Dear men,
Before i dive into this writeup, i want you all to know that you are seen, loved and appreciated in every way. Thank you for being protectors and providers.
And since we’re in the men’s mental health month, I would like to give you 5 ways to relax and unwind as a man, so you don’t break down or overwork yourself.
1. Rest without a reason
Sleep in on a Saturday, lie down in the afternoon with a fan or the AC blasting and your phone face-down, watch a full film from beginning to end without doing anything else at the same time. Let the day just be slow.
Dear men, this is not laziness at all, and you’re allowed to relax.
In a country that demands so much from its people, choosing rest is a radical and necessary act that you do not need to justify. You do not need to earn it, just rest.
2. Spend Proper time in nature
Nigeria has mountains, hills, forests, and open land that most of us have never even visited.
A day trip outside work and civilization, away from traffic, away from noise, away from the notifications, can reset something deep in you.
You don’t need a passport or an expensive budget; you just need to go somewhere green and be quiet in it for a while.
3. Find a place to just sit and eat slowly
No, I don’t mean a fast-food run between errands, I’m talking about a proper sit-down meal, alone or with a friend, with food you actually enjoy.
Food you like can bring you a certain kind of comfort, and there is something grounding about eating a full plate of something good in a space that isn’t your office or your car. Order the pepper soup and take your time! You deserve it and more.
4. Try Exercising
Exercise is one of the most powerful stress relievers available to you, and it’s free! But make it something you enjoy, like a football game with friends, a morning run through a quiet street before the sun comes up, a swim.
The goal isn’t a six-pack or big arms, the goal is that feeling after, when your mind is quieter than it was before.
5. Talk to someone
This one is harder for Nigerian men, and that’s okay to admit. You were taught that you handle things yourself, that speaking about pain is exposure, that silence is dignity and all those “Aspire to perspire talk”, but loneliness is one of the heaviest things a person can carry, and it doesn’t have to be therapy to start, it just has to be honest.
Find your person, one friend who will sit with you and listen to you rant for hours. No, it doesn’t make you less of a man, it just makes you a human being, and trust me, that too is okay.
So, dear men
Please take care of yourselves and guard your mental health by all means, because we need you all to be strong and healthy.
Happy men’s mental health month to you all!
Sending virtual hugs too!
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