It had been a few weeks of late-night snacks (you know that “small hunger” that shows up by 10pm), endless scrolling on Social Media, and skipping my morning prayers and stretches. I wasn’t sleeping well. I was bloated. And mentally, I was just weak.
But that morning hit differently.
As I sat on my bed, barefoot and staring into space, I whispered to myself, “Omo, something has to change.”
I made that decision to take my health serious.
You know, in Nigeria, we’re wired to hustle. The constant movement, deadlines, NEPA surprises, and Lagos traffic doesn’t exactly scream “healthy lifestyle” But that morning, I realized that if I didn’t slow down intentionally, life would force me to. Sickness doesn’t need permission to enter your body.
So, instead of trying to overhaul everything, I made just three small changes that morning:
Sounds simple right?
A little back story;
I have been a late night sleeper which contributes greatly to me junking at nights and waking up late. This is habit dealt with me, and till date, I am not fully over it. I will share the full story later.
How Consistency over Intensity did it for me
Let me tell you something I’ve learned; You don’t need to join a gym or buy fancy wellness products to be healthy. Especially in Nigeria, where even walking to buy boli and fish can turn into a cardio workout! Maybe you didn’t know, but scientists recently released a study that proves that few hours trekking daily reduces chances of cardiovascular disease by 7%.
I started doing these little routines every morning. Sometimes I skipped a day or two (life happens), but I always came back. And that alone made me feel like I was showing up for myself.
Within a week, my mood improved. I felt lighter mentally and physically. I was more alert during work. I even started sleeping better (goodbye, midnight noodles!).
To help myself stay consistent, I created a little space beside my bed where I keep:
That way, even on the most chaotic mornings, I don’t have to overthink things. My healthy start is right there, waiting.You may be feeling confused on how to start. Now, jump on the list below and get started.
Here’s a Quick Morning Reset Checklist
✅ Wake up and stretch for 5 minutes (even on the bed)
✅ Drink at least 1 cup of warm water
✅ Say a short prayer or affirmation
✅ Write one thing you’re grateful for
✅ Move your body – 20 jumping jacks or short walk outside
✅ Avoid phone screen for the first 15 minutes
If you’re feeling like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of life, please know you’re not alone. We all fall off sometimes. But the beauty of a new day, especially in a country where we’re constantly on the move, is the opportunity to pause and choose you again.
So tomorrow morning, when that alarm rings, don’t aim for perfection. Just aim to try.
Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.
Remember to always check moregist.com for more of my fitness journey and other life stories.
Chukwuebuka Noble
Page manager
