QRMart Magazine December 2012

GET A FREE GIFT WORTH UP TO $99 WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR MEMBERSHIP! MCI(P) 104/11/2012

DECEMBER 2012

TOP 5 TECH TRENDS

IN 2013

MINDBLOWING FACTS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT OUR BODY

FUNNIEST TED TALKS YOU CANNOT MISS BENEFITS

OF NATURAL ALKALINE WATER

LIGHT UP YOUR PARTY WITH

HIGH QUALITY

PROJECTION FROM

CONTENTS 6

TOP 5 TECH TRENDS IN 2013

18

TIPS FOR BEATING THE SOCIAL OVEREATING HABIT

12

14

FUNNIEST TED TALKS YOU CANNOT MISS

24

CLEARING YOUR LIFE FOR A NEW YEAR

3 technology 9

MINDBLOWING FACTS ABOUT YOUR BODY

26

21

lifestyle & leisure iOS

Android

QR reader

iOS

iOS

Android

iOS

Android

QR reader

BlackBerry

BlackBerry

Android

iOS

Android

28

HOW TO BE MINDFUL DURING THE HOLIDAYS

HOW TO PERFORM SHOPPING IN

QR reader

16

BENEFITS OF NATURAL ALKALINE WATER

BlackBerry

RECOMMENDED READS FROM SINGAPORE

home & living

31

30

SITTING AND WATCHING

REAL Android BlackBerry DEAL

iOS

QR reader

RMART * IN 6 STEPS

BlackBerry

BlackBerry QR reader

1. Go to the App store in your smartphone to search for a ‘QR Code Reader’ app, download and install.

2. When you spot something that interests you to find out more or buy, launch the QR Code reader app in your smartphone.

4. When the app detects the QR Code, your phone will show a webpage with the product details. Press ‘Buy Now’ to buy the product online.

5. Make payment via PayPal checkout.

Select preferred delivery timing, if any.

*For selected advertisements only. Some shopping procedures may differ slightly. If the QR Code does not work, please use the direct url provided.

3. Scan the QR Code by aiming your smartphone’s camera at it.

6. Product will be delivered to your mailing address shortly or may be self-collected from an indicated location.

http://bit.ly/10Rx39W

EDITOR’S NOTE The year is coming to an end soon. Many would usually take this opportunity to reflect on what they have achieved for the past year, and begin setting new year resolutions to (hopefully) do better in the upcoming year.

What were your highlights and ‘lowlights’ of this year?

How do you plan to reward yourself for all the work you have done for the past year?

In view of the year-end celebration season, we have prepared a line-up of articles and promotions to help you end the year of 2012 with a memorable blast with your friends and family.

On the behalf of our team at QR Mart, we would like to wish you a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Des Chief Editor, QR Mart

RMART QR Mart is a publication by iSmart Manufacturing Pte Ltd No. 1 Ubi View #03-09 Focus One S(408555) We welcome feedbacks and enquiries. Please contact us via our website at www.qrmart.com.sg FIND US ON FACEBOOK

facebook.com/qrmart

Are you ready to welcome the exciting new year, 2013?

RMART The fastest and easiest way to reach out and grow your business is already in your hands.

Advertise with us.

Key Benefits: - Guaranteed maximum exposure in the hands of people all over Singapore - Instant transaction between you and your customer - One-of-a-kind interactivity which combines online and offline advertising into a unique shopping experience.

- Take advantage of the FIRST QR retail magazine platform to connect with your customers like never before - Amazing cost savings: At just 2 cents per copy, there is no other publishing platform that can stretch your dollar while providing you one-stop solution combining powerful advertising, round-the clock retail and incredible exposure Ride on the upcoming wave of QR retail concept and bring your business to the next level at as low as 83 cents per hour!

E-mail us: enquiry@qrmart.com.sg or call 63264068

technology directory

INFOCUS PROJECTORS

6

TOP 5 TECH TRENDS IN 2013 TOMTOM GPS SYSTEM NIKE SPORTWATCH ISMART SLIM UNIVERSAL LAPTOP CHARGER & PRIVACY FILTER

QR MART

3

UP:$1299

IN105

$ • Contrast Ratio: 4000:1 • 3200 lumens • 3D-ready • XGA (1024 x 768) • DLP w/ Brilliant Colour • Up to 4,000-hour The Industry-Leading 2-Year 1 to 1 Exchange Warranty *

Lower Cost of Ownership 24/7 Non-stop Operation

$

599

SAVING:$700

5 Years of Worr y-Free Projection^ 6 Months of Lamp Replacement

Projects 80’’ at 0.91m

IN112

IN114ST (Short-throw)

