By 
It all started one rainy Monday morning in Lagos, the kind of rain that traps you in bed and reminds you of your ex for no reason (eyes rolling😀).
Abike had just woken up. She did what most of us do; not pray, not stretch, not thank God but she reached for her phone.
Big mistake!
The first thing she saw was a group chat message with 147 unread messages.
Second thing , a post of someone buying a new car with the caption:
Hustle o, Make your mate no do you Shakara cause you wan enter him car.
By 7:18 a.m., her anxiety was already jogging, the rain didn’t stop, she checked Instagram and voila the explore page was filled with weddings, 3-year-old CEOs, and a 22-year-old who just bought a house in Lekki. She hissed & moved to X; 2,000 people were debating feminism, suya, and why adults shouldn’t eat cereal after 9 p.m.
By 8:30 a.m., Abike was mentally tired but physically hadn’t even left the bed.
The Breakdown Began… Silently
Her breathing got shallow.
She felt a tightness in her chest, and her thoughts started spiraling:
- I’m so behind in life.
- Everyone else is winning but me.
- Even Tayo that used to borrow pen from me at work is now a crypto expert??😳
Abike cried not because of food nor fresh air, not because of one thing in particular, but because her brain had absorbed too much & too fast which resulted self-doubt of her true potential.
Abike scheduled an appointment with her therapist (bless that woman)who said something simple but powerful:
Your mind is not a dustbin for the internet. You don’t have to carry everything you see.
That was when Abike reclaimed her peace.
Digital Wellness Tools that Helped Abike:
- Digital Detox
Abike logged out of all apps and reconnected with reality. (The reality is just her, her bed, and puff puff and that’s fine.) - Unfollow + Mute Power
Abike unfollowed anyone that triggered anxiety including Bolanle The Wedding Every Weekend. And guess what? No thunder struck. - Mindful Scrolling (Just because scrolling is free doesn’t mean you owe it your brain 247)
Abike now sets timers; 20 minutes for socials, then off it goes like NEPA. - Notification Control
Abike turned off ALL notifications except for her bank app. - Journaling Before Scrolling
Before checking her phone each morning, she writes 3 things she’s grateful for, like sleeping with no generator noise.🤣
The Funny (and Real) Part?
Abike went offline for a full day, her friend Fẹmi texted:
“Hope you’re okay? We didn’t see your WhatsApp story today.”
She replied,
“I’m alive. I just logged out to log into my sanity.”
The Big Lesson:
Digital overload is real and it’s sneaky. It’s not always loud.
Sometimes it shows up as tiredness you can’t explain, a tight chest at midnight, or that weird feeling of being “behind” even though you’re trying.
You’re not lazy. You’re just overstimulated.
Your mind wasn’t made to digest 200 opinions, 15 success stories, 10 arguments, and 3 influencer rants before 10 a.m.
Peace is not found in Wi-Fi speed. Sometimes, peace is in logging out, drinking water, and remembering you’re not in a rat race. Just go at your own pace and it’s enough!