Brain fog or brain fatigue typically is considered a symptom rather than a condition itself. It’s basically when you start having more and more memory problems, you’re having difficulty concentrating, and you find it hard to think clearly. This should sound scary to us but knowing the causes of brain fog can help us avoid or reduce its effects.

Stress
One of the more obvious causes of brain fog is stress. We already know that stress affects our health negatively in a lot of ways. It causes hormonal imbalances, increases blood pressure, triggers anxiety and depression, and above all causes mental fatigue. Simply put, when we’re always stressed, our brains will not be able to function as efficiently as it should.

Lack of proper nutrition
Proper nutrition goes beyond our physical appearance, it very much helps with the wellness of our mind as well. When we lack essential vitamins and minerals from healthy food, of course, our brain will be affected. Food high in sugar, for example, can particularly promote brain fog. Glucose or sugar is the main fuel source of the brain and the body. Eating too much sugary food causes our blood sugar levels to drop down or spike uncontrollably. You can just imagine how this affects the brain.

Not having enough sleep
You’ve probably heard it a hundred times but here it is again: Most working Singaporeans do not sleep enough. We tend to disregard it but having enough sleep really has a lot of benefits for our physical, emotional and mental well-being. If you constantly say to yourself that you’ll have to sacrifice sleep to finish your work, that’s going to hurt you in the long-term. Not having enough sleep will reduce your focus, harm your creativity, and limit our productivity as a whole.

Medication
Some prescription drugs have side effects that can build to brain fog as well. Some medications like those for pain relief and high blood pressure are ones that can cause certain reactions in the brain that can eventually encourage brain fog. In this case though, brain fog is a normal side effect of the medicine. Even so, you can ask your doctor about it so he/she can lower the dosage or recommend another drug.

Hormonal changes
Pregnancy, for one, causes drastic changes to a woman’s body. More hormones are produced for the protection and nourishment of the baby. This is why some mothers find it harder to remember certain things while they are pregnant. Another example could be menopause. Naturally, this is because a woman’s reproductive period is nearing its end and typically because of old age. Women may also experience small memory problems in this stage in life.

You may have been walking around Singapore and suddenly see a “laughter yoga” sign. Laughter yoga? Sounds weird, huh? If you know the great benefits of laughing, you wouldn’t think of laughter yoga as weird at all!

1. Laughing improves mood
Simply put, you laugh the most when you are happy or having fun, right? Laughing puts us in a more positive mood because it encourages the production of the “happy hormone”, endorphin, in our bodies. Additionally, laughter is something that is rarely done alone. Laughing with others will promote an atmosphere of positivity wherever you are.

2. It encourages better social interactions
Having a laugh with your friends or even those you barely know can help you get to know each other better. As said earlier, joking around and having fun with others will leave an air of positivity every time you are together. Plus, a person who knows how to make others laugh or smile a lot invites a lot of attention. You feel like they are easy to approach and fun to be with.

3. It’s a great stress reliever
Laughter helps our muscles relax and also allows us to relieve tension around the body. When you have a great time laughing you will forget, even just for a while, whatever things are making you stressed out or anxious. Even then, laughing will have a significant effect as a stress reliever because it eases tension while also reducing stress hormones in the body.

4. Laughing is good for the heart
Laughing actually helps us to exercise our abdomen, lungs, and heart. A belly laugh which is a loud and hearty laugh, for example, prompts us to use our abdominal muscles sometimes without even knowing. This means that the beating of our heart increases. This serves as a great exercise for the heart and can help us keep it strong and healthy.

5. It also helps the immune system
It has also been found that laughter can even strengthen our immune system. T cells, for example, become active immediately when laughing. These are a subtype of white blood cells which generally hunt down and destroy germs and cells that have become cancerous. The increase in white blood cells also helps with the cleaning of excess waste and toxins still left in the body.

6. Ab exercise
Believe it or not, laughing can actually be treated as an ab exercise. If you laugh too hard, usually you’ll notice a certain feeling in your abdominal muscles similar to that of flexing your muscles when you’re lifting weights. This is simply because our abdomen is one of the main muscles involved when we laugh. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should laugh for how many hours straight just to get abs.

Out with the old, in with the new! New technological advancements happen every day, and while some industries flourish, others have fallen prey to these innovations.

But automation is not necessarily synonymous to jobless. In fact, many employees will not lose their jobs since their roles will be redefined to meet the ever-evolving needs of the society. However, there are still some jobs that will likely get extinct 10 to 20 years from now.

1. Cashiers
When the first automated self-checkout machines were tested, they were not immediately popular to customers. But although today’s versions of self-checkout kiosks are still far from perfection, the proliferation of these machines are undeniable. While it may take longer than 10 years for majority of cashiers to disappear, they are still on top of the list.

2. Postal Workers
During the 70s and 80s, many teenagers work as paperboys and girls. This entry level job was a legit stepping stone to the professional world—until the dawn of modern computers, which have slowly rendered it obsolete. Today, people rely on the Web for news, instant messaging and even online banking, that the need for snail mail is declining every day.