• 2700 lumens • SVGA (800 x 600) resolution • DLP w/ Brilliant Colour • Contrast ratio: 4000:1 • 3D -Ready • Up to 6,000-hour lamp • Weight: 2.17 kg

• 2500 lumens • XGA (1024 x 768) resolution • DLP w/ Brilliant Colour • Contrast ratio: 4000:1 • 3D-Ready • Up to 6,000-hour lamp • Weight: 2.17 kg

UP:$699

$

399

$

UP:$1299

$

$

899

SAVING:$400

SAVING:$300

Wo r th $ 39. 9 0 Fre e d e live r y ( Wo r t h $ 3 5 )

http://bit.ly/Rhfz57

Images of products are for illustrative purposes only. All free gifts and offer are available while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply. ^5 Year Warranty includes: 5 Year DLP Warranty, 3 Year DoorStep Warranty and Labour, 5 Year Warranty on Parts excluding power supply, fans, colour wheel and light tunnel which are ccovered for 3 years. 1 Year Warranty on Lamp Replacement

technology

Top 5 tech trends

in 2013

By HLundgaard (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Mobile Payments

As NFC (Near Field Communication) technology becomes more widespread and services like Square and Paypal roll out, 2013 might finally be the year where walking into a store and paying with your phone or just by giving your name becomes common and not just an early adopter experience in a few markets worldwide.

TEXT: DES PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Technology evolves quickly everyday.

Here’s our forecast/prediction on what to expect in the upcoming exciting year!

Image licensed under [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Wearable Computing

A revamped iPod Nano, the Pebble watch project, Google Goggles, and/or other things like them will make this the year you'll finally see people checking a watch or a necklace regularly for instant messages from their friends vs. whipping out their phone and turning it on frequently.

Even Cheaper Tablets

Many people still think of tablets as expensive premium Apple toys. But these things are going to be $50 soon, cheaper than some hardcover books. This has some implications: - Every kid in school can have one or more than one.

- They'll be widespread even in places without landlines. Some folks may skip smartphones completely and move directly to small tablets.

- You can own multiple tablets, optimised for different purposes (same as how you own multiple hardcover books today).

- This will bring in changes in education, healthcare, retail and restaurant experiences, automobiles, etc, as we stop thinking of these things as expensive computers and start thinking of them as replacements for paper.

6

QR MART

By Jakub Šulc (má vlastní fotka) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],

By Πrate [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],

This is already happening but is large enough that it still deserves a mention. Trillions of dollars of IT spending are moving from data centres and software licenses to cloud services.

Soon you'll be able to read about companies with 10,000 employees who don't have dedicated data centers.

technology

Corporate IT moves to the Cloud

More 3D Printing Innovation

3D printing works by building up an object layer by layer. We already had 3D printed small planes and guitars and gun parts in 2012. With 3D printing becoming more and more affordable (expect cheaper 3D printers like the MakerBot) and with an improved ability to test physical things on local markets (thanks to inexpensive viral social media campaigns), the pace of innovation will accelerate. There will be more financially viable, fairly localized physical products as more and more companies begin to utilise 3D printing's capabilities.

At the rate that it is going, we strongly believe that 3D printing will revolutionise the industry, and probably change the world.

By http://www.youtube.com/user/KolbTechnology (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZijC8jU_1Aw) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],

Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by Tom Tom *

d

ka y /Tp

.ly bit ://

tp

ht

*Subject to $5 delivery charge

de co QR

ha

se

NO or pu W rc or e

ut

with FREE islandwide delivery

UP: $388

m

Purchase Nike+ SportWatch GPS and Tom Tom Via 220 for just

*

Original Tom Tom 4.3” Carry Case (worth $35)

S to C fin A d N o

SA VE

$4 0

Combining IQ Routes technology, large 4.3” high quality touch screen, Advanced Lane Guidance and integrated mounting, this car navigation device from Tom Tom provides a smooth, safe and easy driving experience for daily drivers.

FR

Tom Tom Via 220 Smart GPS for daily drivers

EE

This SportWatch offers GPS tracking, takes splits, reminds you to run— even remembers your PRs. With a customizable display and both GPS and indoor tracking capabilities, it’s a watch you can take on any terrain.

http://bit.ly/10Rx39W

lifestyle & leisure directory

BOTTOMSLIM, TOKYO BUST EXPRESS, MARY CHIA, URBAN HOMME, JUUP SOCIETY, HUANG AH MA, MASEGO, BODY PERFECT BEAUTY & WELLNESS TREATS ROYAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UP

12

FUNNIEST TED TALKS YOU CANNOT MISS BAVARIA PREMIUM BEER & 0.0% ALCOHOL DRINK MINDBLOWING FACTS ABOUT YOUR BODY

14

BENEFITS OF NATURAL ALKALINE WATER

16

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL VOLCANIC SPRING WATER PROMOTION

18

TIPS FOR BEATING THE SOCIAL OVEREATING HABIT ISMART DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES

QR MART

9

ROYA L’S EXCLUSI V E COLL A BOR ATION

D

QR MART EXCLUSIVE

Beauty and Wellness Treats

Give yourself the royal treatment with our irresistable pampering offers today.

