for special occasions (like Chinese New Year). Do little daily chores – they can up the happiness level by a lot. Make your bed in one minute. Fold your laundry in five. Rearrange your shoe cupboard in 15 – because you have 60 pairs of shoes!
Time yourself, and don’t cheat!
Self-care is something that needs to be done consistently for your long-term emotional, physical and financial wellness and the right tools can go a long way in making self-care simpler. A clear mind and a happy self help you make better decisions. Even if it’s something as simple as choosing which gift to receive from Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card.
From now till 9 January 2022, apply for the Standard Chartered Bank Smart Credit Card and choose between a Sonos One SL speaker (worth S$329) with S$80 cashback OR up to S$280 cashback.
