Wow, Albert, that’s incredible! How were you able to manage that? I’d love to hear more about your experience and what kept you going through such a demanding schedule! Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us. And I wish you nothing but the very best.
@@explorewithkojo Thank you for your message. I was a supervisor in a construction firm in 1962. In those days jobs was scarce and companies can do what they like. They usually employ only one supervisor and a large number of workers for a project. The supervisor cannot take off as there was no one to take over. Luckily I was young and fit and I was never sick.Shecdule was tight and there was a time limit to complete a project. Ghinese new year was a important holiday for workers as 90 percent of workers were Chinese and they want to take off for at least two days some even longer. I had about a week respite as work during that time was more leisurely. The engineers and higher ranking staff had more off days . People say you either work as a top staff or a ordinary worker. Your life would be easier.
@@albertang4766 Thanks again for sharing your story, Albert! It’s fascinating to hear about your experiences and the challenges you faced. Your dedication and resilience are inspiring. Times may have been tough, but your insights remind us of how much has changed and how valuable those experiences are in shaping the world we live in today. 🙏
Singapore does NOT have strong representation opposition in the parliament hence the government leaders (which has ruled since 1959) can bulldoze any good/bad policy to its people which can make people burned out and cannot afford their desired lifestyle, pay for high costs of medical treatment or million dollars pigeon hole flat or even afford to retire and work cleaner jobs at old age.
Gee.... as someone from SIngapore, I am not sure that's how we view our lifestyle. The way I see us, we work as hard as we can when we are supposed to work, but we head out for holidays or recreation time when we are done with our work. Some people see this as a high pressure, high-stressed environment, but others just see this as our commitment to doing our best. I guess as an American, she may not be used to how we view these things, but I can respect her viewpoints.
Fully agreed with you. I hardly see this as high stress, maybe is stressful at times. This is likely due to the size of our country with our people as the only natural resources. Our founding father, the great man - Mr Lee Kuan Yew, has taught us we cannot afford to be laid back, quote from one of his very early speeches "This country belongs to all of us. We made this country from nothing, from mud-flats. It is man, human skill, human afford which made this possible. You came, you worked - for yourselves". I end this with no pain, no gain. We work hard. We also play hard to enjoy. It is part of most Singaporean's DNA.
According to her, she’s actually only ever lived in the West and Middle East, so if SG is the first Asian country she has visited, no wonder she feels this way. SG didn’t get to where we are today by chilling in hammocks all day long. 😂
Singapore does NOT have strong representation opposition in the parliament hence the government leaders (which has ruled since 1959) can bulldoze any good/bad policy to its people which can make people burned out and cannot afford their desired lifestyle, pay for high costs of medical treatment or million dollars pigeon hole flat or even afford to retire and work cleaner jobs at old age.
As a Singaporean, I think those stresses I accumulated make me a resilience and strong person and achieve things that I thought were impossible at young. Now 42, I have accumulated enough to go explore the world with my family :)
It's true Singapore seems more stress than many western countries. But then again, its also not anymore worst than China, HK, Japan, S Korea etc. Stress is relative. If u r part of the environment, you will not feel as much as those who came from slow country. The other thing is Singapore do indeed needs to keep improving. What else do Singapore have? Nothing, except people, work ethics and strive for excellence. We don't have cheap farm land to retire to or oil to provide you with freebies in life. So, its not just about being stressed and working so hard, it's always be there and ready to ensure your survival and future generations' survival.
Nahhh, I am a Singaporean and it’s not as bad as you think. Countries like Japan, China and South Korea are worse in this regard. In Singapore, we still enjoy our annual leave without any guilt or gaslighting from our bosses. We’re encouraged to use up our annual leave before the next work year and our loyalty to the company isn’t questioned or manipulated like it often is in Japan, South Korea or China, where gaslighting and other tactics are more common when they apply their leaves. The Singapore government even supports work-life balance, promoting initiatives to ensure employees can maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. In Singapore, we still know how to balance work and life, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about...
Stress level is manageable in Singapore, just live within your means. The issue in sg is inflation for example HDB resale costs. There is not much homelessness in sg because we have good Govt Ministries that look into their social needs. What is impressive is Singapore’s intolerance to views that disrupt our peace along religious or racial fault lines, our intolerance to drugs, corruption and crimes. Our car ownership 10 years COE system is one of the costliest to the citizens but it keeps our road uncongested most of the time, a good model for other govt to emulate to collect tax, improve infrastructure and reduce road congestion.
I'm a Singaporean, yes stress is a natural thing in Singapore. It's unavoidable, since we're a small nation with no resources and only people driving it forward. It's also how you manage those stress is also important. If you learn to balance it well with your life and have small vacations throughout the year, or 1 weekend of just doing nothing. The stress becomes easily manageable.
working 12 hours per day. Where does she get that from? Anyway, I travel extensively too. Stress to perform and raised a family is always high in top cities, but at least in Singapore. I do not need to pay 45 or 50% income tax. As for education, I think she also saying the outdated or stereotype imagine of Singapore. Maybe can do abit more research and talk to local on the different choices available. And the efficiency of the workforce and government on a excellent transport and infrastructure system is. also a form of stress.. I dun quite get it.... in fact, I feel quite proud of that. haha
Hi there, this is Kojo replying on behalf of Julia (the American in the video). I completely understand your point, and I’d like to clarify that she isn’t technically wrong about the idea of working 12-hour days. The video was created after doing thorough research and speaking to many locals in Singapore. While the average workday is roughly 8 hours, it’s true that a lot of people take on extra jobs to make ends meet due to the high cost of living. For example, I recently spoke to a guy in the banking sector who supplements his income by doing Grab deliveries. He even shared how he hopes to retire in Malaysia because of the more affordable cost of living there. According to the Singapore Business Review, as of 2022, 46% of working Singaporeans struggle to cover their current living expenses, and nearly 60% of those have started looking for a second job. The reality is that more and more Singaporeans are working two jobs to sustain a comfortable life. That said, I truly understand that achieving remarkable things in life requires paying a price-no pain, no gain. I deeply admire and am inspired by the level of hard work Singaporeans put into their hustle to stay at the top. It’s something the rest of the world can definitely learn from. Thanks again for your comment!