99% OFF

99% OFF

6 Tummy, Thigh and Calves Slimming Treatments + $300 Treatment Voucher

7 Intense Volumizing Treatments + Detoxifying Scrub + $300 Treatment Voucher

$10

$11

UP: $1080

UP: $1380

After

Before

79

32% OFF

Classic Pedicure with Paraffin Treatment

$38 UP: $56

51% OFF

60min Royal Foot Massage

$38

50% OFF

60min Safari Wellness Massage

$38 UP: $78

UP: $76

87% OFF

2 Personalised DeepFat Burn Sessions

Mar - 45m - 60m - 60m Enjo

$38 UP: $288

to All promotions are subject to terms and conditions. All pricing are strictly NETT. The respective merchants reserves the right to withdraw promotion without prior notice.

All images are for illustration purposes only. Strictly no refunds after payment is made.

N

DE A L W ITH QR M A RT IN DECEMBER

Get Your Royal Card Membership with QR Mart

rub nt

FREE!

380

sions

P: $288

Membership Benefits: - Enjoy Lifetime Standard Membership of the Royal Card.

- Welcome Voucher Kit (Beauty & Wellness) worth up to $200 per set.

- Gain immediate access to hundreds of discounts and savings via participating merchants.

79% OFF Promotion from

Mary Chia (for ladies) / Urban Homme (for men) - 45min Aromatherapy Renewal Massage - 60min Clarifying Radiance Facial - 60min Weight Loss Therapy Enjoy any one of the above pampering treats at just:

$30 UP: $145

SCAN NOW

to find out more or purchase the vouchers instantly Direct URL: bit.ly/WZKDaQ

- Regular use of the Royal Card will deliver you savings of hundreds - if not thousands of dollars each year.

- Guaranteed a minimum percentage discount or flat-rate discount off total bill on products and services from more than 100 different top local merchants.

Elson Soh

Royal International Group Artiste

SCAN NOW to find out more and get your membership

Direct URL: bit.ly/UfO4UU

lifestyle &&leisure leisure

Funniest TED talks you cannot miss

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.

On TED.com, they make the best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. More than 1400 TED Talks are now available, with more added each week.

All of the talks are subtitled in English, and many are subtitled in various languages.

Their mission: Spreading ideas.

We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.

Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work We believe that we should work to be happy, but could that be backwards? In this fast-moving and entertaining talk from TEDxBloomington, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that actually happiness inspires productivity.

SCAN & WATCH

Direct link: http://youtu.be/fLJsdqxnZb0

Geert Chatrou: World champion whistler At TEDxRotterdam, world champion whistler Geert Chatrou performs the whimsical "Eleonora" by A. Honhoff, and his own "FĂŞte de la Belle." In a fascinating interlude, he talks about what brought him to the craft.

SCAN & WATCH

Direct link: http://youtu.be/zO-aCQ6xH-8

Ze Frank: What's so funny about the Web? Performer and web toymaker Ze Frank delivers a hilarious nerdcore standup routine, then tells us what hes seriously passionate about: helping people create and interact using simple, addictive web tools.

Direct link: http://youtu.be/FMkJVXi7Rp8

12

QR MART

SCAN & WATCH

BREW ED W ITH

100% PURE M I N E R A L WAT E R

Premium Beer Our very own classic! Beloved because of its exceptionally pure taste.

— It’s always fresh and never too bitter.

Available in 25cl, 33cl & 66cl bottles, and 33cl & 50cl cans.

EACH CARTON STARTING

$58

with FREE ISLANDWIDE DELIVERY*

0.0% Alc. A refreshing non-alcoholic drink made from pure mineral water and the finest malt.

Available in 4 flavours: Regular, Apple, Peach & Raspberry, in 33cl bottles and cans.

EACH CARTON STARTING

$28

(24 x 330ml bottles/cans per carton) with FREE ISLANDWIDE DELIVERY*

Scan Now

to purchase or find out more.

http://bit.ly/SrSRnB

Distributed by: Victoria 88 Distributions Pte Ltd No. 1 Kaki Bukit Road 1, #03-40, Enterprise One, S(415934) *Free delivery is only applicable to purchases worth more than $50. All prices are inclusive of GST.

lifestyle & leisure

Mindblowing facts about your body Shocking facts that you probably didn’t know about your body!

