From 4AM alarms to 11PM shutdowns, we’ve turned ourselves into machines.

We work multiple jobs, side gigs, freelance deals, and still try to maintain face on socials like life sweet. Meanwhile, inside our heads? Overload. And the numbers don’t lie. Nigeria has the highest depression rate in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Lagos alone is recording a scary rise in stress-related mental breakdowns, especially among youth juggling survival in this chaotic grind.

A 2023 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) says 7 out of 10 African workers are dealing with burnout symptoms, tired, anxious, unmotivated. Globally, burnout is now one of the top reasons people quit their jobs, even more than bad pay or toxic bosses.

Stress is no longer just “emotional.” It’s now a silent killer, linked to high blood pressure, strokes, and suicide. But we dey package am. We laugh through the pain. We hide behind Instagram filters and tweets like “God’s timing is best.” But behind those posts? Many of us are hanging by a thread.

 Real Talk: Signs You’re Experiencing Burnout

  • You wake up already tired even after sleeping

  • You’re snapping at small things like traffic or poor network

  • Work doesn’t feel exciting anymore, just survival

  • You’re emotionally numb, constantly anxious, or easily overwhelmed

  • You can’t remember the last time you felt joy, not just relief

Let’s not lie, many of us are one annoying email away from quitting everything and starting a poultry farm in Abeokuta. And when you finally get one weekend to rest, NEPA decides to host a deliverance crusade in your compound.

This Culture is Not Sustainable

We’re not lazy. We’re exhausted and the worst part? Most people don’t even see it as a problem.

When you normalize:

  • Working while sick

  • Taking pride in “no days off”

  • Mocking rest or vacations

  • Measuring success by how stressed you are…

You create a world where people burn out before they even start to shine. And that’s exactly where we are now.

So What Can You Do? (Without Spending Therapy Money)

Let’s keep it real not everyone can afford therapy. But there are still ways to heal and protect your sanity:

  • Start your day slower. Breathe before the chaos begins

  • Unplug. Your brain deserves silence sometimes

  • Say “no” often. Protect your peace. Not every gig is for you

  • Talk to someone. Even if it’s just a friend. Speak it out

  • Do one small thing for you. Daily. Music, food, laughter, sunlight

  • Sleep. Not “Netflix till 3AM” sleep. Real, healing rest

  • Use free mental health platforms. Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) offers real help at zero cost

Final Word: Rest Is Not Laziness

We know the economy is mad. Life dey choke. But your mental health is not a luxury. It’s survival. You’re not weak for being tired. You’re not unserious for needing a break. Resting isn’t quitting, it’s how you last longer in this mad, mad race.

So please, my friend, breathe. Say no. Sleep. Laugh. Cry. Take that break. Because if stress kills you softly, hustle will move on… like you were never here.

Follow us on Instagram @DesauceMagazine for more real talk that gets it.

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