@explorewithkojo you seem to be very interested in Singapore.Just my 2cent, You might do more research on how serious Singaporean, or esp Mr LKY took upon so call polling, random street interview or research done by western media. On the other hand, For a proper research that shape the policy. You can also look into how HDB conduct its research. The amount of resources, and the quality of the team. I hope you can first understand the importance of fact check and why Singaporean are so pragmatic.., then you might better understand why or how things work here. haha
As Singaporean i have only 1 friend who needs to take on a second job , that because he’s married for the third time. i believe there are others who might need a second job because of gambling addiction or debts. Normally we don’t need a second job , you sure she spoke to locals ? and ask the reason for the second job ?
Singapore does NOT have strong representation opposition in the parliament hence the government leaders (which has ruled since 1959) can bulldoze any good/bad policy to its people which can make people burned out and cannot afford their desired lifestyle, pay for high costs of medical treatment or million dollars pigeon hole flat or even afford to retire and work cleaner jobs at old age.
You have a good point. 😂 We are brought up with the thought that no one owes Spore, and Sporeans, a living. You work for what you want to enjoy, how much money you want. There are people who can retire early because they have a good education and know how to manage their time, their life.
When we were a new nation with nothing, the culture established by our government was that if we work hard, we can have a future (not just ourselves but for our children). This is deeply entrenched in us. This hope for a better life is what drives us. For developed countries, it is human nature to want to "enjoy" life with the prosperity. In Singapore too, it is now common for many to lament on the stress and the desire for a more "easy way". But on a macro level, if we slack, we will be wiped out. On a micro level, seeing how others are "succeeding" adds to the "stress" of not wanting to be left behind. But if one stops comparing, it is possible to find the sweet spot of life calibration where we continue to create value for the country (and ourselves) but also enjoy life. That is the ideal that we as a nation need to constantly calibrate towards. 🙏🏼
Singapore is not a walk in the park for sure. But compared to East Asian countries like China, Japan and S Korea where society and corp work culture can be more toxic and punishing (work hours are also long), Singapore is still tolerable. Even people in USA has to work their butt off because they are not paid for taking sick leave. In Europe, people has a different mentality and economy is in the doldrums. The economic centre of gravity is not there. In Dubai, what she prob didn't mention is Dubai gov are so oil-rich they allocate free housing and galore of social benefits to their citizens. But as countries are moving to EV, it'd be interesting to see how that pans out in the future. But you see, whether you want a stressful life or not, it's up to you. What you want in life, basic? luxury? I choose a basic minimalist life so I can say my life is less stressful because I choose to live a less competitive life. I still take my holidays once or twice a year, work part time, no car maintenance to worry about, no house mortgage to pay because I live in one that I can afford.
@ymhktravel Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Your minimalist approach actually reminds me of someone I met during one of my travels in Europe. They had a similar mindset-focused on living simply and stress-free, and it really stuck with me. Life doesn’t always have to be about keeping up with the hustle. Appreciate you sharing this!
The analysis of Mr Kojo is right. There is a price to pay in everything. We need to see things from all angles and then things will appear to be logical. Let us be less superfacial.
Hey lady, r u living in Singapore at the moment? If u r, bought ur ticket to head back to ur chosen “less stressed, more relaxed” country? If u have already departed, 😆🎉👍, i thk u, i wish u all the best 💐 n Goodbye😅. I on the other hand am a breed n born Merdeka generation singaporean, have studied, worked n lived some of my 60+ years in a few other countries…….. Returned to Singapore because it’s MY COUNTRY!! Our GOVERNMENT protect us 👶🏼👧🏻🧑🏽👩🦰🧕🏻👳🏿♂️👳🏼♀️👵🏼👨🏾🦳 their citizens with our best interest at heart ❤. What is democracy without basic foundation of home,love ones, livelihoods. Each to their own, ❤SINGAPORE, MY HOME, MY CHOICE ❤
@@JacksonWong-pw4zq 😁u have ur opinions I have mine👵🏼, I have worked n earn my living (gst etc thrown in🤪) n now I am happily retired, have a solid roof over my head (with no fear of being evacuated ), don’t go hungry (unless I put myself on a diet🤭) so to me come what May….All thks to MR LEE KUAN YEW n our GOVERNMENT… again it’s my opinion 👵🏼
People who complain abt stress, high cost of living are the ones with FOMO mentality. They want everything at low cost & convenience. Take life as it comes with all the good & bad we ahould be okay.
Totally agree, as another retired Singaporean in her late 60s. Had lived and worked in USA and UK for 10 years, no regrets, but was totally happy to come home. Now you can't pry me away from home.
You're right. Throughout my visit to Singapore the only time I saw someone sleeping on the street was in Orchard where the person had apparently had too much to drink the previous night. It's remarkable how the system in SG is designed to ensure everyone has a roof over their head. I wish more countries would adopt this strategy.
Not everyone has a home but everyone should not be homeless. There is help for the homeless but its also the choice they make. There is a lady in my neighbourhood living at the void deck. She was approched by social workers but seems she prefers the void deck. 😢
No i don't really agree with her, if u not go for good life like car, private house, branded goods, I'm Singaporean aged 68, travel 50 countries work 1 job, since young simple life, stay in HDB n sinpapore still can provide, now i work part time, retirement cash, still yearly travel like japan, south korea, vietnam, repeated visit ,stay healthy, happy..🥰🙏👏
It's just another regular long day at work in Asia. Another day, people are stressed over one thing or another. It happens in all cities. Stop making a mountain out of a molehills!
Hi, I am a Singaporean, and I totally agree with both of u. As u mentioned, we have no choice as we literally hv no other resources other than human. So, if we do not continue to excel as individuals and acquire the relevant skill sets then who is going to invest in our tiny state!!!. It is a constant chase to become relevant to the world.
delve into our history... and you will know why we are damn driven. I rather work my butt off to have a roof above my head than to bust my butt on the sidewalk.
Wow, that’s such a strong point, and I totally get it. Coming from Africa, I’ve seen how history and survival shape people’s drive too. It’s really inspiring how Singaporeans are so focused and hardworking to ensure they have a better life. Thanks for sharing this-it really makes me appreciate the hustle even more!