Brain takes up about

3% of body weight and consumes

20%

of available energy.

A human head remains conscious for about

15 to 20 seconds

after it has been

pi t d ec a

ated.

Your right lung takes in more air than your left one does.

300,000,000

Cells Die In Your Body Every Minute It does sounds like a lot but this is actually less than 0.0001% of the amount of cells being replaced in your body every day. (about 10-50 trillion cells are being replaced in your body every single day)

The largest internal organ is the

small intestine.

Despite being called the smaller of the two intestines, your small intestine is actually four times as long as the average adult is tall. If it weren’t looped back and forth upon itself it wouldn’t fit inside the abdominal cavity.

14

QR MART

During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill a 10,000 litre swimming pool.

34 muscles are in the human face.

All are activated when you kiss someone.

lifestyle & leisure

SOURCE: VARIOUS SOURCES PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

You could remove a large part of your internal organs and still survive.

The human body may appear fragile but it’s possible to survive even with the removal of the stomach, the spleen, 75 percent of the liver, 80 percent of the intestines, one kidney, one lung, and virtually every organ from the pelvic and groin area. You might not feel too great, but the missing organs wouldn’t kill you.

More germs are transferred while shaking hands compared to kissing.

Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

QR MART

15

lifestyle & leisure

Benefits of

Natural Alkaline Water TEXT: AUSTRALIAN PREMIUM WATER PTY LTD PHOTO: Gaël FROUIN (Waterfalls in Batroun) 05.10.2006 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Believed by many to improve health, natural alkaline water has been widely regarded as a better choice than normal tap water. Here are some of the important benefits:

Balance Body pH

As our body becomes acidic due to everyday life including digestion, respiration and stress, alkaline water helps eliminate acidic waste and promotes better blood circulation.

Antioxidant

Alkaline water produces hydroxyl ions, which can increase the body's oxygen level, neutralize harmful free radicals and prevent certain chronic diseases through neutralizing the acidity in your body.

Hydrator and Detoxifier

Helps relieve chronic cellular dehydration, a condition deemed as the primary cause of many diseases. Hydrating your cells can enhance physical energy and mental clarity.

16

QR MART

Superior Mineral Profile

A natural filtration process through age-old volcanic rock gives natural alkaline water a unique mineral profile that includes abundant quantities of calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, copper, chloride, silica and electrolytes- and is the perfect pH balance of 7.2 +. Our body’s blood and cells are naturally slightly alkaline but the food and beverage we consume tends to be acidic, often upsetting the body’s natural balance.

Consuming an alkaline water helps keep the body in equilibrium.

Other Potential Benefits With our body functioning best in an alkaline environment, drinking alkaline water has long been associated with a host of benefits. These included improved cellular absorption, better looking skin, improved taste and quality of food intake, better absorption of nutrients from consumed food and many other advantages.

Magnesium

A necessary component for all muscular activity and is useful in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Calcium

Helps with the mineralization and development of bones and teeth. Also aids in digestion and the clotting of blood.

Bicarbonate

Assists in maintaining the body’s natural pH level.

Potassium

Apart from acting as an electrolyte, potassium is required for keeping heart, brain, kidney, muscle tissues and other important organs of human body in good condition.

Selenium

Selenium acts an antioxidant in the body and contributes to good health promoting normal liver function.

44.25 per carton

$

UP:$88.50 per carton (15 Bottles per carton x 750ml) *Free delivery for purchase more than 2 cartons

Why Us? • Filtered through an extinct volcano of 23 million years • Naturally alkaline and mineralised • Perfect pH balance 7.2+ • No human contact in the process of extraction • Sourced from Mount Tamborine in South Queensland, Australia • Water is extracted directly from source with no exposure to the atmosphere

FREE APW Lava Pen (Limited Edition) with every carton purchase Four Colors Available (Green, Yellow, Pink & Blue)

SCAN HERE to find out more or purchase http://bit.ly/VcdIzL

For sales enquiry, please contact Lisa (6743 5096) or Jasmine (6746 6251). Email: info@atlasfood.com.sg All prices are inclusive of GST. Promotion while stocks last.

lifestyle & leisure

Tips For Beating the Social Overeating Habit TEXT: LEO BABAUTA PHOTO: PUBLICDOMAINPICTURES.NET

While I’ve learned to eat much healthier over the last six or seven years, one of my biggest challenges has been overeating on social occasions.

