The Somnus Sleep Wellness co-founder believes Singaporeans have adapted to exhaustion and forgotten what real rest feels like

How has well-being evolved in your field, and what role does innovation play?

The state-of-the-art in sleep wellness is the integration of technology with experts who can provide the human touch. In my opinion, both are equally important. Wearables and nearables measure sleep with ever-increasing precision, and digital delivery of mental wellness content and even psychological interventions is becoming commonplace. 

While technology has increased the value and accessibility of our work, it lacks the practitioner’s empathy and ability to motivate clients. To stay at the forefront of our field, I think wellness professionals must embrace technological changes while continuing to hone those soft skills.

What do people most misunderstand about the impact of your work at Somnus Sleep Wellness?

A pill or supplement might help you sleep better for a night, but addressing the root causes of sleep difficulties will improve your well-being for a lifetime. We live in a culture where chronic poor sleep has become disturbingly normal. In Singapore, 50 per cent of people are regularly dissatisfied with their sleep quality.

Many have adapted to feeling exhausted, forgetting what waking up truly refreshed is like. They downplay the consequences of sleep deprivation — despite its links to serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders.

Author Kurt Vonnegut once said: “A sane person to an insane society must appear insane.” That’s exactly how it feels to advocate for sleep health today. In Singapore, prioritising high-quality sleep is seen as an anomaly — when it should be the norm in reality. Our mission is to change that mindset and help Singaporeans see that satisfying sleep is for everyone.  

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How have market shifts and changing expectations shaped your approach?

I’ve observed that an essential segment of our market consists of Gen Y and Gen Z. Young people today are more aware of the importance of well-being and see it as a worthwhile investment. Because of that, at Somnus Sleep Wellness, we’ve been working on ways to reach this audience more effectively and offer solutions for their specific concerns.

For example, young people are more likely to complain of problems like bedtime procrastination or struggling with a misaligned sleep schedule, where their natural body clock keeps them awake late into the night — even though work and school still demand an early start. 

What’s the most challenging part of your job that few know about?

Private gyms and personal trainers were almost unheard of a few decades ago in Singapore. Today, they’re part of a billion-dollar industry. Sleep wellness, however, is still in its infancy. The most challenging part of my job at Somnus Sleep Wellness is bridging that gap — helping people realise that professional support for sleep is not just an option but a necessity, just like fitness and nutrition.

Right now, too many people wrestle with sleep issues in silence, unaware that they can take proactive steps to improve their sleep health. Changing that mindset is a formidable challenge, but I will take it on. I want to be a driving force behind a sea change in societal attitudes so it becomes commonplace for people to seek help for insomnia or to improve their sleep quality. 

What three things would help you achieve your biggest goals?

Public awareness needs to grow around the role of psychologists as the go-to professionals for sleep issues, particularly when anxiety is the root cause of long-term insomnia. Too many people seek help from medical specialists and end up with suboptimal treatment. At the same time, expanding Somnus Sleep Wellness into other Southeast Asian markets through regional partnerships remains a priority.

Strong collaborations already exist within the wellness and tourism sectors, so broadening this network will help amplify its reach and impact.

Equally important is securing support from the public sector and insurance companies to serve communities lacking access to care. Mental health should be treated as a public good, and addressing sleep difficulties must be a shared national effort.

What does self-care and well-being mean to you beyond just a trend?

To me, life is like a voyage, and your body and mind are the ship. The purpose of life is to adventure, explore, and see as much as you can, but to do that, you need a seaworthy vessel. That’s what well-being is to me: Keeping the ship agile so you can truly enjoy the journey.

Businesses could take a leaf from this philosophy, too. People aren’t machines. Focusing on employee well-being is not an expense; it’s an investment. An armada of leaky ships will not get you safely to your destination.