The stressed people are probably the immigrants from Malaysia and other SEAsian countries, who feel the pressure to make as much money as possible.. and perform as best as possible in order to keep their jobs...
I'm really glad to hear your perspective, especially since you're one of the few commenters who openly acknowledges that Singapore has a stress problem-it's definitely a fact. With remarkable progress comes major sacrifices, and it's encouraging to see that the government recognizes this and is taking steps to address it. The fact that the leadership recognizes this challenge and are taking active steps to fix it is the definition of good leadership. I honestly admire the good leadership in SG and how you guys tackle the challenges that come your way head-on. And yes, you are right. Change takes time, but it will surely come. Thanks for sharing!
Singapore is nothing compared to Hong Kong, China, Japan 😂😂 Their oft comments are more slower paced in comparison, less strict in office culture, don't need to wait for boss to go home, when in Singapore, they have more time for families during weekends. No obligation to have drinking sessions with bosses and staff...etc.
Given a choice to work hard with opportunities for growth is better off than a place where you are not even given a chance to work. Armed with the most powerful passport in the world, please define burnout.
I agree that having opportunities for growth, even if it comes with stress, is often better than being in a place where those opportunities don’t exist at all. It’s a trade-off many people have to unfortunately navigate. That being said, I am someone who spends a lot of time traveling around and exploring different parts of the world. Throughout out my travels, I've had the opportunity to visit and live in some of the 'poorest' parts of Africa and Asia, and I’ve often observed how 'happier' these communities seem to be compared to people in some of the 'richest' parts of the world that I visit and live in. It’s such a weird contrast and it really makes you think about how we define success and well-being.
@@explorewithkojoso the golden question is, given the choice. You will choose which path? and can you give an example of a country or city that perform excellent in both economies and well being. Just to add, do you agree that Singapore is one of the most best country to raise a family because of the safety and the education system. And does that in turn contribute to one's happiness and well being.
A different view: it's not that Singaporeans choose not to complain about the stress from ultra expectations, for the sake of nation's success. Instead, it's just that most Singaporeans tend to complain privately say on Internet, rather than voice out loudly when facing authority. Reason behind this behavior might worth a separate discussion, I don't have a definitive conclusion.
I really dont mind. Im almost reaching my semi retirement age. I can look back at the years i hav spend working my butt off for myself and for the country. Without natural resources, our contry has to rely on our people to make things work. Yes shes right, it is a price im willing to pay. The treadmill must never stop but we can take turns resting, to recoup, rest and relax and work again. But that is life isnt it. We are who we make ourselves to be. Good educational video 👍
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! It’s inspiring to hear your perspective and how much pride you take in working hard for yourself and your country. You're absolutely right-life is about finding that balance, taking turns to rest and recharge while keeping the treadmill moving. It’s not always easy, but your determination and positive outlook really shine through. Wishing you all the best as you approach your semi-retirement-you’ve certainly earned it! 🙌😊
Singapore, like many other nations, is a stressful place to live. The key question is: how can we reduce stress and bring genuine smiles and laughter back into our society? I believe the answer lies in fostering a well-balanced life. Outdoor activities, sports, hobbies, music, and art should be actively promoted and supported. The government can play a crucial role by offering affordable spaces for these pursuits. By prioritizing balance and joy in our daily lives, we can uplift our spirits and ensure that Singapore continues to thrive and shine.
Singapore is a nation built on desperation. Not enough food, not enough water, not enough land. We have human capital and location. Plenty of us prior to Gen Y / Millennials experienced poverty growing up, we were put through a system of school meant to send just ~ top 25% of students to universities, the other options were technical institute graduates or polytechnic diploma graduates. That affected the type of career you can have. Blue collared workers were paid less vs white collar workers. During my time we had only 2 local universities thus competition was tough for us as students to compete academically to be amongst the top 25%. For the popular schools and faculties (medicine/law/chemical engineering), you have to compete at an even higher level of getting straight As. The more well-off parents sent their children overseas & the cream of the crop students get government scholarships to Ivy league/Oxbridge. Our current Prime minister is also a product of this system of academic meritocracy. We were taught since young to study & work hard, otherwise we'd have no future. If we worked just 40+ hour 5-day work week, we'd have never been able to become one of the most viable places for regional / global HQs or attract high end manufacturing.
The students in China, HK, S Korea are a lot more stressed! Singapore students have it easy. It is the same for the workforce. Singaporeans may work hard, but they also enjoyed their leisure time. Conversely, some employees in the western countries are really slow in their work.
All over the world there are pple who are stressful bcause they put themselves in that situation. Not only in SG mind u. I see in the way u speak u sounds stressful too😂😂😂
It's true that stress exists in every society on earth. And it's also true that some societies have it worse than others. It's just like poverty. Poverty exists all over the world but the truth is that some societies experience it worse than others.
Ya not like the most relaxed city like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and many more in the US, where the house pricing is adorable,the medical expenses are affordable and crime rate...best in the world
I completely agree with you! Without sacrifices, it's hard to achieve anything meaningful. Singapore's approach shows that resilience and tough choices are often necessary to succeed, especially with limited resources.
as a singaporean, we have nothing. the country has to thrive to survive. a country provides 95 % housing to people. good health programmes, good education. good economy. There will be sacrifice. No develop country can have the best of both worlds. If we want to have a lay back life style. then singapore will not be where it is today. Is either the country be poor and the people suffer, or the country became successful, the people enjoy the success with some sacrifice. i will choose the latter.
We are always trying to be relevant. We have to be doubly hardworking in order to bring investment here, to bring cargo ship here, to bring tourist here.
Personally, I really admire Singapore's ambition and the remarkable achievements that continue to inspire the rest of the world. You guys really embody the saying that 'hard work pays'. But I also understand that this drive to stay ahead comes with a lot of pressure. How do you all manage the immense stress and challenges that come with constantly striving to remain relevant and excel in everything?
Rubbish, in poor countries, there’s more stress. Look at the Singaporeans at the golf courses and the restaurants. Stressed? I spend many hours with them. Can tell you, we are not stress. What is there to stress about when our gpd is more or less the highest.
