Commentary

In 2022, Lina Chan (left) took a sabbatical from work to care for her daughter, Nicole Chee, now 12, who was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Commentary: I took a sabbatical to care for my dyslexic child. It’s made me hopeful about new norms for flexible work

A few years ago, I was working from home when I overheard my daughter telling her friend: “My mum is at home, but you cannot talk to her. While she’s in her work room, she is not to be disturbed.” It broke my heart.

By Lina Chan

"I am sceptical of any blanket social media bans," writes the author. "But the Australian government’s drastic move is a recognition that it can no longer be passive about the harmful effects of excessive social media use."

Commentary: My digital detox success showed me that banning social media isn’t the answer, but it’s a start

By Ian Yong Hoe Tan

A debate ignited in response to a Singaporean woman’s recent TikTok describing her “culture shock” in discovering that many couples in Sweden are happy to settle down without ever tying the knot.

Hot Take: Mad about marriage? Reactions to S'porean woman's culture shock in Sweden are not about matrimony but sexism

By Melissa Lee Suppiah

Netflix's latest K-pop survival show generated lots of buzz in Singapore, with one of the final members of global girl group Katseye, Megan Skiendel (2nd from right), being half-Singaporean.

Commentary: As a long-time K-pop fan, here's why I found Pop Star Academy: Katseye deeply problematic

By Maelyn Lagman

Overseas experience is attractive to employers, notes the writer, but being away from home has its trade-offs. How can we best weigh the gains and costs?

Commentary: Relocating for work is tough — but the gains are well worth the discomfort and hassle

By Dawn Soo

We now have a recommendation for a national strategy to tackle suicide in Singapore, but the workforce too should play an active part in suicide prevention.

Commentary: I lost my friend to suicide. 4 years on, here's how I'm dealing and raising awareness about suicide prevention

By Michelle Mah

Commentary: As a new mother, I struggled to adjust to parenthood as I came to terms with what I was losing

By Ethel Yap

Commentary: Should you study a new language through human teachers or AI? After a year of using both, here's what I've learnt

By Nicole Chan

Commentary: Learning to recognise my own intergenerational trauma was rough, but it helped me begin healing

By Nicole Lam

Commentary: 3 lessons for Gen Zers at the starting line of their careers, from a Gen Xer

By Crispina Robert

Instead of striving pointlessly to be everyone’s favourite, the writer's goal now is to be her authentic self each day, in both her professional and personal life.

Commentary: Getting over the fear of gossip and judgement — how I let go of my need to be liked by everyone

By Cristelle Lim

While his global fintech company has been fully remote since the start and has given his organisation a competitive advantage, the author says that companies should consider a number of factors before opting for this model as it does not work for all companies, or all employees.

Commentary: Think you would love fully remote work? Here are some things to consider

By Kailash Madan

Hot Take: Let singles be singles — opting out of the hunt for love isn’t a problem that needs to be fixed

By Renald Loh

This National Day, the author found valuable answers to questions on dreams through the history of Singapore’s independence.

Commentary: 6 lessons I learnt about dreams and dreaming from Singapore’s journey to independence

By Edmund Lim

Inspired by TikTok trends, the author recently went on a self-improvement shopping spree, buying things she didn't need in a bid to improve her remote-working life.

Commentary: I bought into a TikTok trend pushing me to make pricey purchases to improve my WFH life. Here's why it didn't 'fix' me

By Amanda Yeap

Despite initial concerns, the author now views his choice to return to school not as a step backwards, but rather a step in a different direction — one with the long-term potential to open many new doors.

Samuel Woo/TODAY

Commentary: Going back to school in my mid-30s worried me, but my age and work skills are more useful than I thought

Despite recent efforts to change perceptions, being an adult learner can still be seen as a disadvantage — but that added life experience may actually provide an edge.

By Ben Chester Cheong

Complications from a recent hysterectomy brought the author into an unexpected period of forced stillness, where she found herself re-evaluating what truly matters in life.

Commentary: I was hospitalised for 24 days due to a medical emergency. It taught me that I can’t keep living life in the fast lane

By Yvonne Kong-Ho

After exploring dozens of neighbourhoods in various walking tours across China and Europe, Tan Li Ming (above) decided to start her own project to share the rich heritage of her own neighbourhood with an Instagram account: @katong.joochiat.

Commentary: I started @katong.joochiat to document my neighbourhood. This is how it has reshaped my ideas of heritage

By Tan Li Ming

With more and more people jumping onto the bleisure travel bandwagon, more efforts should be directed towards enhancing and smoothing the business-leisure experience for all, says the author.

Commentary: How I combine work and pleasure on my overseas trips to make the most of 'bleisure' travel

By Alvona Loh Zi Hui

By constantly immersing ourselves in our own curated audio or visual experiences on our screens, we miss out on the spontaneous and unexpected interactions that enrich our daily lives.

Commentary: I don't wear earbuds in public. Here's why you may want to unplug yours too

By Loh Xian Jun

Commentary: Afraid of falling behind? Getting stuck in life isn’t the enemy of progress but an opportunity for growth

By Jake Tan Jun Kiat

Commentary: On a 4-year-old boy's Everest Base Camp bid, and where to draw the line between risk and reward

By Annabelle Tee

Commentary: Years ago, my wife and I were on the brink of divorce. Here's how we saved our marriage and turned things around

By Felix Sim

In land-scarce Singapore, any property is more likely to be considered as a financial asset rather than a home. But should this be the reigning assumption when young couples clinch their (often long-awaited) BTO flats?

Commentary: To you, my 2nd-floor BTO flat is a bad investment. To me, it could be home forever

By Loraine Lee

“Sad grandma movie” is a meme-y phrase popularised by netizens reference to How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies — but really, the film isn’t about being or having a grandmother.

