In this series, we speak to inspirers about health and wellness and what works for them. Here, we chat with Serene Keng, EDBI’s Director of Value Creation and Communications, who redefines the meaning of self-care.
For Serene, wellness isn’t a routine, it’s a symphony of activities that keep life exciting and fulfilling. From the zen of yoga to the creativity of painting, she moves through life, embracing each day with a fresh perspective and an open heart. Join us as we explore her world of wellness, where every day is a journey and every moment is an opportunity to thrive.
ON DAILY MINDSET…
“I would love to say that I wake up and think of the three things that I would like to do each day. Isn’t that the textbook answer to leading a purposeful day? But honestly, what I really do when I wake up is think of the things that I need to do and my mind starts to get cluttered with tasks and responsibilities.”
“But the mindset I am trying to cultivate is to be more grounded. For me, being grounded is about mindfulness and deliberate intention. It means choosing how to react to situations, ensuring that my responses are thoughtful and aligned with my values.”
ON MORNING ROUTINES…
“When I wake up, I try to get sunlight in my eyes – there’s a scientific theory that exposing your retinas to sunlight is beneficial. Then, I stretch, which is essential after a night’s sleep. I might do some light yoga or indulge in cat hugging if one of my cats joins me. But the cat-hugging doesn’t depend on me, I’m just a recipient.”
“I usually don’t have breakfast. I don’t intentionally practise intermittent fasting, but typically, I have two meals a day and that means that I inevitably fast intermittently. Then I shower and head to work. During my commute, I listen to Andrew Huberman’s podcasts. As a neurologist and neuroscientist, he offers unique insights on health, vitamins, binaural beats, and alternative approaches to health, which I find credible and informative.”
ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE…
“I don’t think that the word is “balance”. That implies dividing your time into fixed percentages, which isn’t realistic in today’s world where many things are beyond our control. Instead, I believe in finding pockets of time for things that matter to me, whether it’s going to the gym, spending time with my pets, or painting.”
“I also try to create moments of relaxation in my day. I like to play the keyboard, even though I’m not very good at it. You don’t have to be a Maksim to play the keyboard, right? It’s about doing whatever makes you happy in the moment.”
Be brave enough to be bad at something new.
ON EXERCISE…
“I go through different phases with exercising. Last year, I was really into boxing. I do Yoga although I may not be the most flexible person—I struggle to touch my toes—but I believe that doing something is better than nothing. I’m doing Reformer Pilates too and I enjoy foam rolling, which feels like a great massage for my back.”
“I tried Hot Mat Pilates the other day and it almost killed me so I might never go back to it. But I believe in doing whatever you can fit in. Just incorporate it into your life so that you don’t feel like it’s such a chore. I think that once wellness becomes a chore to you, once it becomes something that you have to do rather than you want to do it, it is missing the point. It’s not sustainable.”
ON HEALTH TECH
“I’m also interested in avant-garde health tech and have a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at home. Sometimes, I bring my cats in with me. I’ve noticed that using it helps reduce my recovery time after a workout. I sometimes feel sleepy after a session but I’ve noticed that I experienced less muscle ache and shorter rest times.”
“Another tech tool I use for my health is Doctor Anywhere. It’s incredibly useful, especially when you’re feeling unwell and the last thing you want is to be surrounded by other sick individuals in a clinic. Telemedicine has been immensely helpful in such situations. It is singularly the most useful health tech to me.”
ON EMBRACING LEARNING…
“Every day is a learning journey for me, and I enjoy it immensely. I like to keep learning new things so I don’t get bored. Currently, I’m taking a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) course. TCM is fundamentally preventive, aiming to balance and treat chronic issues. For acute problems, immediate medical attention is essential.”
“My interest in TCM stems from childhood, growing up in Singapore, where we often hear about foods being ‘cooling’ or ‘heaty.’ I was curious about the deeper reasons behind these concepts and the underlying philosophy. To me, this journey is about finding harmony in all aspects of life, and I find that incredibly fulfilling. I believe learning makes me a better person, constantly evolving and growing.”
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