I guess Singapore do faces stress in education and work, which is a common trait in Asian cities, like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan etc. Asians put a lot of emphasis on education and career, believing that these are essential to earning a good living. In Singapore, it is ingrained that you should buy a house when you get married, and owning a house is a good investment. But once you own a house, you need to pay installment/ mortgages, and coupled with the need to finance your children's education, the pressure is ever-present for people to perform and stay employed. Guess that is where the stress comes from. Perhaps you can't even be relieved of the stress after retirement since you need to catch-up with inflation.
Cost of living in Singapore is significantly higher than that of Britain. Actually SG is currently regarded as the world's most expensive city to live in. But considering it is one of the safest cities in the world and an extremely beautiful place, it is worth it (:
@ If you study economic models, you will realize the material progress in Japan, South Korea and Singapore are all driven by capitals. They manage to achieve stunning growth & developments. But something got to pay.
Julia spoke very vaguely. There is not concrete enough evidence of "highly stressed" Singapore. I have heard that the US city like new york is even more stressful than Singapore in terms of environmental sound pollution(emergency vehicle sound) and the loudness of the Americans. Those things she listed are signs of committed behaviour, professional conduct. They are present in Germany, Japan and Malaysia too.
The day when PDA and mobile phone replaced pager is the day when the world has no life balance. You still hv the tendency to read email (on PDA) even you are out of office. Fast forward to today, people don't even send you email, they just instant msg you and if u don't reply fast enough, they call you. In the past, when u subscribed to a mobile phone plan, you looked at how many call minutes you were given. Fast forward today, we don't even look at how much data we are entitled because we were given GB of data that we cannot finish consuming. So the world stress everyone, not just SG. However, S'poreans are able to withstand because they are already ahead of the stress that are coming.
Why do I feel that there is a strong sense of narcissism in this video? You lifted up and then you put down and you lifted up and you put it down again....huge manipulation in there. Almost all the first world countries are stressful. And so, in this video, SG had the Honor.
Actually that wasn't the intention at all. The primary goal was to provide content that not only looks at the advantages and challenges associated with remarkable achievements while at the same time emphasizing that nothing good comes without major sacrifices.
@@peacepanda-g1w Absolutely not please. Actually I'm one of the biggest fans of SG's rise from nothing to something and constantly cite the country as a good example of how countries should be run. If you watched the video to the end, you'd notice I ended it with this quote: "The road to greatness is paved with sacrifices that most are unwilling to make". Bottom line is that in life you can't achieve anything remarkable if you are not willing to work hard and make a lot of sacrifices. SG is where it is today by virtue of the sacrifices its leadership and people made and are still making.
@@peacepanda-g1wDubai is a desert. You have plently of land. Go drive the cars. Spend. Here no way. Bus and MRT is our life. Want to have fun. Go travel.
I am Singaporen I love sg but living in Singapore is hart the government keep building HDB flat that the 4 to 5 room but never Tod of how to keep to people how to save people from job lest if there are sick they cannot work we need seport for government so can buy own houses tose who one to stay alone no need to pay that much at least some seport for government if we one to get to make family at 20 or 25 year old
I was honestly surprised when I spoke with a number of locals who told me that the cost of living in Singapore is getting so severe that surviving on the income generated from a single job alone is becoming impossible. One of the locals that I spoke to actually does Grab delivery in addition to his full-time job to make ends meet. That being said, it should also be noted that this is not something that is peculiar to Singapore alone.
Good, very good, after election. All stressed mentalities will leave for good, others will come. As always, some fools leave, some fools stay, many fools just dunno what to do. 🎉
She is right. In 40 years of my working life I only had 80 days off and that was on Chinese New Year.
Wow, Albert, that’s incredible! How were you able to manage that? I’d love to hear more about your experience and what kept you going through such a demanding schedule! Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us. And I wish you nothing but the very best.
@@explorewithkojo Thank you for your message. I was a supervisor in a construction firm in 1962. In those days jobs was scarce and companies can do what they like. They usually employ only one supervisor and a large number of workers for a project. The supervisor cannot take off as there was no one to take over. Luckily I was young and fit and I was never sick.Shecdule was tight and there was a time limit to complete a project. Ghinese new year was a important holiday for workers as 90 percent of workers were Chinese and they want to take off for at least two days some even longer. I had about a week respite as work during that time was more leisurely. The engineers and higher ranking staff had more off days . People say you either work as a top staff or a ordinary worker. Your life would be easier.
@@albertang4766 Thanks again for sharing your story, Albert! It’s fascinating to hear about your experiences and the challenges you faced. Your dedication and resilience are inspiring. Times may have been tough, but your insights remind us of how much has changed and how valuable those experiences are in shaping the world we live in today. 🙏
Singapore does NOT have strong representation opposition in the parliament hence the government leaders (which has ruled since 1959) can bulldoze any good/bad policy to its people which can make people burned out and cannot afford their desired lifestyle, pay for high costs of medical treatment or million dollars pigeon hole flat or even afford to retire and work cleaner jobs at old age.
Please lah. I also in construction. Here in SG. We work to build history. And you earn a lot. No tax. Why complain ?
Gee.... as someone from SIngapore, I am not sure that's how we view our lifestyle. The way I see us, we work as hard as we can when we are supposed to work, but we head out for holidays or recreation time when we are done with our work. Some people see this as a high pressure, high-stressed environment, but others just see this as our commitment to doing our best. I guess as an American, she may not be used to how we view these things, but I can respect her viewpoints.
Fully agreed with you. I hardly see this as high stress, maybe is stressful at times. This is likely due to the size of our country with our people as the only natural resources. Our founding father, the great man - Mr Lee Kuan Yew, has taught us we cannot afford to be laid back, quote from one of his very early speeches
"This country belongs to all of us. We made this country from nothing, from mud-flats. It is man, human skill, human afford which made this possible. You came, you worked - for yourselves".
I end this with no pain, no gain. We work hard. We also play hard to enjoy. It is part of most Singaporean's DNA.