3. Travel Agents
More than a decade ago, travel agents and agencies were fundamental needs for frequent travelers. Not only they were able to filter available flights for you, but they can also book your accommodation and provide the necessary travel information of your destination. But with the advent of travel websites, like Google Flights and Kayak, people can personalize better their trips and do the booking by themselves for free.

4. Dispatchers
Our transportation today has become more and more independent with the array of rider apps available today. People planning to travel by land can conveniently plan their trip through their mobile phones and rely on technology to direct them to the fastest route while keeping track of their way in real time. Moreover, online applications, such as Google Maps, present people with a list of transit options available in a certain area.

5. Printers and Publishers
Printing and publishing is becoming an endangered industry nowadays. Technology has brought this industry to the digital realm, and we have seen the significant decrease in newspaper and magazine readership, and the rise of PDF and e-books. Although we will continue to publish periodicals and books, those who have been trained to do the job the old-fashion way or producing these reading materials will likely find themselves out of the job in the near future.

The unfortunate truth is, no industry is 100% safe from the influence of technology. But if we are able to adapt to the trend and technological advancements, the extinction of these jobs won’t have to mean joblessness for us all.

For many people here in Singapore, going on a cruise is one of the best vacations one will ever have in his life. We spend so much time planning for this dream vacation and looking through so many different options—from adventure, luxury, family-style, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asian, the choices are endless.

But before you board your ship, keep in mind: You may have the power to choose your cruise, but you cannot choose who you will be travelling with.

If it’s your first time to go cruising, here are a few tips to keep in mind to steer you clear of annoying habits.

1. Being a Chair Saver
Nothing takes you out of vacation vibe faster than a person hogging chairs and sometimes even tables. These are the annoying cruisers who wake up as early as six in the morning, run to the pool deck and put bags, books or towels on a row of poolside chairs and lounges, then go back to bed. Sometimes, these people won’t even show up until after lunch time.

2. Smoking in the Balcony
Although it was used to be acceptable to smoke on your own private balcony and even inside cabins, those rules have changed nowadays. However, as always, there will still be some who will puff away cigarettes on the balcony next to you, while you are trying to enjoy your morning coffee.

3. Leaving Kids Unattended
Thankfully, though, most parents in cruise are great about this and know that there are kid-friendly and childcare facilities in most cruise ships. But there will always be couples who just let their children loose and run wild. Nothing is more irritating than kids playing in the elevator, pressing every button to every floor while you are trying to get to your dinner on time.

4. Going Non-Stop on Drinks
Cruise lines usually offer pre-paid beverage packages, and many of course will take advantage of this. Nothing will make you the most popular—and unwanted—cruiser than being the one who parties non-stop. Night after night, they become louder and more obnoxious, putting themselves and everyone near them at risk.

5. Hoarding Food
When you’re on a cruise, you have the privilege to eat anytime of the day and enjoy all the food in the buffet—from steaks and lobsters to fries and burgers. So, it’s just rude to see some people to stockpile their plates with food, put it on their table, then go back to piling some more for a second plate. Unless the captain announces that there’s going to be shortage of food, which we have yet to hear in the history of cruising, there is really no need to hoard.

Anyone can enjoy a cruise, but do the rest of the ship a favor and behave appropriately for a more enjoyable and relaxing vacation.

Have you ever tried falling asleep only to find that you still couldn’t after some time? It turns out that your inability to sleep may be caused by your schedule and habits.

No matter how good your sleep schedule is, you can still end up watching your alarm clock for hours on end. When this happens to you frequently enough, this becomes insomnia, and can leave quite an effect on every aspect of your health.

Here are the three biggest reasons why you can’t fall asleep – and what you can do about it:

Screens
It’s easy to blame your computer or mobile device/s as the biggest reason why you can’t fall asleep – but there’s a good reason for it.

It turns out the light emitted from your screens inhibits the melatonin production in the brain (melatonin is the hormone that regulates sleep), and as a result you don’t feel as sleepy. However, the rest of your body would still feel the effects of staying up late.

But the good news is that the answer is simple: turn them off before going to bed just like turning off the lights.

Stress
It’s also just as hard to fall asleep when you know that there’s something – or too many things – on your mind, whether it’s your work, your family, relationships, or even just life in general.

To combat this, it helps if you unplug for a certain amount of time once you get home. Establish a pre-sleep routine that lets you take a few deep breaths and simply slow down, whether it’s reading, yoga, or even simply watching a movie.

Sleeping Pattern Disruption
Sleeping at varying hours can do a number on the quality of your sleep, but how badly can it really affect you?
Think of your body as a well-oiled machine that needs a proper routine and schedule. As long as you follow a set schedule that’s in line with the body’s natural biological clock, you will be able to adapt to it and function normally.