There are holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there are many more: my kids’ birthday parties, going out to dinner with my wife Eva, get-togethers with friends, social gatherings of business colleagues, drinking with best friends.

I’ve always tended to overeat, because: I am distracted by conversation and so I eat mindlessly; and unlike at home, where I’ve created a healthy eating environment, I tend to be surrounded at these occasions by boatloads of tempting but unhealthy foods.

18

QR MART

I’ve gotten better recently, though, and have been teaching myself healthier habits.

My main habit is simple on the surface: mindful eating.

Mindful eating is simply being aware of your eating, of your body’s actual hunger signals as opposed to your brain saying “eat all that sugar and fried stuff!”, of your urges to eat more when you’re not hungry, of your snacking even when your stomach isn’t asking for more.

Mindful eating is eating slowly, fully tasting the food, appreciating every bite, being conscious of what you’re putting into your body, savoring but not overdoing.

Mindful eating, though, can be tough to do when you are

distracted by talking to friends and family. So I asked readers (on Google+) to share their tips for beating the social overeating habit. You came up with some great ones.

I share these tips in hopes that you’ll find use for them during these holidays, and beyond.

Eat something healthy and at least somewhat filling before you go. This way you’re less likely to mindlessly snack.

Don’t linger near the food table

Make a conscious choice to eat whatever you want to eat, but don’t eat just because other people are eating or because it’s convenient.

Drink lots of water and eat s-l-o-w-l-y

Eating slowly allows you time to hear the faint but clear ‘enough! enough!’ cries coming from the belly.

Eat until you’re 80 percent full

lifestyle & leisure

Don’t go to an event hungry.

This is a cultural habit that the Okinawans have, and it famously helps them stay healthy well into old age.

Actually engage socially with someone.

If your mouth is talking, it can’t eat.

Try to count up to 15 chews per each mouthful.

That will really slow you down

QR MART

19

http://bit.ly/10Rx39W

home & living directory

DRINKSTAR ENTERPRISE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

24

CLEARING YOUR LIFE FOR A NEW YEAR TOPNOTCH PLUMBING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

26

HOW TO BE MINDFUL DURING THE HOLIDAYS SEASONS @ M&E PTE LTD AIR-CONDITIONING SPECIALIST

28

RECOMMENDED READS FROM SINGAPORE SENSES03 LOCKSMITH SERVICES

30

SITTING AND WATCHING

QR MART

21

1

FROM KOREA - Exquisite and breathtaking design - Sleek and modern feel - Beautiful product from Korea - High quality material - Elegant and polished appearance - Breakthrough engineering - Innovative filtration system - Extremely easy to use - Super-slim form factor

NEW VAL AR R I

NEW VAL AR R I

MAGIC 868 TABLE TOP

MAGIC 1068 FLOORSTAND

$1068

$868

MAGIC 688 TABLE TOP

$688

Price List of Rental of Direct Pipe-in Dispenser

Why Rent?

DS8834 TABLE TOP

FREE Filters FREE Repair Cost FREE Maintenance Cost Lower Upfront Payment NO worries and FREE from inconvenience and disruption

TABLE TOP

FLOOR STANDING

Hot & Warm

Hot/Cold (Fan-Cooling)

Hot & Cold (Fan 15째c)

Hot/Cold (Compressor)

Hot & Cold (Compressor)

Hot/Warm/Cold (Compressor)

$20/- per month $25/- per month $30/- per month

Hot/Warm/Cold (Compressor)

$33/- per month

Drinkstar Enterprise . Tel: 6449 8803 . www.drinkstar.com.sg Blk 129 #01-42, Bedok North Street 2, S(460129) . sales@drinkstar.com.sg

$28/$35/-

$36/-

SIMPLY AMAZING!

MADE IN USA Paragon Water Filter

$199

NEW VAL AR R I

- No changes of filter required (Latest US Technology) - Quick & Easy to install - 5 Years Warranty

DSM788

DSM988

- 2 way water dispenser - Super-slim design - Environmental friendly refrigerant adoption

- Front LED lamp adoption - Environmental friendly refrigerant adoption - Prevent overheating by thermostat protector

TABLE TOP

NEW VAL AR R I

FLOORSTAND

Scan Now to find out more

NEW VAL AR R I

OTHERS

FLOOR STAND

TABLE TOP

http://bit.ly/UqFPcj

YR-4T $130

DS8190F $298

DS8890

DS8270F $348

DS8270

DS106-3TF $368

CW919C

CW798 Alkaline Water System

Mineral Water Pot $88

Shower Filter $88

Double Filter $55

DS3888 $1388

CW728

DS929 Nano Water System

DS2868 $599

DSM688

DSM888 Bio Energy System

DS7133 $350

Call Richard: 9766 5337

home & living

Clearing Your Life for a New Year TEXT: LEO BABAUTA PHOTO: By Tim Collins (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Every January, people rush out and get a gym membership, set a list of goals or resolutions, and get ready to take on a new year of frenetic activity.

