GEAR THAT GIVES BACK
What’s better than finding affordable activewear you love? Finding quality, well-priced gear that gives back! Newly launched Singaporean brand Sparks Active does just that with a cute and comfy collection of sports bras, tanks and workout leggings that inspire customers to go beyond self-care, and extend it toward caring for the planet and people. With every purchase, customers can choose one of three charities to support with proceeds from the sale. These include Clean Yangon (an NGO that plants trees in Myanmar to foster sustainable communities), Changing Stories (a non-profit that trains local teachers and offers accelerated learning programmes in remote parts of Nepal) and RUN (a charity that provides yoga and hiking healing sessions for refugees in Hong Kong to restore their mental and physical strength). Find out more (and get shopping!) at sparks-asia.com.
Special offer: EL readers can get a 10 percent discount with the code “SPARKSXEXPATSG10”.
Stress around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the less-friendly aspects of Singapore’s weather – periods of constant rain, for example – can do a number on a person’s mental health, and even lead to seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that relates to changes in seasons.
One of the most effective treatments for this condition is exposure to artificial light, or light therapy, says Dr Craig Sawchuk, a Mayo Clinic psychologist. Light therapy, he says, can affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, easing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. He recommends using a 10,000-lux light box or lamp within the first hour of waking up, for about 20 minutes.
“You want to make sure that the light is sitting about an arm’s length or so in front of you. You don’t have to stare directly at the light, but you want to keep your eyes open. So you could be doing things like having breakfast or a cup of coffee, watching TV or working online,” says Dr Sawchuk, who encourages people to continue using light therapy for the first few months of 2021, or until their mood starts to naturally improve.