However, your body takes time to get used to a schedule. When you keep varying your sleep schedule, your body will find it difficult to adjust and catch up, which is why you need to set a time frame for sleeping – and stick to it.

Stress is perhaps the biggest factor for losing or being unable to sleep, and when paired with other factors such as an unhealthy diet and a significant dose of caffeine, can really affect your ability to fall asleep quickly.
However, the good news is that you can change this and take back your sleep time with a little effort and commitment – and if you still can’t sleep despite having a regular sleep schedule, seeing a doctor might be the right choice for you.

Constipation is a common problem that’s characterized by having less than three bowel movements a week, and can even include symptoms such as discomfort and abdominal bloating.

If you find that you’re suffering from it, here’s how you can ease its symptoms naturally from the comfort of your own home:

1. Eat more fiber
If you find yourself constipated, you will often be told that you need to increase your fiber intake – and there’s a reason for this.

Fiber (or more specifically, insoluble fiber) acts like a pipe cleaner for your digestive track. It scrubs up food and waste particles along the way and soaks up water, and adds more weight to your stool.

2. Take caffeine
If you’ve ever had to go to the bathroom after drinking one too many cups of coffee, this is because caffeine stimulates your colon.

Other hot drinks are also great as a substitute for coffee, such as herbal tea or hot lemon water (water with a few drops of lemon juice). And since coffee can take also take away water and worsen your constipation, you might even see better results if you just drink more water.

3. Eat more probiotic foods
People who suffer from constipation usually have an imbalance of bacteria in their gut, which probiotics can treat by improving stool consistency, bowel movement frequency, and overall gut movement.

Probiotic-containing foods such as yogurt and kimchi contain strains of friendly bacteria that can help your gut. Alternatively, you can also take probiotic supplements if you’re suffering from chronic constipation.

4. Don’t ignore the urge
That urge is there for a reason.

Holding in the need to do your business may coast you through certain situations where you need to hold it in, but it won’t do anything to help your insides. Do not ignore the urge and go to the bathroom the first chance you get.
You should also never force it to happen, but instead wait for it to happen on its own. By trying to do so, you can give yourself hemorrhoids or fissures, which can make things worse.

Many other natural remedies can give you relief, such as regular exercise (exercise may relieve the symptoms of constipation), avoiding dairy (those who are lactose intolerant may experience constipations when consuming dairy products), and taking laxatives or medications (e.g. bulking agents, stool softeners, or stimulant laxatives).

But because constipation can have a different number of underlying causes, you should see a doctor if this problem persists and symptoms still haven’t subsided after a while.

Foodies unite! If you have been dreaming to go on an ultimate food adventure but not sure where to go, here’s a list of five of the best foodie cities in Asia to begin your journey.

1. Tokyo, Japan
In a country that boasts more Michelin stars than any other, Tokyo is the topmost must-visit place for any foodie in the world. Here, you will be surprised how such tiny restaurants, tucked away from small street offer huge variety of dishes. You should obviously try as much sushi and ramen as you can, and while you’re at it, get some yakitori and okonomiyaki as well.

2. Singapore
This little city in Southeast Asia will surely surprise you with its diverse variety of cuisines, which you can easily find in many of its hawker stalls and centres. Some of the crowd favorites are the char kuay teow, chicken rice and the ever popular chilli crab.

3. Dubai, UAE
Food in this city are always rich and flavorful, and consists of a beautiful mix of local Arabic, Emirati and Lebanese cuisines. Do not leave UAE without trying shakshuka and kebab. Don’t miss out on falafel and luqaimat, too.

4. Seoul, South Korea
A food adventure in Korea is never complete without trying the iconic Korean dish Kimchi, which consists of fermented pickled veggies in chilli paste. This local dish will definitely give an extra kick of spice to any of your meal. While you’re there, don’t skip trying bibimbap and Korean barbecue as well.

5. Bangkok, Thailand
Thai cuisine is rich in aromatics and flavor, usually bursting with sauces and spices. For a helping of authentic Thai cuisine, experience the must-try dishes such as tom yun goong, pad thai and the popular mango sticky rice.

6. Hong Kong
What is a Hong Kong trip without dim sum? Here in Hong Kong, you can have your serving of dim sum almost everywhere and anytime of the day. These dishes are not just pleasing to the palate but also to the eyes, as they are served in beautiful bamboo baskets. Some of the favorites include har kow, siew mai and charsiew bao.

7. New Delhi, India
One of the most amazing Asian meals are not served on a plat,e but on a banana leaf. In New Delhi, thali—an Indian traditional meal of rice, bread, various curries and sweets—is served on nature’s plate. And don’t even start looking for spoon and fork, as this local specialty is expected to be eaten by hand.

So, there you have it, seven Asian cities any foodie should visit. While all these cities feature a wide range of flavors, the common thread here is that the ingredients are always fresh, the preparation is meticulous, and the presentation is thoughtful, which of course deserves a deep and passionate consumption.