Unfortunately, we don’t often clear space to make room for all this new stuff.

The beginning of the year is a great time for renewal of energy and taking on the things we’ve always wanted to tackle — clutter, fitness, work we’re passionate about, debt, and so on. But it’s also a great time to clear out your life, starting out the year on a blank page that’s ready to be filled.

While everyone’s life is different, I’ll share some of what I do to clear out my life.

24

QR MART

- Review the year to think about what I learned, what mistakes I made, what I accomplished.

- Clear my schedule as much as possible. That often means saying no to people.

- Wrap up old projects, end commitments to people, so that my work plate is clearer than normal.

- Toss out old fitness and eating plans, to make room for new experiments.

- Clear my email inbox. If I haven’t answered the email recently, it’s probably not important, so I archive it.

- Act on or answer other emails, so that my inbox is emptied.

-Clear out other inboxes. That might be an inbox on a social network, or a list of things I wanted to do or read, or any kind of list really. File them away under someday, or delete or archive. Anything that’s taking some mental energy because I know I need to get to it, gets cleared.

- Clear my computer files.

Usually this means deleting a bunch of files I don’t need, but I also just consolidate files into one folder or put them in an online archive (like in Dropbox).

- Clear paperwork. I rarely have any papers these days — I’ve slowly turned everything digital. But I still get things in the mail sometimes, so if I have any lying around, I dispose of them to clear out any remaining paperwork.

home & living

- Clear clutter. If there are areas that have become cluttered, I clear them out.

Often it just means taking a box or bag of things that I’ve been meaning to donate to Goodwill.

- Clear my errands. I’ll make a list of all the errands I’ve been putting off, and do them in one afternoon.

- Clear my finances. I’ll take a few minutes to review my checking and savings accounts, Paypal, investments, etc. and make sure everything is in order. If there are little things that need taking care of, I do them so that my mind is cleared.

- Clear pantry and refrigerator of junk. Old crap that’s been lying around.

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Junk food if there’s any there (I don’t usually have any anymore, but I used to). Left with just good whole ingredients for healthy foods.

This might take a couple days, working off and on in little bits. For some, it might take longer. But when you’re done, it’s amazing. Your mind is clear and refreshed.

You feel like you’re ready to take on anything.

To be honest, I do these things regularly throughout the year, and it’s great to keep a clean slate most of the time. But the new year is always a perfect opportunity to clear everything at once.

RENOVATION

For HDB, Condominium, Landed Properties, Office Buildings

Multi-

We specialise in all household repairs and services in your neighbourhood at

reasonable price

Services

维 修 及 装 修 服 务 中 心

Plumbing and Construction Services

72B Thomson Road Singapore 307589 | topnotch.insing.sg Tel: 6 5822 138

• Painting • Window Installation • Flooring Tiles • Heater, Wash Basin Installation • Kitchen Cabinet Installation • Furniture • Office Partition • Ceiling Installation • Door Lock

Scan Now to call us

REPAIR WORKS • Plumbing Services • Fridge and Washing Machine • Air-con • Leakage and Toilet Closet /Parts Changing • Choke Clearing (all kinds) • Electrical Works • Dustbin (all kinds)

9645 0666

9645 0999

home & living

TEXT: LEO BABAUTA PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

How to Be Mindful During the Holidays The holidays are a busy and stressful time for most people — with work and gift shopping and get-togethers and all kinds of other events and worries, it’s a wonder we stay sane at all.

The secret to survival — and in fact to having a wonderful time during these holidays and any stressful situation — is to stay in the moment, as much as possible. This is something I work on all the time, and it’s easy to forget.

However, it’s also easy to do, if you stay conscious of it. Here’s how:

1

A Simple Mantra Each time you feel yourself getting stressed or overwhelmed, remember the fruit. Say to yourself “apple” or “banana” or “berries” (or whatever fruit you ate), and remember what it was like to be mindful as you ate that fruit. Now do the same thing with whatever you’re doing right now — whether you’re out shopping, or spending time with loved ones, or doing a work task. Focus on one thing, and really be in the moment with that thing or that person.

26

QR MART

2

A Simple Practice Take a fruit — an apple, a pear, a peeled banana or kiwi, some berries — and eat them mindfully.

Slowly. Take a small bite, and really experience it. Feel the texture in your mouth. Savor the taste. Smell the fruit. Think about how you feel as you eat the fruit.

