Last Christmas, I broke a tradition that goes as far back as I can remember. Instead of unwrapping my gifts with everyone else at midnight on the 25^th of December, I chose to do it alone in the morning. Yes, alone.

I wanted to take my time and not rush through it as usual. So, at sunrise, while everyone else slept soundly, I sat beside the twinkling tree, surrounded by tokens of affection from my loved ones. There was nothing sombre about it. In fact, I revelled in those moments of solitude and gratitude, which turned out to be a precious gift in itself. How often do you get that when you’re racing through life?

Don’t get me wrong. Fragrances and teas in intricate packaging make me happy, but there are also gifts that don’t require wrappers yet give a different kind of joy. These are the types of gifts we should all give ourselves from time to time.  

Give yourself a truly meaningful present

It’s easy to splurge on a new kitchen gadget or the latest iPhone during the holidays or on your birthday, but in the spirit of meaningful gifting, here are four gifts you can give yourself that’ll keep on giving for a long time to come. Collect them all for four times the joy.

1. The gift of living in the moment

Our chaotic lives can make us forget to take time to appreciate the moment. Instead of grumbling about a difficult client or the crowded elevator when you get home from work, hug your loved ones and ask how their day went. Focus on what they have to say without trying to multi-task (preparing dinner, checking your kid’s homework, replying a colleague’s message, etc). Be in the moment and treasure this precious time listening to them share snippets of their lives with you. Recognise how fortunate you are to have your loved ones around you and how quickly time will pass.

2. The gift of peace of mind

Unexpected turns in life can take a toll on your finances and affect the wellbeing of those you care about. With adequate insurance coverage, you never have to worry about being burdened by things like high medical bills or loss of income due to illness.

From April 2025, your MediShield Life policy will offer higher claim limits and better coverage to meet rising healthcare costs. It’s a subconscious reminder to review your insurance portfolio to ensure that you have all the plans you need. For comprehensive coverage, consider getting what I call the Fab Four Protection Essentials this Christmas (note that the plans are all sold separately but they complement each other as a set of essential protection plans):

Round up your Fab Four Christmas Essentials with a “stocking stuffer”, that protects against the cost of cognitive decline like Singlife Dementia Cover. Dementia is a growing concern in an ageing population like Singapore and the cost of dementia can add up over the years.

With your most essential protection needs taken care of, you’ll have peace of mind that should the worst ever happen, you’ll be able to afford the healthcare you need and the lifestyles of your loved ones won’t be compromised. That’s priceless.

3. The gift of adventure

Shed your familiar skin and try an alternate life by having one mega adventure and one mini adventure every month. Don’t worry, they don’t have to be logistical nightmares or involve risky manoeuvres. Here are some examples:

• Mega adventure: Spanning a day or two and involving other people like your spouse, child or friend, this could take the form of birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve or having a three-course meal blindfolded.
• Mini adventure: A solo experience lasting under an hour, this could take the form of writing out a paragraph from a book using your non-dominant hand or stacking as many apples as possible within a minute.

Taking adventures is not just about breaking away from your usual routine and having fun – the happy memories you’ll form as you discover something new will strengthen your sense of identity and ikigai (life purpose). You’ll also deepen your ties with whoever you share these adventures with.

4. The gift of self-forgiveness

In our high-pressure society, we tend to push ourselves to perfection and be especially hard on ourselves if mistakes happen. Cut yourself some slack, drop the self-criticism and accept that everyone makes mistakes – even if it’s losing thousands of dollars on investments in your 20s. Making mistakes is in fact crucial for your personal growth. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Let bygones be bygones and learn from the past.

When you free yourself of the feelings of guilt, shame and self-blame, you’ll feel emotionally liberated. The newfound positivity will help you move forward with greater self-compassion, better mental health and improved relationships.

Closing thoughts

Holiday seasons like Christmas are closely linked to gift-giving, and I appreciate that. This year, consider giving yourself one or all four of these gifts that will keep on giving you greater appreciation for life, enhanced assurance about the future, a stronger sense of identity and better mental wellbeing. The joy, satisfaction and meaning you’ll receive from each of these gifts will last well beyond this season. Happy holidays!

^Note:

^{These policies are underwritten by Singapore Life Ltd.}

^{This is published for general information only and does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific person. A copy of the Product Summary of the relevant policies may be obtained from Singapore Life Ltd. and the participating distributors’ offices. You should read the relevant Product Summary before deciding whether to purchase these products. You may wish to seek advice from a financial adviser representative before making a commitment to purchase the product. If you choose not to seek advice from a financial adviser representative, you should consider whether the product in question is suitable for you.}

^{Singlife Elite Term II}

^{As buying a life insurance policy is a long-term commitment, an early termination of the policy usually involves high costs and the surrender value, if any, that is payable to you may be zero or less than the total premium paid. Buying a health insurance policy that is not suitable for you may impact your ability to finance your future healthcare needs. This is not a contract of insurance. Full details of the standard terms and conditions of this policy can be found in the relevant policy contract.}

^{Singlife Shield, Singlife MultiPay Critical Illness , Singlife Dementia Cover and Singlife CareShield Standard / Plus}

^{As these products have no savings or investment feature, there is no cash value if the policy ends or is terminated prematurely. Buying a health insurance policy that is not suitable for you may impact your ability to finance your future healthcare needs.}

^{You will need to have a basic CareShield Life (CSHL) or ElderShield (ESH) policy before purchasing Singlife CareShield Standard or Singlife CareShield Plus (“Supplements”). Supplements purchased by CSHL policyholders are regulated under the CareShield Life and Long-term Care Act. Supplements purchased by ESH policyholders before the transfer of ESH to Government administration are considered ESH Supplements, which are regulated under the Central Provident Fund (Withdrawals for ElderShield Scheme) Regulations. After the transfer, they are considered CSHL Supplements, regulated under the CareShield Life and Long-term Care Act.}

^{This is not an insurance contract. Full details of the standard terms and conditions of these policies can be found in the relevant policy contract.}

^{This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.}

^{Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.}