Saturday Star 2025-08-02

What if the secret to better health, less stress, and a happier life wasn’t another productivity hack, but a return to something much simpler: play? Let's face it, adults are experts at being busy. Deadlines, bills, and endless to-do lists often crowd out the simple pleasures that once filled our days. But science is clear, play isn’t just for children. It’s a powerful, underrated tool for mental health, emotional resilience, and genuine joy at any age. Our lives often become stressful as adults due to deadlines and juggling life stressors, explains local registered counsellor Sue-Lee Henning. We forget to take breaks and have fun. Play has been proven to help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation and increase overall life fulfilment. That’s not just wishful thinking. Research published in The American…

“I don’t own sweatpants,” model and content creator Nara Smith told Jay Shetty in a recent podcast interview. “I think a lot of how I perform during the day is how I dress,” she explains. “When I want to get stuff done, I will dress a certain way. I never wake up and not do my skincare. There’s never a day when I don’t do my hair,” she continues. She goes on to say that it helps her to perform at her peak level of production. “To me, it’s all about dressing and doing things to make myself feel a certain way.” The mother of three, who is now expecting her fourth child, often wears elaborate high-fashion outfits when she does her cooking videos. So it’s hard to imagine her…

We spend a huge part of our lives at work, which is already a little depressing when you think about it. Right now, stress is sky-high, workplace bullying still happens in too many offices, salaries aren’t keeping up with the cost of living, and yet the pressure to “perform” never lets up. And just when you think it couldn’t get more complicated, a quiet workplace revolution is bubbling up, one that might just change how we work and protect our well-being in the long run. The new generation of workers, particularly Gen Z, is challenging the old “command-and-control” approach – where decisions flow from the top and employees follow orders – but leadership isn't something they're eager to chase. This conscious choice not to climb the ladder is what experts…

Pedro Pascal has been popping up everywhere lately, and it’s not just because he’s everyone’s favourite “daddy”. During the press tour for his new movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, videos of Pascal getting cosy with his co-star Vanessa Kirby, who plays the Invisible Woman, have gone viral. In the clips, the two are seen holding hands, leaning into one another, and even gently rubbing arms. To some, it looks like there might be a romantic spark between them. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, Pascal has been quite open about why he acts this way. He’s previously spoken about his struggles with anxiety, especially in high-pressure situations like public events and interviews. For him, physical touch is a way to stay grounded. He’s mentioned how being…

Netflix’s latest offering, The Royals, takes viewers on a captivating journey through the ornate corridors of an imaginary princely state, Morpiur. Serving up a visually stunning feast of gold-leafed halls and vibrant traditions, this show combines Indian heritage with the universal allure of romantic drama. The premise is intriguing: a nearly bankrupt royal family, led by Ishan Khattar and his co-stars, grapples for survival when a hospitality company, helmed by the determined Sofia (Bhumi Pednekar), offers them a lifeline in the form of a Royal B&B. This innovative concept invites commoners to mingle with the royals, promising an experience that dances between fantasy and reality. It’s a clever twist that is ripe for conflict and sparks, which serves as the foundation of the plot. Sofia is introduced as a dynamic…

As a TV critic, I have watched my fair share of documentaries, but none has left as indelible an impression as Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story on Showmax. To date, it’s won a plethora of accolades, including Best Documentary honours at the British Academy Film Awards and the Producers Guild of America, and several more at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards (including Best Documentary Feature). Currently, it’s in the running for Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction, Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special and Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. These accolades are a testament to the creatives behind the feature, which is co-directed and co-written by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who share the…