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Best Agatha Christie Books to Inspire the Detectiv...

Although the crime rate in Singapore is really low, you may be itching to read about crime and detective fiction just to feed that imaginary detective in you. And, there are no better works to read than those of the queen of mystery herself, Agatha Christie.

For the Newbie: Who is Agatha Christie?
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie is an English writer famously known for her detective fiction novels, short stories and the world’s longest running play entitled “The Mouse Trap”. Next only to the Bible and Shakespeare, she is the bestselling novelist of all time having sold 2 billion copies of her works.

She wrote from the 1920s to the 1970s with works mainly on crime fiction. Most of her novels and short stories revolve around two fictional detectives, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple. Although Christie is not known for having diverse characters in every story, she is acknowledged for writing masterful plots and dialogues.

Some of her Best Books:

And Then There Were None
Ten people are invited to an island and are killed off one by one. The story and dialogue are masterfully written to induce panic, leaving you to feel just as confused as the characters in the story! Neither Poirot nor Miss Marple is in the story, but it is still one of Christie’s best-known works.

Murder on the Orient Express
Poirot is traveling back to London by train and, “by fate” gets involved in a murder mystery. The Orient Express, the luxury train Poirot has boarded, is stuck on the track due to heavy snow. Sure enough, a man has been murdered in the first-class car. This novel has a good twist in the end, although there may be some who might get it before it is explained.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
This is another novel that features Poirot and his skill in finding the right clues. You, as the reader, will speculate many characters as suspects, but the ending will leave you amazed and awe-struck. That is why you should read this one spoiler-free. This book has also been ranked by the British Crime Writer’s Association as one of the best.

A Murder is Announced
In most Miss Marple novels, she remains a secondary character, here she is the focus. This has quite the distinct set-up from most of Christie’s novels because there are so many people involved. Just like Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, Miss Marple becomes involved in this story by a stroke of luck.

Sleeping Murder
You could say that Sleeping Murder is fitting as Miss Marple’s last case. A chilling story of how she investigates, along with a couple, a murder that happens many years ago. What’s really interesting is that this revolves around a cold case, basically showing Miss Marple at her best.

Ways to Overcome Perfectionism

Perfectionism or having a fear of failure can have negative effects on your life without you even noticing it. Some would like to think that perfectionism is a key part of their success and it is true to some extent. Even so, it also comes with a cost. You may sacrifice your happiness, relationships, self-confidence, and a lot more. Here, then, are some ways for you to overcome perfectionism before it takes over your life.

Know the difference between good and bad perfectionism
First and foremost, you’ll have to recognize the difference between healthy perfectionism and toxic perfectionism. Perfectionism has been seen in quite a bad light and for many reasons, but there’s actually still a good side to it. The bad side of perfectionism revolves around setting your standards too high that even you find it almost impossible to achieve. Healthy perfectionism, on the other hand, is to insist on giving it your all without having impossibly high standards.

Remember that everybody makes mistakes
One illusion that perfectionism pushes on a person is that people really should not make mistakes. “He never does this the right way so I won’t give him this task.” Perfectionism forces you to think that you ought to do everything yourself because you can’t rely on anybody making mistakes. But that’s the thing really, you yourself make a lot of mistakes and sometimes don’t recognize it. Once you remember this, you’ll be a step closer to freeing yourself from perfectionism.

Forgive yourself
Forgiveness is just about the best thing you can do, not just for others but definitely for yourself also. Negative self-talk comes often, especially when things don’t go according to your plans. This can affect your self-esteem and increase your stress and anxiety. When you learn to forgive yourself, it’s already a big step towards eliminating perfectionism in your life.

Get out there
Go cycling around Singapore or take a hike at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Having a date with nature or getting some exercise can help you relax and can even give you a boost in creativity. Both activities, even if you don’t immediately notice, can actually improve your energy and overall well-being. Plus, surrounding yourself with nature for a change will surely take your mind off worries and help you destress even just for a while.

Try something new
There are always new things to try all around Singapore. Go to an escape room, try martial arts, explore a museum, and so much more. Trying something new makes you more confident in facing the fear of making mistakes. This also helps you realize that there are many things you still don’t know. Learning something new helps you see that you’re far from perfect. You will, therefore have an easier time accepting mistakes in the future.