Feel the juices in your mouth.

Feel yourself swallow the bite.

Eat the entire fruit this way, one bite at a time, really feeling and tasting and smelling and experiencing this fruit.

Remember What’s Important

home & living

3

During these holidays, think about what’s most important to you. That might be your loved ones, or a loved one, whether that’s a spouse or friends or kids or parents or whatever. It might be your work — what you create and are passionate about. It might be something else. Focus on that during these holidays, and remember that the rest is just noise. It’s not important. Fully experience what’s important to you, and let the rest fade away.

http://bit.ly/VcfyRt

home & living

Recommended reads

from Singapore Casual Days

Casual Days is a simple and honest print magazine about meaningful everyday experiences.

Each issue explores a specific issue related to everyday life and features a carefully-put-together line-up of inspiring individuals from various creative fields, including artists, designers, writers, photographers, idea-makers, style-setters, film directors, curators, illustrators, store-owners and our own friends.

Issue 1 revolves around the theme of "travel" Find out more or buy online at www.casual-days.com

alter:sg Conceived by a group of individuals, alter:sg is an independent travel guide to showcase an alternative side to lifestyle in Singapore. They cover a mix of people and places from the fun to the cool to the overlooked and underappreciated. alter:sg invites you, local or tourist alike, to get out there and (re)discover this little island.

Ultimately, they believe in redefining the ordinary.

Find out more or buy online at www.alter.sg

28

QR MART

home & living Encounters

Encounters is a bilingual publication that features creative lifestyle and unique experiences. It explores the conceptualisation of creative activities, document the stories of people, and collect beautiful things and moments from every day life and travelling.

Find out more or buy online at www.encounters.sg

Effective Service | Reasonable Price | Ideal Choice

Senses03

L ocksmith S ervices

24 Hours Locksmith Services (24小时开锁+换锁服务)

Specialise in: - Picking Locks, Cars & Safe - Alteration of Keys System (Master Keyed & Key Alike System) - Installation of Locks or 2 in 1 Lock System or more for main Door, Main Gate, Offices, Pad Lock, Room Door & etc.

- Making Keys for Car and Motorcycles without Sample - Making Keys for Transporter & Immobilises Cars

Scan here

for more information http://bit.ly/V4XzXc

FF s.

O ock L % f 10 n o ucts

Contact

Tim: +65 8388 4747

te tio od ba alla k Pr ) e R st c es o

c L n tra y i es rvi Ex h an clud + Se t

wi

n

(I

home & living

Sitting and Watching TEXT: LEO BABAUTA PHOTO: PUBLICDOMAINPICTURES.NET

Have you ever felt that we are rushing through life, that we get so caught up in busy-ness that life is passing us almost without notice?

I get this feeling all the time.

The antidote is simple: sitting and watching.

Take a minute out of your busy day to sit with me, and talk.

Take a moment to imagine being in the middle of traffic — you’re driving, stressed out by the high amount of traffic, trying to get somewhere before you’re late, angry at other drivers who are rude or idiotic, completely focused on making your way through this jungle of metal on a ribbon of asphalt.

Now you’ve gotten to the end, phew, you made it, wonderful, and you’re only a few minutes late … but did you notice the scenery you passed along the way? Did you talk to any of the other people along your path?

Did you enjoy the ride?

No, probably not. You were so caught up in getting there, in the details of navigating, in the stress of driving, that you didn’t have time to notice your surroundings, the people nearby, or the wonderful journey. This is how we are in life.

30

QR MART

Now imagine that you pulled over, and got out of the car, and found a grassy spot to sit.

And you watched the other cars zoom by. And you watched the grass blown gently by the wind, and the birds making a flocking pattern overhead, and the clouds lazily watching you back.

Sit and watch.

We don’t do this, because it’s useless to do something that isn’t productive, that doesn’t improve our lives. But as Alan Watts wrote in The Way of Zen: “As muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone, it could be argued that those who sit quietly and do nothing are making one of the best possible contributions to a world in turmoil.”

It’s interesting, too, what we see when we sit and watch. We will notice others rushing, and worried, and angry, and in them see a mirror of ourselves.

We will notice children laughing (or crying) with their parents, and remember what we’re missing when we rush to improve our lives.

More interesting is what you see when you sit and watch

yourself. You learn to step outside yourself, and act as an observer. You see your thoughts, and learn more about yourself than you ever could if you were rushing to take action. You see your self-doubts, and self-criticism, and wonder where they came from (a bad incident in childhood, perhaps?) and wonder if you are smart enough to let them go. You see your rationalizations, and realize that they are bullshit, and learn to let those go too.

