By Julailah Wahid

On Saturday, 11 May, I was among 8,000 women who pounded the pavements of Gardens by the Bay East in the Nike She Runs 5K.

Despite narrow pathways, the race turned out to be pretty enjoyable, especially since it was my first time participating in a competitive run.

That being said, there were a few lessons gleaned from this experience, which I feel can be applied at the workplace:

Question:

I've been feeling really drowsy at work, especially around mid-day, and I would like to be able to take a short nap but the office isn't a very conducive place to do so. What can I do to make power napping a viable option during my lunch hour?

Answer:

There has been much debate about the effectiveness of a power nap and how it maximises the benefits of sleep versus time, especially for working professionals. We frequently work too hard, sleep too little and accumulate too much stress, and too often the solution to this is either having a cup of coffee or an energy drink.

Truth be told, power naps (less than half an hour – even as brief as 10 minutes!) have the capability to restore your alertness and promote productivity, and more effectively than any caffeine-infused beverage. Not to mention you’ll be avoiding the side-effects of imbibing too many of these energy boosters.

By: Edmund Wang

The importance of an internship to one’s future career cannot be over-emphasised. If you intend to pursue a tertiary education, internships are arguably the best on-the-job training that you could ask for.

By: Png Han Yong

Most working individuals spend the majority of their waking hours in the workplace, and it’s important to observe proper etiquette with the people you probably interact more with than your loved ones.

By Debra Auerbach

Juggling work and family is a familiar — and constant — struggle that many working mothers face. Now many moms are adding 'sole breadwinner' to their list of obligations.

According to CareerBuilder‘s annual Mother’s Day survey, 34 per cent of working moms report that they’re shouldering the full financial burden of their households, compared to 39 per cent of working dads who currently report that they serve as the sole breadwinner. The national survey polled 411 working moms and 420 working dads with children 18 and under who live with them.

Question:
I am setting up a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) and am wondering if I should have my employees work from home and/or collaborate online. Is it worth it to do so?

Answer:
In a nutshell? It depends on the nature your business, really. If the bulk of the work performed by your employees involves a lot of face-to-face interaction with business partners and clients, then this would probably not be a very feasible idea.

However, if your employees’ work is heavily individualistic by nature (such as creative design or copywriting), allowing them to work from home can be an attractive option.

By Julailah Wahid

As we honour Mothers everywhere this Mother’s Day, I find it appropriate to write an open letter to my mum:

Dear Mum,

First off, let me tell you why you’re the best.