Pros (and Cons) of Online Dating

OkCupid, Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagel, and a whole lot of dating apps and sites are already being used in Singapore. The question is simple, are they really reliable?

1. Quick and convenient
One of the best things about online dating is that it is quick and easy. You can easily disregard people you don’t match with without, for example, having to spend any time or money on a coffee date. You can save some time and maybe save yourself from the embarrassing moment of getting turned down on the first date.

Con: No second chances
The other person might already be doing a hobby that you want to try out, or you just observe certain things about him/her that is mysteriously appealing in person. You can only really see this if you see each other face-to-face.

2. Plenty of choices
‘There’s plenty of fish in the sea’ it is! Dating online means you get exposed to a diverse set of people who may share the same interests with you. You’ll never run out of choices because dating online means you’re not only limited to the people of your place, but also in other places, cities, even other countries.

Con: A little too many choices
It can be a hassle to sift through people who don’t interest you only to find “the one/s” an hour later. Also, there are others who incidentally use multiple dating sites and apps at once for whatever reason – this definitely adds to the stress.

3. It is fun
Somehow, you could say that online dating is meant to be a fun approach to romance. You get to learn about a person’s culture, language, likes and dislikes, all by simply talking to them online. When it comes to dating apps, for some reason, people have a lot of fun swiping left or right (left: not interested & right: interested, although this can change depending on the app).

Con: You might get disappointed
It may be fun before you meet each other in person, but once that happens, prepare for the worst (well not always if you’re lucky). You might get disappointed because the other person isn’t the same as he/she is online. For instance, a guy or girl might be talkative and funny on chat, but plainly the opposite in person.

4. Compatibility
Some dating sites and apps start with a personality test when you sign up. You put down your hobbies, likes and dislikes, and all that information. This is then what the site uses to match you with others whom you might be interested in. Plus, some people also put descriptions on their profile, which can tell more about themselves making it easier for others to see if they can be suitable partners.

Con: People lie
It’s very easy to fool others on the internet. There are people who use fake pictures, lie about their physical appearance, maybe even pull scams. This is why it’s not entirely reliable and safe when meeting someone online.

Owning Less: Advantages of Being Minimalistic

Minimalism is slowly gaining track partly through the Facebook group, Minimalism in Singapore. But what is it exactly?

Being minimalistic allows you to get rid of what things you don’t need and allow you to focus on the more important ones. But, some people may think it stops there – decluttering and getting rid of unessential things. No! There’s more to it than that, more opportunities, and definitely more benefits.

You spend less
It’s very simple: you buy less stuff, you save more money! When you are able to distinguish between your wants and needs, you will spend considerably less money. It’s unnecessary to buy the new model of a smartphone if the one you have is still working properly. Consequently, having that extra money allows for financial freedom. You can use it for learning or gaining new experiences (e.g. traveling) rather than using the money on temporary things.

Lower stress
Decluttering can have a very therapeutic effect. When you have a desk full of documents and files, pens and pencils lying around, and pieces of used papers everywhere around you, this will only add to more stress. Decluttering and organizing your work desk, room, or office will have mirrored effects on your mind. Being in a clean, organized environment invites a calm and peaceful mind that will definitely help reduce stress.

You get to focus on the important things
Again, recognizing your needs from your wants – the essentials vs. mere fancies, is an attribute that comes with minimalism. It guides you to see the value of the things you already have instead of the satisfaction from having more (yet unnecessary) things. This also teaches you to recognize the things that you really need in your life, and avoid the unimportant stuff that may hold you down.

Makes cleaning a lot easier
Because you have less things, it’s also easier to go around and clean. You’ll have an easier time organizing your things and cleaning because, well, you don’t have unnecessary stuff. Plus, having fewer things in your house or office means you spend less time cleaning and more time relaxing or accomplishing the more important things you should be doing for the day.

Also helps you find things easier
In addition to making cleaning easier, you’ll also be able to find stuff faster. You won’t have to dive in heaps of papers to find an important document you’re looking for if you keep things small, clean, and organized. Having less means it is easier to keep things arranged. As a result, you’ll know where things are and save time looking for them.

