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“When I first got the apprenticeship, I was
grateful. But I kept asking myself, ‘Is this
detour going to set me back?’ I felt like I was
in this weird in-between space: not quite
where I thought I’d be, but still trying to
make it work,” she said.
The demands of adjusting to a new
environment, coupled with Brunei’s
famously longworking hours, haven’t made
it easy. She needs to learn fast, especially
when the job scope has nothing to do with
her background.
“Some days I feel like I’mconstantly playing
catch-up,” she said.
To stay afloat financially and creatively,
Siti runs a side hustle, baking cookies and
offering digital illustrations on commission.
She tries to save up for the future and give
herself a bit of financial breathing room.
Still, there are moments when the pressure
gets overwhelming.
“I had aweekwhere I barely slept. Aministry
event by day and a huge order to finish at
night. That’s when I realised I needed to
be kinder to myself. I can’t pour from an
empty cup.”
Despite the challenges, Siti is gaining
valuable skills, from communication and
resilience in her day job to timemanagement
and self-worth in her side business. While
this wasn’t the path she imagined, she
embraces it with purpose, learning as she
goes and building something she can be
proud of.
BEYOND THE GRIND
There’s no universal formula to managing
work and life in a fast-paced, high-hour
environment. For some, it’s faith and
reflection. For others, it’s boundaries, baby
steps, or building something on the side.
Balance doesn’t have to be perfect – just
possible.
In a culture that often glorifies the grind,
maybe the most radical thing we can do
is learn to pause, prioritise our peace, and
give ourselves permission to rest.
surrender and accountability. Self-control,
especially when it comes to our emotions
and desires, is something Islamholds in high
regard. It’s not about suppressing how you
feel, but about choosing how you respond.
Because while we can’t always control our
circumstances – or the people who come
with them –we can control our reactions.
And that, more often than not, is where our
real strength lies.”
MOM, BOSS AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
For 29-year-old Nurrul Alai Aqilah Rizal,
running a bridal start-up while caring for a
newborn has completely reshaped her idea
of productivity.
“People always talk about work-life balance
like it’s this neat little scale you can just
even out, but when you’re running your own
business and have a newborn who thinks
3am is playtime, balance isn’t the word. It’s
more like organised chaos with pockets of
calm,” she said.
While being her own boss gives her
flexibility, the boundaries between work
and rest blur easily.
“There’s no clocking out, especially when
you’re your own boss and someone’s
mother,” she said. To keep burnout at bay,
she sets firm limits. “After 5pm, I put my
phone away. Noemails, noDMs, no checking
sales dashboards. That’s baby time.”
Her definition of success has also shifted.
It’s no longer about hustling 24/7. Success
now means replying to a client and
managing a proper meal. Sometimes, even
a shower is a small victory.
“It’s about creating a life that doesn’t leave
me running on empty.”
The biggest change, she said, is in her mind-
set. “I stopped trying to ‘have it all’ and
started focusing on what actually matters.”
STARTING FROM THE
SIDELINES
At 27, Siti Khairunnisa finds herself in an
apprenticeship at a government ministry
with a role that doesn’t quite align with
her academic background. Though the
mismatch initially made her question her
path, she’s chosen to see it as an opportunity
for growth.
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