According to her, she’s actually only ever lived in the West and Middle East, so if SG is the first Asian country she has visited, no wonder she feels this way. SG didn’t get to where we are today by chilling in hammocks all day long. 😂
Singapore does NOT have strong representation opposition in the parliament hence the government leaders (which has ruled since 1959) can bulldoze any good/bad policy to its people which can make people burned out and cannot afford their desired lifestyle, pay for high costs of medical treatment or million dollars pigeon hole flat or even afford to retire and work cleaner jobs at old age.
As a Singaporean, I think those stresses I accumulated make me a resilience and strong person and achieve things that I thought were impossible at young. Now 42, I have accumulated enough to go explore the world with my family :)
That's both beautiful and inspiring to hear. Thanks for sharing this.
Me too. Fully paid flats. No car. Bus ride. U can travel. It fair deal
It's true Singapore seems more stress than many western countries. But then again, its also not anymore worst than China, HK, Japan, S Korea etc. Stress is relative. If u r part of the environment, you will not feel as much as those who came from slow country. The other thing is Singapore do indeed needs to keep improving. What else do Singapore have? Nothing, except people, work ethics and strive for excellence. We don't have cheap farm land to retire to or oil to provide you with freebies in life. So, its not just about being stressed and working so hard, it's always be there and ready to ensure your survival and future generations' survival.
Nahhh, I am a Singaporean and it’s not as bad as you think. Countries like Japan, China and South Korea are worse in this regard. In Singapore, we still enjoy our annual leave without any guilt or gaslighting from our bosses. We’re encouraged to use up our annual leave before the next work year and our loyalty to the company isn’t questioned or manipulated like it often is in Japan, South Korea or China, where gaslighting and other tactics are more common when they apply their leaves. The Singapore government even supports work-life balance, promoting initiatives to ensure employees can maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. In Singapore, we still know how to balance work and life, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about...
Stress level is manageable in Singapore, just live within your means. The issue in sg is inflation for example HDB resale costs. There is not much homelessness in sg because we have good Govt Ministries that look into their social needs. What is impressive is Singapore’s intolerance to views that disrupt our peace along religious or racial fault lines, our intolerance to drugs, corruption and crimes. Our car ownership 10 years COE system is one of the costliest to the citizens but it keeps our road uncongested most of the time, a good model for other govt to emulate to collect tax, improve infrastructure and reduce road congestion.
We balance ourselves
Self discipline is the key factor to live in Singapore.
I'm a Singaporean, yes stress is a natural thing in Singapore. It's unavoidable, since we're a small nation with no resources and only people driving it forward. It's also how you manage those stress is also important. If you learn to balance it well with your life and have small vacations throughout the year, or 1 weekend of just doing nothing. The stress becomes easily manageable.
I agree with the things you say. I think sometimes people bring more unnecessary stress into their lives trying to keep up with the Jones'.
Wow! You deserved to be Singaporean. You really understands us.
working 12 hours per day. Where does she get that from?
Anyway, I travel extensively too. Stress to perform and raised a family is always high in top cities, but at least in Singapore. I do not need to pay 45 or 50% income tax.
As for education, I think she also saying the outdated or stereotype imagine of Singapore. Maybe can do abit more research and talk to local on the different choices available.
And the efficiency of the workforce and government on a excellent transport and infrastructure system is. also a form of stress.. I dun quite get it.... in fact, I feel quite proud of that. haha
Hi there, this is Kojo replying on behalf of Julia (the American in the video). I completely understand your point, and I’d like to clarify that she isn’t technically wrong about the idea of working 12-hour days. The video was created after doing thorough research and speaking to many locals in Singapore. While the average workday is roughly 8 hours, it’s true that a lot of people take on extra jobs to make ends meet due to the high cost of living.
For example, I recently spoke to a guy in the banking sector who supplements his income by doing Grab deliveries. He even shared how he hopes to retire in Malaysia because of the more affordable cost of living there. According to the Singapore Business Review, as of 2022, 46% of working Singaporeans struggle to cover their current living expenses, and nearly 60% of those have started looking for a second job. The reality is that more and more Singaporeans are working two jobs to sustain a comfortable life.
That said, I truly understand that achieving remarkable things in life requires paying a price-no pain, no gain. I deeply admire and am inspired by the level of hard work Singaporeans put into their hustle to stay at the top. It’s something the rest of the world can definitely learn from.
Thanks again for your comment!
@explorewithkojo you seem to be very interested in Singapore.Just my 2cent,
You might do more research on how serious Singaporean, or esp Mr LKY took upon so call polling, random street interview or research done by western media.
On the other hand, For a proper research that shape the policy. You can also look into how HDB conduct its research. The amount of resources, and the quality of the team.
I hope you can first understand the importance of fact check and why Singaporean are so pragmatic.., then you might better understand why or how things work here. haha
As Singaporean i have only 1 friend who needs to take on a second job , that because he’s married for the third time. i believe there are others who might need a second job because of gambling addiction or debts. Normally we don’t need a second job , you sure she spoke to locals ? and ask the reason for the second job ?
Singapore does NOT have strong representation opposition in the parliament hence the government leaders (which has ruled since 1959) can bulldoze any good/bad policy to its people which can make people burned out and cannot afford their desired lifestyle, pay for high costs of medical treatment or million dollars pigeon hole flat or even afford to retire and work cleaner jobs at old age.
I am Singaporean. We do not have housing problems as in the US.
That's very good to hear. In many countries around the world this is a major issue.
You have a good point. 😂
We are brought up with the thought that no one owes Spore, and Sporeans, a living.
You work for what you want to enjoy, how much money you want.
There are people who can retire early because they have a good education and know how to manage their time, their life.
Just say Singaporeans are hard working and united and our leaders are sensible persons .
When we were a new nation with nothing, the culture established by our government was that if we work hard, we can have a future (not just ourselves but for our children). This is deeply entrenched in us. This hope for a better life is what drives us.
For developed countries, it is human nature to want to "enjoy" life with the prosperity. In Singapore too, it is now common for many to lament on the stress and the desire for a more "easy way". But on a macro level, if we slack, we will be wiped out.
