Singaporeans’ Grueling Battle For Work-Life Balance | Grindsets

[@lecherhao86]

My director came to me and sat me down for an hour plus meeting. He told me that he wants me on his team but that i have to be promoted so that i can then work directly under him. He asked me why wasn't I promoted since I'm only 35 and that i got the skill and attribute to climb the ladder. I thanked him for acknowledging my strength and abilities. Told him that the focus in my current phase of life is on family and achieving work life balance. I spend quite alot of my time after work with my primary one child and another 1 year old- teaching them, bringing them out, doing things together with them and even exercising with them. It was my conscious decision not to be promoted. And that sums up this video. All of us have the choice to decide how hardworking we want to be to earn more money. But something has to go. There's always an opportunity cost.

[@shurakishi4707]

This is one of the key reasons why singlehood is rising. Marriages and having kids is on the decline in Singapore. The sacrifice and amount of time, work and effort one needs to put in their career is increasing more and more. These two entrepreneurs are fortunate that they are able to take decisions in their hands and change the way their businesses run to suit themselves. There are many out there who aren’t bosses or entrepreneurs and just workers needing to work long hours with little option other than to change jobs or quit jobs to achieve that same work life balance

[@nicholasgoh3526]

Yep. I have met people who said that those couples who do not want to have kids are selfish but imho these are actually people who are the most responsible because they think they might not have the money and time for the kids. Some will tell you that you are thinking too much but then again we really need to think about our responsibilities as we are bringing a life to earth. I tell people that we love kids that’s what we decided not to have any but very few people understand what we mean. On the career front, Singapore workers are considered expensive so we are expected to deliver more with less. We are brought up in a compare and compete environment but have become ‘victims’ of our own success. Again some people will say that Sinkies complain too much and we should be grateful. However, you ask the expats and they will tell you the same so this is not a Sinkie issue but a very real issue here. That’s why we rank among the top countries in attracting talents but rank very poorly in retaining them.

[@mynameisdrpat]

I don't know why so many people chase that position for that extra money but they are not happy. You won't matter in 100 years time. Actually all this does not matter.

[@shurakishi4707]

They chased wealth because it is in the hope it brings a better livelihood for the family.

[@Chew81]

You don't need wealth to have a better livelihood. You used the word 'better'. Anything that is an improvement is 'better', is it not? Let's say your parents could not afford even holidays to a neighbouring country when they were younger. And now they can because you are in a better place than them and can now bring them to a nearby country for a short holiday. That's a better livelihood, is it not? You don't have to chase wealth for that. Your answer is dishonest. Most people chase wealth because of ego, peer pressure, and personal insecurities. Some even greed and that perpetual need to want more and more.

[@shurakishi4707]

@@Chew81 I am not here to debate semantics with you. I am very clear what i meant. How much wealth you want to chase is up to you. In case you do not know, travel to a neighbouring country like malaysia and crossing just to johor is actually a luxury to many families here in sg. If i am able to bring my parents for a holiday - neighbouring or not, is because i have spare money and naturally, wealth to do so. Please understand ground issues and people's livelihoods before you make strawman arguments. I am a health professional. Just in case you don't know, we meet people of all walks of lifes. Most important, we come across the less fortunate more frequently than most occupations.

[@user-by7ql5zs8u]

You are born with nothing and you can't bring anything with you

[@Davos-st8ok]

Dumb AF argument, everything you have does not matter in a hundred years. It's also the mentality of a mediocre loser.

[@ShahulHameed-ur1gg]

To me, this portrayal does not accurately represent all Singaporeans; it primarily reflects the majority Chinese community. A more balanced approach would involve including individuals from other cultures to see if they share similar aspirations and challenges. For instance, the Malay population tends to be highly family-oriented and often has a different perspective on what constitutes a successful life. Not all Malays pursue financial success as their primary goal. Culturally, they prioritise having children and may sacrifice career advancement to focus on family. Additionally, many Malays take pride in leading a humble life, valuing family and community over material wealth. It's also important to recognise that minorities often face significant barriers to opportunities. Many minority groups, including the Malay community, struggle to gain a fair foothold in various sectors, which affects their socio-economic mobility. This systemic issue contributes to the disparities seen between different cultural groups in Singapore. A more balanced representation would involve exploring these differences across various cultural families, highlighting their unique challenges and aspirations. This approach would provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the diverse experiences within Singapore, moving beyond superficial portrayals and acknowledging the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the nation.

[@by.braveliz]

This feels so real 😭❤

[@vccheung]

Amazing video on illustrating the struggles between family and work. It is common for asians to feel the obligation to take care of family, parents, and kids, while making sure enough money is brought into the family for the next biggest thing (next family trip, car, or other experiences). While trying to juggle the different buckets that mean the most to us, we often forget to take care of ourselves. It is important to take a step back and just do something "selfish" sometimes. It really helps you feel who you are, and what you want.

[@doovalacky]

The "burn out" phenomenon isn't exclusive to Singapore. It's the world now. There's no "cookie-cutter" solution. The path in everyone's life is a chain of choices...which are trade-offs, made from parsing imperfect and changing information from environments, situations and emotions, parts of complex systems which have aspects of randomness, unpredictability ("LUCK"!) as well as parts that are predictable.

[@thecowegg]

5c is the main cause of all these in balance.

[@thaoofficial1570]

It’s also my struggle. Not just in Singapore but worldwide problems..

[@BalbindarDhaliwal]

The poor and almost-poor have it worse. The realisation that about 30% are in the same situation, the inequality gap is increasing because of policies despite working hard and smart, and that there is no living welfare for citizens, only welfare for the rich.

[@Mari_Selalu_Berbuat_Kebaikan]

Let's always do alot of good

[@littleowlfamily]

This is true in many Singaporean.......

[@leshialim2863]

What's the point of having a lot of money but no one is there for you and you are not there for your loved ones?

[@limkimyaw8980]

When I was younger, I was slogging out 12 to sometimes even 16 hours a day. I have never complained about how tough life was and meet each day of my life with a smile. I am enjoying the fruits of my labor now. Looking at the new generation now, can't help but feel sorry for them. From a generation of hardworking folks we have degraded into a bunch of whinners. What went wrong with Singapore education and values. I cannot help but wonder.

[@fion3943]

The economic situation now is not the same as that in your time. It's way worse now, even 2 income-earners can barely survive in with rising costs worldwide, not to mention competition.