You see your fears, and realize what hold they have over you, and realize that you can make them powerless, by just sitting and watching them, not taking action on them.

By sitting and watching, you come to know yourself.

You learn the most valuable lessons about life, by sitting and watching.

And as we know from the observer effect in physics, by watching, we change what we watch.

Take a few minutes today, to sit and watch. It might change your life.

A listing with some of our most irresistable deals in town, offering products and services at $9.90, and between $10 to $99.

REAL DEAL

Scan the QR codes of the respective pages to find out more or purchase instantly!

Everything at $9.90 IT ACCESSORIES

iSmart Wireless Mouse

R1

Stylish and comfortable to use, discover the delight of interacting with your computer wirelessly with ease.

50%OFF UP: $19.90

OFF

iSmart Wired Mouse

R2

3

With its ultra-high speed up to 1600 dpi resolution, iSmart Wired Mouse gives you control with excellent precision.

FOR $9.90

LIFESTYLE ACCESSORIES

iSmart Thrill

R3

The best lightweight Android smartphone companion that charges your phone and transfers data.

USB CONNECTOR AND MICRO SD CARD READER

iSmart Handy

R4

50%OFF

MICRO USB CONNECTOR

This ultra-portable product charges both Android smartphones and iPhones - clearly the best of both worlds, isn’t it?

UP: $19.90 30 PIN CONNECTOR MICRO USB CONNECTOR

USB CONNECTOR

UP: $19.90

iSmart Earphone

R5

AVAILABLE IN RED, GREEN AND PURPLE

A great fashion earphone that boasts outstanding bass response, lifelike sound with noise isolation.

R1 to R5

50%OFF BUY 1 GET 1 FREE

SCAN HERE TO PURCHASE OR FIND OUT MORE

http://bit.ly/10RJxym QR MART

31

REAL DEAL

R6

Everything at $9.90 iSmart Suede Collection: Notebook Sleeve The soft, light weight and yet durable leatherette fabric of this sleeve protects and complements your notebook.

iSmart HDMI Cable

R7

This 2m HDMI cable ensures smooth and seamless HD entertainment experience for you and your family.

R8

Puro iPad2 Back Cover (Soft Touch) Vibrant, colourful iPad2 back covers to protect and personalise your iPad any way you want it to be.

REAL DEAL

50%OFF UP: $19.90

66%OFF UP: $29.90

80%OFF UP: $49.90

Other great offers

HOME & LIVING

R9

R10

50% OFF Drinkstar Travelling Water Purifier Removes 99% of the dirt/ceramics, removes active carbon, chloride and unpleasant odour. Easy to install on your tap.

$49.90

50% OFF Drinkstar Countertop Water Filter Filter away 99% of unwanted odour and substances such as ceramics and chloride from your water.

R6 to R10

SCAN HERE TO PURCHASE OR FIND OUT MORE

http://bit.ly/WXHEQy

32

QR MART

UP: $99.90

$98 UP: $199.90

SIGN UP

for a

1-Year QR Mart membership

for just $5/month and get a FREE

Iomega® iConnect Wireless Data Station

Iomega SuperHero™ Backup and Charger for iPhone

Features: - Easy file sharing, data backup and print serving - Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless connectivity - Time Machine® Support - Simple Expandability - Warranty: 3 years

Features: - Convenient Docking Station - Backup and restore contacts and photos - 4GB SD Card included - Supports iPhone 4, 3GS, 3G and iPod Touch 4th Gen

- Receive a copy of QR Mart right at your doorstep for every issue - Exclusive member privileges for QR Mart promotions - Get any one of your preferred product from the above at special pricing - Enjoy discounts at all of our participating merchants

AT ONLY

$5/month

SCAN NOW

to join us as a member

*While stocks last. For new sign-ups only.

direct url: bit.ly/qrmart

We are one of the leading specialist retailers of bathroom, kitchen and home-improvement products in Singapore. Visit our showroom today.

Balestier Showroom 551 Balestier Road, S(329868) Tel: 6254 8122 Fax: 6355 1266

IMM Showroom 2 Jurong East Street 21, IMM Building #03-10, S(609601) Tel: 6563 6493 Fax: 6564 1541

Bukit Timah Showroom 99, Bukit Timah Road, Alfa Centre #01-01, S(229835) Tel: 6334 1123 Fax: 6336 9069

Bringing you ideas

SCAN NOW

FOR ONLINE CONTENT

http://bit.ly/TpnxFv

www.simsiangchoon.com

Main Corporate Showroom 21, Changi South Avenue 2, Sim Siang Choon Building,S(486630) Tel: 6266 6632 Fax: 6542 2877