Feeling Overwhelmed? 20 People Share What To Do To Feel Better
We all get overwhelmed sometimes. Life moves fast. Between work, family, school, and social media, it’s easy to feel like your mind just can’t take it anymore. When this happens, it’s important to slow down and find ways to recharge.
So, we asked our community one simple question: “How do you recharge or reset when you’re feeling overwhelmed?” The answers were honest, warm, and real. While some people turned to quiet moments, others needed movement or laughter. There’s no right way to recharge, it’s just your way.
In this segment of Afrogist, we’ll share 20 different responses from people just like you. These ideas might help you find what works best for you when life feels too heavy.
“I have options for this and opt for the available. I travel or go play some sports.”
HarvBam (M)
Nigeria
“Listen to music and sleep off.”
Olawale (M)
Lagos
“I just take my bath. If it’s not possible, I play music.”
Don Julio (M)
Nigeria
“Prayer!
Music!
Sleep!!”
Ibrahim Naomi (F)
Nigeria
“I just self-isolate by cutting all communication and shutting everyone out. Fill up my house with plenty of snacks, get plenty of sleep and binge watch all my favourite shows.”
Femi (M)
Lagos
“First, I shut down and shut off everything and everyone, phone, social media, everything.
Then I have a good cry, take a bath, watch a movie or read a book and eat my favourite food. Sometimes I call my man to rant.”
Lola (F)
Ogun State
“Sleep, eat, cry, watch movies, pray”
Jobeke (F)
Osun
“I pray, I eat and I watch a movie”
Abiola (F)
Ogun State
“I’m normally reserved by nature. When overwhelmed, I get more scarce than normal. I engage in movies especially Korean, they tend to be very motivating and reminds me that there is still good in the world. I love hair, I’ve been making hair since my ss3 when my school let us make hair. There’s just something calming about it.
When overwhelmed, I sometimes wash, treat and style my wigs or my natural hair. I also play with makéup till the layers on my face are so thick that I’d decide to clean it off. It’s like starting afresh for some reason. Lastly and most importantly, I pray internally and sing songs reminding me that I’m really not alone.”
Paris (F)
Port Harcourt
“I take short breaks, practise deep breathing, and engage in relaxing activities.
I celebrate little achievements and use that as motivation to continue pushing forward.
Saying a word of prayer.”
Euphoria (F)
Nigeria
“I listen to music.”
Gift (F)
Ota
“Usually, I step away from the very thing that overwhelms me. And because I believe that nature abhors vacuum, I don’t just step away, I step into something else: a movie, a song, a quiet place where I can think without restraints, etc.
This is how I recharge.”
Chiwenite (M)
Nigeria
“Sleep, watch a movie, pray, sleep again, eat, eat while watching a movie then sleep off while watching it.”
IFE (F)
Lagos
“I sleep.
Honestly, I sleep at the slightest inconvenience.
I’m sad? I sleep. Tired? I sleep. Frustrated? I sleep. Overstimulated? I sleep. Overwhelmed? I sleep. Happy? I sleep.”
Anita (F)
Ogun
“I cry, pray and eat to regain the strength I lost while crying.”
Es (F)
Lagos
“I listen to uplifting songs and sing along or dance, then when I still feel overwhelmed, I talk to God and motivate myself with His words over my life.”
Nancy (F)
Delta State
“When I’m overwhelmed? Lol, first things first, I stress my boyfriend. If I’m going crazy, he must be going crazy too. I didn’t choose stress, but if it chose me, it’s choosing both of us. 😂 Then I proceed to do what any sane person would do, cry. Cry it all out. Sometimes I put on Adele for the whole week. And then eat. Sometimes tho, I just bathe and watch Korean films or manga.”
Leah (F)
LG
“I just go off for a while. Whatever it is, friendship, work, relationship or family, I just go off for a while by myself, and do literally anything else than facing the issue. But it works sha. Coz when I come back, I feel sane enough to handle whatever it is.”
Mimisa (F)
Ghana
“Pray, sleep, cry, watch movies, dress slutty and go to a bar, shop online, depends on what is making me stressed tbh.”
Ola (F)
Lagos
“I call my mummy!”
Anony (F)
Delta State
What To Do To Feel Better When Feeling Overwhelmed
Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re weak, it simply means you’re human. Everyone carries a weight that sometimes gets too heavy. The most important thing is learning how to set that weight down, even for a moment, and permit yourself to breathe again.
From the stories we’ve shared, one thing is clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all method to recharging. Some people need silence, while others need sound. Some heal through prayer, while others dance their stress away. And that’s perfectly okay.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are 5 simple things you can try when you’re feeling overwhelmed:
- Step away and breathe deeply: Sometimes, a 5-minute pause is all your mind needs to reset.
- Write it out: Grab a notebook or your phone and just let your thoughts flow freely. No judgment.
- Go outside: A short walk, even to your gate or balcony, can change how you feel.
- Play music you love: Gospel, jazz, or Afrobeats, let the rhythm lift your spirit.
- Talk to someone you trust: Don’t keep it all inside. It is surprising what a kind voice can bring.
You don’t always have to be strong. Sometimes, your power is in your rest.
So the next time life feels like too much, go back to these words. Let yourself rest, reset, and rise again, stronger, lighter, and filled with hope.
PS: Want to contribute to the current Afrogist episode? Click the link below.
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