Helps you improve your health
In summary, being minimalistic is a step towards being better and healthier versions of ourselves. For one, when we have less things to clean or have less to worry about, we’ll have opportunities to exercise, learn new things, and even relax. In general, we have more time to take care of our mental, physical, and emotional health.

Everything You Need to Know About Aromatherapy and...

Aromatherapy is becoming more widely used in households for anxiety, insomnia, and for tiredness and exhaustion in general. They are also becoming more popular in a lot of clinics and nursing homes as a way to take stress away from patients.

But what exactly is aromatherapy and how can it help you?

What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the process of using natural, or “essential”, oils that are extracted from different kinds of plant material, such as stems, roots, leaves, and even flowers and bark. The “use” often means heating the oil in order to release the smell, but there are also other ways that this can be done.

Different plants have different medicinal properties that can heal certain conditions and help to relax people who are anxious and stressed, which makes aromatherapy a popular practice in various forms of healthcare.

Why You Should Get Started
Aromatherapy is great for treating the following:
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Asthma
• Congestion
• Coughing

It’s also a great way for feeling good in general, especially after a long day, as the scents themselves are oils from plants that are also used in a lot of perfume, skin care, and even hair products, such as shampoo.

There are also a lot of qualities that the scents from essential oils are known for, such as the following:
• Lavender – Soporific
• Sweet orange – Playful
• Frankincense, tangerine – Calming
• Cinnamon leaf – Amorous

Essential oils have also been used in cleaning products because of their antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

How to Use Aromatherapy
While aromatherapy has been around for a long time, newer methods, such as a diffuser, make it more efficient and allow you to get the most out of your oils.

You can also skip the diffuser and just inhale it directly by applying a small amount on your palm and rubbing your hands together, after which you can take a few deep breaths of the oil. Keep in mind that when applying oils directly, keep them away from your eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

On Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used topically aside from aromatherapy, and can have significant effects when applied on certain pressure points in the right amount and in the right dosage.

When it comes to topical applications, carrier oils are often used, such as jojoba, argan, or coconut oil. This is because some essential oils are more potent than others and can cause certain skin irritations and allergies.
Carrier oils dilute the essential oil to make it safe enough that you can apply it to your body, and you can both buy and even make these oils in your own home by chopping up plant material and boiling them for their extracts in a simple, easy to do process.

4 Surprising Things You Need to Know About Your Ai...

When the humid climate in Singapore starts to make you really sweaty, you want to be able to count on your aircon unit at home or at work to make sure that you stay cool and comfortable, and if it’s in your office, keeping cool can keep productivity high.

Every aircon unit needs a little bit of care to keep on running as smoothly as possible. However, there are a few more things you need to know about your air-conditioning units, such as the following:

1. Dirty aircon filters will kill your airflow and efficiency.
Filters don’t just maintain the quality of the cool air you get – they also Aircon filters keep dust, debris, and even tiny mold spores from getting into the unit’s fan, but it can eventually build up over time. When this happens, your A/C unit will have to work harder, which results in potential overworking and reduced overall performance.

Aside from regularly cleaning the filters, you can keep your aircon units cool by installing blinds or awnings to shield them from direct sunlight (which can also decrease their overall performance).

2. You can connect your aircon to a thermostat to keep your room cool.
One of the best parts about having an A/C unit at home is that you can program it to start cooling at any time of the day.

For instance, when you are away, you can program it to start at a certain time, such as when you get out of work. That way, when you get home, you will always be greeted with a cool breeze that serves as a welcome break.

3. Aircon units have a limited life span.
Different types of aircon units have different life spans. While a good HVAC will most likely have a lifespan between fifteen and twenty years, the average AC unit will have a lifespan six to eight, and can last up to ten with good maintenance.

This makes maintaining your aircon units a must if you want to keep them working efficiently well past their shelf life, and especially if you start seeing any signs that could indicate that something is off with your unit, such as smoke and funny noises or smells.

4. Aircon servicing for your units is a must.
Maintaining your aircon unit/s for your home or office is one thing, but regular servicing to make sure they are always in peak condition is another.

You will especially need to call aircon servicing if you experience problems for your unit/s, and because most problems will be electrical, looking for problems such as blown fuses and circuit breakers can save you a lot of problems later on.