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Healthy Living 5 great ways to ease the stress of Lagos living

Between the chaotic traffic jams and too little sleep gotten as a result of having to rise early to commute to various places of work, the average Lagosian is constantly exposed to some form of stress or the other.

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play Lagos traffic is one of the biggest stress inducers Photo credit: Topetempler

Fast-paced, driven, fun-loving and highly resilient, the city of Lagos is as hustle 'n' bustle-filled as the best of them.

Indeed, the average Lagosian can attest to the incredible amount of stress they face everyday. Between the chaotic traffic jams and too little sleep gotten as a result of having to rise early to commute to various places of work, it's safe to say that the average Lagosian is always under some level of stress at any given point in time.

While we accept that there's very little that can be done to permanently eliminate these stress inducers, there are however ways to cushion the effects and generally lead a less stressful life.

Check them out.


  1. Sleep better: Ladies and gentlemen, as seemingly obvious as this suggestion is, it really does make a difference. The average number of sleep hours adults should get is anything between 7 and 8 hours but often times, this isn't the case. When we sleep well, the brain is well-rested, leaving us refreshed and ready to accomplish more. So try getting a minimum of 7 hours of sleep for a straight week and see what difference this makes for you.

  2. Cut down on traffic hours: The average Lagosian spends a significant amount of time in traffic everyday which isn't healthy. Rather than do this daily, you can join a gym and spend some evenings working out to pass time. You can also go see a movie, while places like Freedom Park, Terra Kulture and Bogobiri have live bands or open mic night type events which could be perfect to pass time with.

  3. Try something new: Break the monotony of everyday life by learning to do something new. It could be learning to play a music instrument, a sport or even taking a crash course in a field totally different from yours. Websites like Allison and Coursera offer courses online across different fields at no cost so why not take advantage of it.

  4. Make time for yourself: It's very easy to get lost in the daily hustle of Lagos life, and just neglect to simply take care of ourselves. Take some time out today to either visit the spa for a serious pampering session or you could even spend time catching up on your favourite series/movies or video games.

  5. Embark on a getaway trip: Before your wince at the idea of coughing out a significant amount of money to take a trip, understand that a getaway trip doesn't  need to be a trip out of the country, you don't even have to leave Lagos. There are a couple of resorts that are springing up in Lagos now, make a few enquiries and head on there one weekend ideally with friends or a loved one. Alternatively, you can also visit any of the tourist spots outside Lagos. The point is to change your environment and experience a new place for a period of time. You'd be surprised how much more refreshed and rejuvenated you'll feel.