On a micro level, seeing how others are "succeeding" adds to the "stress" of not wanting to be left behind. But if one stops comparing, it is possible to find the sweet spot of life calibration where we continue to create value for the country (and ourselves) but also enjoy life. That is the ideal that we as a nation need to constantly calibrate towards. 🙏🏼
She right. Stress in Singapore is part of life. Just need to learn to relax and de-stress. Easy Peasy! 😊
Singapore is not a walk in the park for sure. But compared to East Asian countries like China, Japan and S Korea where society and corp work culture can be more toxic and punishing (work hours are also long), Singapore is still tolerable. Even people in USA has to work their butt off because they are not paid for taking sick leave. In Europe, people has a different mentality and economy is in the doldrums. The economic centre of gravity is not there. In Dubai, what she prob didn't mention is Dubai gov are so oil-rich they allocate free housing and galore of social benefits to their citizens. But as countries are moving to EV, it'd be interesting to see how that pans out in the future. But you see, whether you want a stressful life or not, it's up to you. What you want in life, basic? luxury? I choose a basic minimalist life so I can say my life is less stressful because I choose to live a less competitive life. I still take my holidays once or twice a year, work part time, no car maintenance to worry about, no house mortgage to pay because I live in one that I can afford.
@ymhktravel Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Your minimalist approach actually reminds me of someone I met during one of my travels in Europe. They had a similar mindset-focused on living simply and stress-free, and it really stuck with me. Life doesn’t always have to be about keeping up with the hustle. Appreciate you sharing this!
The analysis of Mr Kojo is right. There is a price to pay in everything. We need to see things from all angles and then things will appear to be logical. Let us be less superfacial.
Hey lady, r u living in Singapore at the moment? If u r, bought ur ticket to head back to ur chosen “less stressed, more relaxed” country? If u have already departed, 😆🎉👍, i thk u, i wish u all the best 💐 n Goodbye😅. I on the other hand am a breed n born Merdeka generation singaporean, have studied, worked n lived some of my 60+ years in a few other countries…….. Returned to Singapore because it’s MY COUNTRY!! Our GOVERNMENT protect us 👶🏼👧🏻🧑🏽👩🦰🧕🏻👳🏿♂️👳🏼♀️👵🏼👨🏾🦳 their citizens with our best interest at heart ❤. What is democracy without basic foundation of home,love ones, livelihoods. Each to their own, ❤SINGAPORE, MY HOME, MY CHOICE ❤
Your best interest ? Keeps tax profiteering to increase high cost of living , makes u desperate for vouchers to survive .
@@JacksonWong-pw4zq 😁u have ur opinions I have mine👵🏼, I have worked n earn my living (gst etc thrown in🤪) n now I am happily retired, have a solid roof over my head (with no fear of being evacuated ), don’t go hungry (unless I put myself on a diet🤭) so to me come what May….All thks to MR LEE KUAN YEW n our GOVERNMENT… again it’s my opinion 👵🏼
People who complain abt stress, high cost of living are the ones with FOMO mentality. They want everything at low cost & convenience. Take life as it comes with all the good & bad we ahould be okay.
Totally agree, as another retired Singaporean in her late 60s. Had lived and worked in USA and UK for 10 years, no regrets, but was totally happy to come home. Now you can't pry me away from home.
You won't see Singaporean sleeping on the streets. Every Singaporean has a home to stay.
You're right. Throughout my visit to Singapore the only time I saw someone sleeping on the street was in Orchard where the person had apparently had too much to drink the previous night. It's remarkable how the system in SG is designed to ensure everyone has a roof over their head. I wish more countries would adopt this strategy.
Not everyone has a home but everyone should not be homeless. There is help for the homeless but its also the choice they make. There is a lady in my neighbourhood living at the void deck. She was approched by social workers but seems she prefers the void deck. 😢
No i don't really agree with her, if u not go for good life like car, private house, branded goods, I'm Singaporean aged 68, travel 50 countries work 1 job, since young simple life, stay in HDB n sinpapore still can provide, now i work part time, retirement cash, still yearly travel like japan, south korea, vietnam, repeated visit ,stay healthy, happy..🥰🙏👏
That's really beautiful to hear.
It's just another regular long day at work in Asia. Another day, people are stressed over one thing or another. It happens in all cities. Stop making a mountain out of a molehills!
Hi, I am a Singaporean, and I totally agree with both of u. As u mentioned, we have no choice as we literally hv no other resources other than human. So, if we do not continue to excel as individuals and acquire the relevant skill sets then who is going to invest in our tiny state!!!. It is a constant chase to become relevant to the world.
Our neighbour countries are just waiting for our missteps. One even try to sabotage with grand plans which failed miserably.
Well said Kojo!
I have not been working for the past 15 years and I am not stressed. 😂😅😊
@@lpericteo Wow, 15 years stress-free sounds amazing! You've definitely mastered the art of living without the hustle. What's your secret? 😄
sama sama , not so stressed as well. only time stressful is deciding what to eat for lunch/dinner.
He retired with CPF monthly of 2000 plus. And eating at $3 or $4.
delve into our history... and you will know why we are damn driven. I rather work my butt off to have a roof above my head than to bust my butt on the sidewalk.
Wow, that’s such a strong point, and I totally get it. Coming from Africa, I’ve seen how history and survival shape people’s drive too. It’s really inspiring how Singaporeans are so focused and hardworking to ensure they have a better life. Thanks for sharing this-it really makes me appreciate the hustle even more!
I am a singaporean n 1:58 Love Island fan
@@mayoh8707 Thanks (:
U are right. But in Singapore is like that. We get used to. Thanks for your comment.😊
@Kojo - like you wearing SG tee ... I have an Africa Tee (Cape Town) too =) Love Africa, one of the most beautiful places I've been to.
Thanks. I've also been to Cape Town and I totally agree with you that it is an extremely beautiful place (:
The stressed people are probably the immigrants from Malaysia and other SEAsian countries, who feel the pressure to make as much money as possible.. and perform as best as possible in order to keep their jobs...
Honestly it's unfortunate that people are put in situations where they are forced to bring such enormous amounts of stress into their lives ):
Yes , fully agree with both views , there is a price for success and the importance of having choices to go all out or at your own capable pace
Thank you so much for your comment. Success always comes at a price, but the freedom to choose your pace makes all the difference.