Commentary: How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies doesn't want to make you cry but to rethink meaning of family

By Melissa Lee Suppiah

What are the pitfalls of connecting with workplace acquaintances on social media? And if we do, how much is “too much” to share?

Commentary: Should you add your colleagues on Instagram? Here's why I think twice before doing so

By Nicole Chan

Young people seeking a rapid rise in pay scale will be disappointed if they become doctors, says the author.

Commentary: For young doctors, the price of breaking bonds could be higher than they think

By Desmond Wai

The author, a father of two young children, has begun to see how career planning can and should be a fundamental aspect of parenting.

Commentary: My kids are still young, but here’s why I’m already laying the groundwork to help them chart their career path

By Joshua Tan

Hot Take: Is there such a thing as ‘too many internships’? To each their own but don’t burn out before real race begins

By Loraine Lee

A photo from April 2023 of the author's food-and-beverage establishments. Both businesses are now shuttered.

Commentary: It's sad when beloved businesses such as Thambi newsstand shut but nostalgia won't pay the bills

By Chua Ee Chien

Being in a community of stay-home dads has been a masterclass for Kelvin Seah Lee Nguon, teaching him the importance of not walking difficult paths alone.

Commentary: Connecting with other stay-home dads taught me to draw strength from community instead of struggling alone

By Kelvin Seah Lee Nguon

For centuries, bedtime stories have served as a universal language of love and connection between parents and children.

Commentary: I used AI to create a bedtime story. It showed me how the tech can forge new ways for parents, kids to bond

By Antoine Blanc

Despite the author's interest in trying pole out, she initially found herself hesitant to do it regularly, due to the negative stigma surrounding the activity.

Commentary: I pole dance for fitness. It has taught me to stand my ground against negative judgements and stigma

By Alvona Loh Zi Hui

Commentary: Cancer is my latest curveball in life, and here’s why I’m not keeping it under wraps anymore

By Ryp Yong

The author, Raymond Lim (second from right), and his family pictured in June 2023, during a tree planting exercise they participated in. He and his wife, Diane, are currently homeschooling both their children.

Commentary: Homeschooling isn’t for every family and comes with challenges, but we would do it again if we had to

By Raymond Lim

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Commentary: I took a sabbatical to care for my dyslexic child. It’s made me hopeful about new norms for flexible work

Commentary: My digital detox success showed me that banning social media isn’t the answer, but it’s a start

Hot Take: Mad about marriage? Reactions to S'porean woman's culture shock in Sweden are not about matrimony but sexism

Commentary: As a long-time K-pop fan, here's why I found Pop Star Academy: Katseye deeply problematic

Commentary: Relocating for work is tough — but the gains are well worth the discomfort and hassle

Commentary: I lost my friend to suicide. 4 years on, here's how I'm dealing and raising awareness about suicide prevention

Commentary: As a new mother, I struggled to adjust to parenthood as I came to terms with what I was losing

Commentary: Should you study a new language through human teachers or AI? After a year of using both, here's what I've learnt

Commentary: Learning to recognise my own intergenerational trauma was rough, but it helped me begin healing

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Commentary: 3 lessons for Gen Zers at the starting line of their careers, from a Gen Xer

Commentary: Getting over the fear of gossip and judgement — how I let go of my need to be liked by everyone

Commentary: Think you would love fully remote work? Here are some things to consider

Hot Take: Let singles be singles — opting out of the hunt for love isn’t a problem that needs to be fixed

Commentary: 6 lessons I learnt about dreams and dreaming from Singapore’s journey to independence

Commentary: I bought into a TikTok trend pushing me to make pricey purchases to improve my WFH life. Here's why it didn't 'fix' me

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Commentary: Going back to school in my mid-30s worried me, but my age and work skills are more useful than I thought

Commentary: I was hospitalised for 24 days due to a medical emergency. It taught me that I can’t keep living life in the fast lane

Commentary: I started @katong.joochiat to document my neighbourhood. This is how it has reshaped my ideas of heritage

Commentary: How I combine work and pleasure on my overseas trips to make the most of 'bleisure' travel

Commentary: I don't wear earbuds in public. Here's why you may want to unplug yours too

Commentary: Afraid of falling behind? Getting stuck in life isn’t the enemy of progress but an opportunity for growth

Commentary: On a 4-year-old boy's Everest Base Camp bid, and where to draw the line between risk and reward

Commentary: Years ago, my wife and I were on the brink of divorce. Here's how we saved our marriage and turned things around

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Commentary: To you, my 2nd-floor BTO flat is a bad investment. To me, it could be home forever

Commentary: How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies doesn't want to make you cry but to rethink meaning of family

Commentary: Should you add your colleagues on Instagram? Here's why I think twice before doing so

Commentary: For young doctors, the price of breaking bonds could be higher than they think

Commentary: My kids are still young, but here’s why I’m already laying the groundwork to help them chart their career path

Hot Take: Is there such a thing as ‘too many internships’? To each their own but don’t burn out before real race begins

Commentary: It's sad when beloved businesses such as Thambi newsstand shut but nostalgia won't pay the bills

Commentary: Connecting with other stay-home dads taught me to draw strength from community instead of struggling alone

Commentary: I used AI to create a bedtime story. It showed me how the tech can forge new ways for parents, kids to bond

Commentary: I pole dance for fitness. It has taught me to stand my ground against negative judgements and stigma

Commentary: Cancer is my latest curveball in life, and here’s why I’m not keeping it under wraps anymore

Commentary: Homeschooling isn’t for every family and comes with challenges, but we would do it again if we had to

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