Life is hard sometimes. Whether it’s due to external factors or internalised trauma, it’s undeniable that sometimes, things just suck. This International Women’s Day 2025, I have something for everyone: self-care. Regardless of age, gender, orientation or race, everyone needs a little loving from themselves! In a society where every little mistake and flaw may be magnified and excessively focused on, sometimes knowing what you’re worth is crucial to preventing a descent into a self-deprecating spiral.
Throwing around the word ‘self-care’ is easy; what about actually doing it? Meet Michelle Ngiam, founder of MEURAKI, a holistic wellness platform that sets out to make taking care of yourself easy, accessible and fun. Before MEURAKI, she’s also had her own share of ups and downs in life that led her to where she is today. Michelle’s juggled many different roles, so how did she do it? Let’s find out!
Turning 38 this year, Michelle is a mother to two daughters and cherishes all the moments she spends with her family. As an advocate for self-care, her favourite ways to take time and prioritise herself include simple pleasures like a spa day or a cafe trip – a calming recharge in the midst of her packed schedule for her platform’s launch preparations.
But these practices didn’t magically come to her on a random day – it was all trial and error. “The key is staying attuned to what my mind and body need at each phase of my journey,” Michelle mentioned. “What works for me now may change in the future.”
Michelle’s Journey With Self-Care
While she definitely understands the importance of taking time for herself now, things weren’t always like this. Like many of us, she grappled with people-pleasing tendencies as well as the fear of disappointing others and failing to meet expectations.
“Ironically, seeming like someone who had ‘made it to the top’ made me feel lonelier,” Michelle says. As someone who has to wear many hats in life – mother, entrepreneur, financial consultant, and now a founder of a tech start-up – she felt immense pressure to “have it all together.” Imposter syndrome, inferiority complex and self-doubt became familiar feelings – but others don’t see the struggles that are happening below the surface, only the success she had reached.
Her life met with a profound turning point in 2018 with the birth of her first daughter, leading Michelle to question many things in her life. Who was she beyond just a mother? What were her strengths, her weaknesses, her passions and her driving force? This point kickstarted a long, ongoing delve into self-discovery that led her to uncover facts about herself she never would’ve otherwise found out.
However, tragedy struck when she had a miscarriage during her second pregnancy in 2022, bringing about overwhelming grief and deep retrospection. The arrival of her second daughter in 2023, while a celebratory affair, welcomed a slew of new obstacles, including post-partum anxiety and signs of depression. Every day of hers was weighed down by an unshakeable feeling of gloom and dread. But Michelle knew she had to do something for her emotional well-being, and sought out ways to bring herself out of this state of mind.
Luckily, she had unwavering pillars of support around her. Her loved ones provided a safe circle of comfort and strength while therapy allowed her to understand how her mind worked and process her emotions.
Her obstacles came with a silver lining – Michelle was able to better understand her mental health. She could see firsthand the interconnectedness of emotional, mental, and physical well-being as well as other lesser-mentioned aspects. This reinforced her vision of creating a space where a community that people experiencing similar hardships could turn to.
“Through it all, my biggest motivation has been my daughters,” Michelle says. “I want them to grow up in a world where wellness isn’t an afterthought, but a way of life.”
And so she sets out to lead by example, pushing forward with the launch of her platform, while trying her best to manage her health and well-being. “I sometimes slip into old habits,” she says. Overworking and pushing your body past its limits is something many of us are familiar with – and Michelle is no different.
In her winding journey of healing, all her setbacks and obstacles have led her to realise one thing: “Healing isn’t about reaching a perfect state but about continuously choosing growth even when it’s uncomfortable.”
Everyone’s Experiences Are Different
“Self-love isn’t a destination – it’s a practice and a lifelong journey,” Michelle says. “The most important thing to remember is that self-love is not selfish.”
Just like many women, she has multiple labels: career woman, mother, daughter, partner, friend. With so many different responsibilities to handle, it’s no surprise a person’s well-being takes a backseat. The weight of these labels can make it feel impossible to prioritise self-care without guilt, she explains.
Her number one suggestion? Aligning priorities over seeking perfect balance. Once you figure out what matters to you and where your energy should be focused on, you’ll stop chasing an impossible ideal, Michelle advises.
No one’s experience with self-care and self-love is the same – in fact, most of the time they are drastically different. Before you think that Michelle’s story can’t help you find out how to cope with the chaos of your surroundings, remember this: “Self-care isn’t a one-size-fits-all.” And honestly, neither is self-love.
Throughout the course of learning to love herself, Michelle has realised one key point – you have to be willing to unlearn the belief that self-worth is tied to productivity or external validation. “Real self-love comes from recognising that we are enough, just as we are. It’s about treating ourselves with the same kindness and compassion we extend to others, even on days when we feel unworthy.”
But it’s unrealistic to expect change to happen instantly. Even for Michelle, self-doubt, setbacks and relapses are normal – but these negative thoughts are simply that, thoughts. Doubts may never fully disappear but as long you push forward with determination and your goal in mind, you won’t fail to make progress; a feeling she positions herself with.
With youth having the highest rate of burnout and poor mental health, I asked Michelle what she would recommend to those trying to heal and prioritise themselves. “Start with small, sustainable actions,” Michelle says. “Self-care isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about daily habits that support well-being. The key is consistency, not intensity.”
The youth are pressured to constantly achieve, making self-care seem like a luxury they can’t afford. But self-care doesn’t require taking time away from responsibilities. It can be integrated into daily life — you just have to figure out how to do it in a way that suits you. “Prioritising yourself doesn’t mean overhauling your life overnight,” Michelle summarises. “Ultimately, taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
And all of this has led to the MEURAKI, a culmination of Michelle’s experience and advice. In an effort to help others find balance, heal, and reconnect with themselves, Michelle has tapped into a raw and vulnerable side of her and risked it all to revolutionise the public’s view on holistic wellness.
Something her younger self would have never thought to do, building MEURAKI from the ground up has allowed Michelle to push her creative boundaries and think out of the box, as well as discover more things about herself.
This International Women’s Day, let us take a break from the constant ‘rat race’ of society and escape the hustle of modern life. Go on a walk, smell the roses and breathe in the fresh air! Check out more of MEURAKI on the website and Instagram – I hear it’s officially launching in mid-2025!
Happy International Women’s Day!
Visuals Courtesy of Michelle Ngiam and MEURAKI