True and it is a recognized even by the government. Steps are being taken but actual changes will take time. I'm hopeful.
I'm really glad to hear your perspective, especially since you're one of the few commenters who openly acknowledges that Singapore has a stress problem-it's definitely a fact. With remarkable progress comes major sacrifices, and it's encouraging to see that the government recognizes this and is taking steps to address it. The fact that the leadership recognizes this challenge and are taking active steps to fix it is the definition of good leadership. I honestly admire the good leadership in SG and how you guys tackle the challenges that come your way head-on. And yes, you are right. Change takes time, but it will surely come. Thanks for sharing!
Singapore is nothing compared to Hong Kong, China, Japan 😂😂 Their oft comments are more slower paced in comparison, less strict in office culture, don't need to wait for boss to go home, when in Singapore, they have more time for families during weekends. No obligation to have drinking sessions with bosses and staff...etc.
Given a choice to work hard with opportunities for growth is better off than a place where you are not even given a chance to work. Armed with the most powerful passport in the world, please define burnout.
I agree that having opportunities for growth, even if it comes with stress, is often better than being in a place where those opportunities don’t exist at all. It’s a trade-off many people have to unfortunately navigate.
That being said, I am someone who spends a lot of time traveling around and exploring different parts of the world. Throughout out my travels, I've had the opportunity to visit and live in some of the 'poorest' parts of Africa and Asia, and I’ve often observed how 'happier' these communities seem to be compared to people in some of the 'richest' parts of the world that I visit and live in. It’s such a weird contrast and it really makes you think about how we define success and well-being.
@@explorewithkojoso the golden question is, given the choice. You will choose which path?
and can you give an example of a country or city that perform excellent in both economies and well being.
Just to add, do you agree that Singapore is one of the most best country to raise a family because of the safety and the education system. And does that in turn contribute to one's happiness and well being.
U are right
A different view: it's not that Singaporeans choose not to complain about the stress from ultra expectations, for the sake of nation's success. Instead, it's just that most Singaporeans tend to complain privately say on Internet, rather than voice out loudly when facing authority. Reason behind this behavior might worth a separate discussion, I don't have a definitive conclusion.
I really dont mind. Im almost reaching my semi retirement age. I can look back at the years i hav spend working my butt off for myself and for the country.
Without natural resources, our contry has to rely on our people to make things work.
Yes shes right, it is a price im willing to pay.
The treadmill must never stop but we can take turns resting, to recoup, rest and relax and work again.
But that is life isnt it.
We are who we make ourselves to be.
Good educational video 👍
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! It’s inspiring to hear your perspective and how much pride you take in working hard for yourself and your country. You're absolutely right-life is about finding that balance, taking turns to rest and recharge while keeping the treadmill moving. It’s not always easy, but your determination and positive outlook really shine through. Wishing you all the best as you approach your semi-retirement-you’ve certainly earned it! 🙌😊
I feel its more stressful living in America because the place is full of danger.
Hmmm
Singapore, like many other nations, is a stressful place to live. The key question is: how can we reduce stress and bring genuine smiles and laughter back into our society? I believe the answer lies in fostering a well-balanced life. Outdoor activities, sports, hobbies, music, and art should be actively promoted and supported. The government can play a crucial role by offering affordable spaces for these pursuits. By prioritizing balance and joy in our daily lives, we can uplift our spirits and ensure that Singapore continues to thrive and shine.
Well said! 😊👏 Thanks for your valuable contribution to the discussion. I appreciate it.
Singapore is a nation built on desperation. Not enough food, not enough water, not enough land. We have human capital and location. Plenty of us prior to Gen Y / Millennials experienced poverty growing up, we were put through a system of school meant to send just ~ top 25% of students to universities, the other options were technical institute graduates or polytechnic diploma graduates. That affected the type of career you can have. Blue collared workers were paid less vs white collar workers. During my time we had only 2 local universities thus competition was tough for us as students to compete academically to be amongst the top 25%. For the popular schools and faculties (medicine/law/chemical engineering), you have to compete at an even higher level of getting straight As. The more well-off parents sent their children overseas & the cream of the crop students get government scholarships to Ivy league/Oxbridge. Our current Prime minister is also a product of this system of academic meritocracy. We were taught since young to study & work hard, otherwise we'd have no future. If we worked just 40+ hour 5-day work week, we'd have never been able to become one of the most viable places for regional / global HQs or attract high end manufacturing.
The students in China, HK, S Korea are a lot more stressed! Singapore students have it easy. It is the same for the workforce. Singaporeans may work hard, but they also enjoyed their leisure time. Conversely, some employees in the western countries are really slow in their work.
All over the world there are pple who are stressful bcause they put themselves in that situation. Not only in SG mind u. I see in the way u speak u sounds stressful too😂😂😂
It's true that stress exists in every society on earth. And it's also true that some societies have it worse than others. It's just like poverty. Poverty exists all over the world but the truth is that some societies experience it worse than others.
How about do some cross comparison with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul ? Good to know ...
@@vincentjinjianchia2593 Great suggestion! A comparison like that is definitely in the pipeline. Stay tuned! (: Thanks for the idea!
Please drop the wall decor... i can't help but see Mini Mickey Mouse as host...
Ya not like the most relaxed city like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and many more in the US, where the house pricing is adorable,the medical expenses are affordable and crime rate...best in the world
There is a price for everything. SG had to do it this way or we will not survive since we have no resources
I completely agree with you! Without sacrifices, it's hard to achieve anything meaningful. Singapore's approach shows that resilience and tough choices are often necessary to succeed, especially with limited resources.
I worked & lived in SG ... Thank you SG Government =p
how do you quantify STRESS?
as a singaporean, we have nothing. the country has to thrive to survive. a country provides 95 % housing to people. good health programmes, good education. good economy. There will be sacrifice. No develop country can have the best of both worlds. If we want to have a lay back life style. then singapore will not be where it is today. Is either the country be poor and the people suffer, or the country became successful, the people enjoy the success with some sacrifice. i will choose the latter.
