Scientific Approaches to Understand and Manage Our Wellbeing

Following the launch of the NERI Total WSH programme in January 2024, we conducted a survey of NERI staff and based on the outcome of the survey, we organised a workshop on weight and stress management for all NERI staff with guest speakers from NUS University Health Centre (UHC) and Health & Wellbeing (HWB).

The workshop commenced with a welcome address from Prof Hu Jiangyong, NERI Deputy Director. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy working lifestyle and encouraged all to support NERI Total WSH programme through the accumulation of loyalty credits by attending the series of intervention activities planned for all staff.

Next, Dr Lee Chian Chau, Deputy Director from UHC, provided an enlightening session on weight loss management titled “10 Steps to a Lighter, Healthier Me”. His focus on basal metabolic rate offered valuable tips for achieving their weight management goals.

Managing stress to avoid burnout at work is another critical process, and Ms Teh Yen Ceen from HWB discussed the "Standard Operating Protocols" for identifying our current burnout status. She explained how humans response to ancestral and modern threats differently.  While our ancestors faced physical dangers like immediate harm from predators, our modern-day threats are more psychological and less immediate in nature. This highlighted the need for us to understand how our brain works and to respond appropriately, as the same amygdala-driven approach to threats may be less relevant in today's society.