I thought I was fine.
I worked hard, ate “okay,” slept eight hours, and never missed a deadline. But at 36, my body sent me a bill I couldn’t ignore.
During a routine check-up in Singapore, my doctor didn’t just frown, he scheduled many follow-ups throughout the year. My blood pressure was above average. I had moderate sleep apnea and my fatigue wasn’t “just adulting.” It was my body screaming for help.
I have been waking up in the middle of the night, choking my breath, dry mouth and mild sore throat. I’d drag through the day on kopi and willpower, telling myself, “This is what being responsible looks like.” Turns out, it was what slow self-neglect looks like.
The Singapore Trap: “I’ll Rest When I’m Rich”
We live in a city that rewards hustle. Promotions, property upgrades, perfect Instagram feeds. But no one talks about the silent cost: your health quietly eroding in the background.
You tell yourself:
“I’ll start eating clean next month.”
“I’ll exercise when things calm down.”
“I’m not sick, so I’m fine.”
But here’s the truth: health doesn’t decline with a siren, it fades with a whisper.
By the time symptoms show, damage is often done. In Singapore, 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure—and half don’t even know it (Ministry of Health, 2024).
What Actually Works (No Gym Required)
I didn’t overhaul my life overnight. I made three small, sustainable shifts and they changed everything:
- I stopped ignoring my sleep
Sleep apnea isn’t “just snoring.” It starves your brain of oxygen. After using the breathing machine, I woke up refreshed for the first time in a decade. - I moved with my life, not against it
No 6 a.m. gym sessions. Instead, I alight one MRT station or Bus stop earlier. I take the stairs. Ten years ago, walking from Alexandra to Bukit Batok three times a week helped me lose 10kg without serious dieting. Now, I’m rebuilding that habit, one step at a time. - I treat check-ups like financial audits
Your health is your net worth. Would you skip reviewing your bank statement for five years? Then why skip your annual screening? Early detection of hypertension or pre-diabetes can add decades to your life.
I also added a few science-backed supplements, not as magic pills, but as support. One gave me just enough energy to walk after work instead of collapsing on the couch. That tiny boost created a ripple effect: better sleep, better mood, better choices.
Your Future Self Is Watching
You don’t need a crisis to start caring.
You just need to care before the crisis comes.
Schedule that check-up.
Ask your doctor about sleep quality, not just cholesterol.
Walk 10 minutes today even if it’s just around your block.
Because success means nothing if you’re too tired to enjoy it.
Wealth means nothing if you’re too unwell to use it.
Your health isn’t an expense. It’s your only real asset.
And the best time to protect it?
Not tomorrow.
Today.