On 17 April 2025, CaringSG hosted a deeply meaningful Self-Care Workshop facilitated by Julia Chan—caregiver, certified mental wellness coach, and author of The Healing Journal: A Caregiver’s Path to Self-Care. With a nurturing approach shaped by her own lived experiences, Julia guided participants through practical tools to better care for themselves while supporting their loved ones.
The workshop drew participants into a space of reflection, equipping them with strategies that are simple yet powerful. As one participant shared, “This reminded me that my needs matter too.”
Participants were first encouraged to identify what makes them feel calm, happy, or restored. From nature walks and music to deep breathing or simply having a quiet moment, these activities formed the basis of their personal emotional toolkit—a concept drawn directly from The Healing Journal.
Participants were also asked to list their emotional triggers—what irritates, exhausts, or overwhelms them. By naming their emotions and identifying patterns, caregivers can take proactive steps toward emotional regulation.
In another reflective activity, participants wrote personal affirmations to strengthen self-compassion. Statements such as “I deserve rest” and “I forgive myself” encouraged a re-alignment with their inner values.
Julia also spoke about the importance of setting boundaries as a practice of self-care and protecting one’s resources. Caregivers explored how to say “no” without guilt or offence, and how to express their needs in both family and workplace settings.
Caregivers often put themselves last. The workshop addressed this through a time management activity where attendees mapped out opportunities to incorporate micro self-care moments into their daily routines.
A highlight was the Ecosystem Mapping activity—where each caregiver visualised their network of support. Using pens of different colours, they marked:
> Black: existing support (family, friends, services)
> Blue: desired connections they hope to build
> Red: individuals they would like to support in return
This visual helped caregivers realise the strength—and gaps—within their circles of care.
The workshop closed with an encouraging reminder: self-care is not indulgence—it is necessary. Just like we recharge our phones daily, caregivers too need their personal battery recharged regularly.
For organisations looking to support their employees’ or caregivers’ well-being, CaringSG offers customised self-care talks and workshops tailored for corporate settings. These sessions are ideal for building emotional resilience, improving staff morale, and creating more empathetic communities or workplaces.
👉 If your organisation is interested in hosting a customised self-care talk or workshop for your team, reach out to us at workshop@caring.sg.
Let’s continue to learn, connect, and empower—because you deserve care too. 💚
On 17 April 2025, CaringSG hosted a deeply meaningful Self-Care Workshop facilitated by Julia Chan—caregiver, certified mental wellness coach, and author of The Healing Journal: A Caregiver’s Path to Self-Care. With a nurturing approach shaped by her own lived experiences, Julia guided participants through practical tools to better care for themselves while supporting their loved ones.
A big part of the joy in caregiving for children comes from being made to see things from a fresh child-like perspective. Teaching autistic children requires one to go beyond that. Often, one has to tap on that perspective and the child’s interest to engage them in learning about our neurotypical world. This is the story of Eliz’s creative teaching journey inspired by her fostered child, Eugene.
A big part of the joy in caregiving for children comes from being made to see things from a fresh child-like perspective. Teaching autistic children requires one to go beyond that. Often, one has to tap on that perspective and the child’s interest to engage them in learning about our neurotypical world. This is the story of Eliz’s creative teaching journey inspired by her fostered child, Eugene.
A big part of the joy in caregiving for children comes from being made to see things from a fresh child-like perspective. Teaching autistic children requires one to go beyond that. Often, one has to tap on that perspective and the child’s interest to engage them in learning about our neurotypical world. This is the story of Eliz’s creative teaching journey inspired by her fostered child, Eugene.
I am sitting down to write this six days after I met Wendy, Mummy to an autistic daughter, over lunch. Looking at the notes I scribbled from our chat, the few words that popped up in my mind? ‘My learning journey’. This is Wendy’s learning journey as a caregiver.
When Carrie first heard her son’s autism diagnosis at age three, she was overwhelmed with questions and uncertainty. But through determination, early intervention, and unwavering support from her husband, she found a path forward—guided, unexpectedly, by her son Ethan’s deep love for trains. From Thomas & Friends to trainspotting in Switzerland, this is a heartfelt story of a family’s journey, resilience, and the power of embracing a child’s special interests.