For “expats” like this, I always say that after having a nice meal, they turn around and criticise the kitchen.😂
We are always trying to be relevant. We have to be doubly hardworking in order to bring investment here, to bring cargo ship here, to bring tourist here.
Personally, I really admire Singapore's ambition and the remarkable achievements that continue to inspire the rest of the world. You guys really embody the saying that 'hard work pays'. But I also understand that this drive to stay ahead comes with a lot of pressure. How do you all manage the immense stress and challenges that come with constantly striving to remain relevant and excel in everything?
Rubbish, in poor countries, there’s more stress. Look at the Singaporeans at the golf courses and the restaurants. Stressed? I spend many hours with them. Can tell you, we are not stress. What is there to stress about when our gpd is more or less the highest.
I guess Singapore do faces stress in education and work, which is a common trait in Asian cities, like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan etc. Asians put a lot of emphasis on education and career, believing that these are essential to earning a good living. In Singapore, it is ingrained that you should buy a house when you get married, and owning a house is a good investment. But once you own a house, you need to pay installment/ mortgages, and coupled with the need to finance your children's education, the pressure is ever-present for people to perform and stay employed. Guess that is where the stress comes from. Perhaps you can't even be relieved of the stress after retirement since you need to catch-up with inflation.
Rent house batam and JB retirement. Can go thailand too
@tankman20064 Got to wait till children have grown up and become independent lor.
Same as Hong Kong. Maybe HK is even more stress than Spore
I agree with you. I personally think that life in Hong Kong might be more stressful than life in SG.
Is Cost of living in singapore higher than Britain 🇬🇧 ?
Cost of living in Singapore is significantly higher than that of Britain. Actually SG is currently regarded as the world's most expensive city to live in. But considering it is one of the safest cities in the world and an extremely beautiful place, it is worth it (:
Housing high only. The rest is ok. For local citizen. No issues
Just curious who is this lady? What is her name? I like to find out who she is 😮😅😊
She's an American-Polish TikToker and student currently based in Dubai (:
Yes I agree
If you adopt capitalist economy, this is the result. The same happened in Japan & South Korea
SG governments calls it Meritocracy ... whatever that means =S
@ If you study economic models, you will realize the material progress in Japan, South Korea and Singapore are all driven by capitals. They manage to achieve stunning growth & developments. But something got to pay.
Julia spoke very vaguely. There is not concrete enough evidence of "highly stressed" Singapore. I have heard that the US city like new york is even more stressful than Singapore in terms of environmental sound pollution(emergency vehicle sound) and the loudness of the Americans.
Those things she listed are signs of committed behaviour, professional conduct. They are present in Germany, Japan and Malaysia too.
I, we can’t be lazy.
Maisonette and lastly a landed property.....Singapore OK la......where can find like this????
*No idea why the emphasis of this video on Singapore people, kids & adults are about being "stressed".*
The day when PDA and mobile phone replaced pager is the day when the world has no life balance. You still hv the tendency to read email (on PDA) even you are out of office. Fast forward to today, people don't even send you email, they just instant msg you and if u don't reply fast enough, they call you. In the past, when u subscribed to a mobile phone plan, you looked at how many call minutes you were given. Fast forward today, we don't even look at how much data we are entitled because we were given GB of data that we cannot finish consuming. So the world stress everyone, not just SG. However, S'poreans are able to withstand because they are already ahead of the stress that are coming.
Why do I feel that there is a strong sense of narcissism in this video? You lifted up and then you put down and you lifted up and you put it down again....huge manipulation in there. Almost all the first world countries are stressful. And so, in this video, SG had the Honor.
Actually that wasn't the intention at all. The primary goal was to provide content that not only looks at the advantages and challenges associated with remarkable achievements while at the same time emphasizing that nothing good comes without major sacrifices.
@@explorewithkojo Good to know that wasn't the intention as it seems to mock SG while elevate Dubai but in a very subtle way.
@@peacepanda-g1w Absolutely not please. Actually I'm one of the biggest fans of SG's rise from nothing to something and constantly cite the country as a good example of how countries should be run. If you watched the video to the end, you'd notice I ended it with this quote: "The road to greatness is paved with sacrifices that most are unwilling to make". Bottom line is that in life you can't achieve anything remarkable if you are not willing to work hard and make a lot of sacrifices. SG is where it is today by virtue of the sacrifices its leadership and people made and are still making.
@@peacepanda-g1wDubai is a desert. You have plently of land. Go drive the cars. Spend. Here no way. Bus and MRT is our life. Want to have fun. Go travel.
You obviously have not lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul etc. You are not qualified to make such comments on digital media...
HK, China, Korea, Singapore, Japan - we are the same. I understand your visits do not include this
I am Singaporen I love sg but living in Singapore is hart the government keep building HDB flat that the 4 to 5 room but never Tod of how to keep to people how to save people from job lest if there are sick they cannot work we need seport for government so can buy own houses tose who one to stay alone no need to pay that much at least some seport for government if we one to get to make family at 20 or 25 year old
No income and cannot work rill sickness 😊
Yagester
My friend and I don't how to soicelelice in sg we are sg now 2025 😢 we need help from the garvermet how to make it better
Because we some of use like different things
BTO lah. Plan early buy it. Far away from central. Tengah now got many BTO. 350K plus. Cheap leh.
Can we flip the script and say the American and European lives are too lax?
100000000000000000 % yes most stressful many works 1 or 2 jobs and yet unable to make ends meet .
I was honestly surprised when I spoke with a number of locals who told me that the cost of living in Singapore is getting so severe that surviving on the income generated from a single job alone is becoming impossible. One of the locals that I spoke to actually does Grab delivery in addition to his full-time job to make ends meet. That being said, it should also be noted that this is not something that is peculiar to Singapore alone.
You can't have the cake and eat it. Easy life with no sweat?
Don't be lazy!
True. Singapore is the most stressful nation.
Good, very good, after election. All stressed mentalities will leave for good, others will come.
As always, some fools leave, some fools stay, many fools just dunno what to do. 🎉
Yes stress is transcend ant from European western countries and competition from the developing countries and so we are a melting pot of of stress