19 self-care tips to find happiness in Singapore

Don't just namastay in bed – pull out the yoga mat for a good stretch. Whether you're vinyasa virgin or a kundalini king, there are plenty of yoga studios in Singapore that cater to various styles and levels sans the fast-paced grind of HIIT classes. With their basic foundational moves, challenging inversions and choreographed yoga flows, the highly-skilled trainers at these boutique yoga studios can help you find your zen in this busy, busy world. Alternatively, you can do so at the comfort of your own sanctuary with these virtual classes.

You can meditate and detox all you want, but there’s nothing more important than having a good night’s sleep. Singapore is one of the most sleep-deprived countries in the world, but there’s no longer a need to spend endless nights spent tossing and turning, drenched in your own sweat. 

When it comes to sleep wellness, local bedding brand Luxury Mattress Gallery is at the top of the game with quality mattresses – they bring the best American and Australian sleep products like Van Vorst and SleepMatics for you to have the best sleep experience. The brand is also linked to many local chiropractors and sleep disorder practitioners, so you can be sure that they have your interests at heart. After all, the founder himself often hosts educational talks on sleep wellness to companies around the world. 

Unlike many other major mattress manufacturers, Luxury Mattress Gallery also prides themselves on providing mattresses and sleep products that have no trace of methylene chloride. This toxic but odourless chemical is often added to the making of mattresses, and is especially harmful for pregnant women and infants. Whether you’re furnishing a new home or you simply long for a good night’s sleep, speak to one of the technically trained folks over at Luxury Mattress Gallery – find the mattress best suited to you here.

To arrange for an appointment, you can reach out to one of their bedding specialists: Daphne (8661 8738) or Eugene (9459 6021).

There’s just something about candles, and even essential oils, that soothe the nerves. Not only do they make your rooms smell good – and look good – but they also lift your spirit, mind and soul. Research has shown that aromatherapy helps relieve stress, uplift moods and improve sleep – and it's not hard to start incorporating it into your daily routine. While you do so, why not unwind with a mini home spa sesh complete with some relaxing music or a good book by a local author?

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a boring and bland affair. For those who dread vegetables and healthy food, you'll be pleased to know that there’s more to it than just chicken breast and a mountain of mesclun. Food such as salmon, dark chocolate, bananas, fermented food like kimchi, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut, and even coffee are known to raise your spirits – especially if you’re in a bad mood – and also improve overall brain health. If you’re thinking of getting a takeaway, order up from the city’s best healthy restaurants that will help meet your #eatclean goals – without boring you.

While exercising and eating healthy can make us feel on top of the world, some of us need a little extra incentive. Add a haircut, manicure and pedicure, massage, or fancy meal out into your schedule to reward yourself for all the positive switches you’ve made that week. Even a little retail therapy wouldn’t hurt.

With many social media accounts, you’d probably know this by now – as much as there are positive effects like learning a new trend or a new workout through social media, there are also negative effects that could disrupt your mood. While it’s good to stay connected, there are benefits of disconnecting from time to time. Taking a break from social media, even for brief periods, can help lessen your anxieties.

Change your sheets, rearrange the room, declutter your desk, get a sunset lamp and bring in some indoor plants into the home. Make your safe space at home truly your own. If you need ideas, we've got plenty of suggestions on where to get some lush ferns, sustainable sheets, furniture and more. Have fun with your new project. 

One of the most relaxing ways to unwind after a long day is to take a soak in a tub. But if you, like many Singaporeans, don’t have the luxury of a bathtub, the shower will have to do. Make shower time an indulgent one and pamper yourself with some luxe bath soap from Aesop, Le Labo, Lush or Oasis. Everything always feels better when you're clean and feeling fresh. 

It’s never too late to pick up the piano, violin, flute or even the harp. Start easy with a ukulele before you rock up the ranks to becoming a guitar god. There are many places in Singapore that provide classes as well as instruments. Feeling confident? Book a studio for a jamming session with a friend as a duo.

When it comes to museums in Singapore, there's more than meets the eye. With a broad spectrum of genres, spanning from state-of-the-art science, vintage memorabilia, cultural artefacts and historic treasures with interesting backstories, our museums feed curious minds. Try the National Museum of Singapore, Art Civilisations Museum, and the ArtScience Museum, or go for an experience that's much more clandestine at a secret museum.

Sometimes the best way to release any pent-up anger or repressed rage is to punch it out, literally. There are plenty MMA gyms and boxing studios (some remain open in the new "Phase 2) that pack in strike sequences, boxing moves as well as strength circuits so you’ll be fighting fit. Alternatively, you can suit up at The Fragment Room where you'll get to smash every available piece – plates, glasses, and electronic appliances – to smithereens. The session is also soundtracked to a killer playlist to amp up the experience. Instant gratification is guaranteed.

Reconnecting with nature doesn’t always mean going on a tough, sweaty hike. Urban farming community Edible Garden City champions the sustainable living movement and encourages everyone else to do so. Besides converting unused places and rooftops to urban gardens growing herbs and vegetables, it also offers classes and weekend workshops on how to grow your own micro garden at home – including how to cultivate your first mushroom!

Singapore's beautiful, but even better when you explore it on a two-wheeler. Especially with the stunning cycling trails around our island. Cycling pumps blood around your body at a greater rate, allowing for the rapid spread of endorphins and other substances like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, which are all good for your mental health. It's also been said to help you sleep better, improve your memory and creative thinking. Shopping for a bike? Check out these bicycle shops in Singapore. 

A dying art, Batik refers to the traditional wax technique. which originates from Java, for decorating cloth. Get into the nitty-gritty of the process at Kamal Arts Batik, with workshops (from $150). Attendees are introduced to the traditional methods of the craft and are guided on the proper use of tools and processes like waxing with the ‘tjanting’ and dyeing. Progress through the weekly sessions at your own pace and your masterpiece slowly takes shape.

At Palm Avenue Float Club, you float in the private tank filled with a warm temperature-adjusted saline solution (of a salt density that’s said to mimic that of the Dead Sea), which allows one to literally and figuratively float their cares away in hour-long stints. With only a multi-coloured light for illumination, the deliberately featureless tank imparts a feeling of weightlessness, alleviating bodily weariness, and encourages a mind on overdrive to disconnect and find its peace, or get reacquainted with its inner creative voice seeking an audience with one’s consciousness. You’re meant to get an enhanced awareness of your surroundings, plus a new spring in your step from the method’s benefits. Prices for a float start from $89 for a one-hour session.