At 5am, Adetoke is already awake. The kettle whistles, rice boils.
School uniforms are ironed with one hand while she replies customers with the other. She waves goodbye to her children, locks the gate, and rushes to her office.
By 11:43am, her head is pounding.
She cannot remember the last time she drank water.
Breakfast? She tells herself she will eat later. Later never comes.
At 9:18pm, she finally sits down with a large plate of swallow and soup.
She eats quickly, too tired to chew slowly.
By 10pm, she is asleep, heavy, uncomfortable and restless.
This is how many strong Nigerian women live.
Constantly giving, but rarely pausing to refuel.
Nourish
Ensure you start your day with something even if it’s as simple as pap and milk, oats, egg and bread, rice and beans.
Eat small balanced meals at intervals.
Don’t skip meals and then overload your body late at night. Aim to eat dinner before 8pm to support digestion and better sleep.
Drink plenty of water daily.
Water boosts energy, aids digestion, supports clear skin, and helps your body function well. “Whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Even your eating honors Him.
Move
It’s not until you hit the gym, exercise doesn’t have to be complex. Start with 10–30 minutes walk daily, climb stairs, if you can, dance while cooking.
Movement boosts energy and builds strength.
When possible, step outside for sunlight, fresh air, trees (nature) reduces stress, clears your mind, and lifts your mood. “Bodily exercise profits a little” (1 Timothy 4:8).
Glow
Rest, laugh, take short breaks at intervals daily. Don’t wait until burnout occurs.
Create small happy moments daily. It could be seeing light comedies, movies, etc but ensure it’s not done in excess.
Don’t wait for perfect moments to be happy.
You can intentionally create happy moments for yourself daily.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
You are not called to survive life exhausted. You are called to flourish. And flourishing begins with the daily decision to care for the woman God entrusted to you, that’s you.
