Let’s face the fact – not every morning starts with an energy rush and a desire to get straight to work. Some days come with tiredness, stress, and anxious thoughts.

On such days, you’ll feel like life’s a juggling ball that keeps dropping. But well, it doesn’t mean you can’t build momentum. After all, your daily tasks still await you, irrespective of how you feel.

The sooner you snap out of your bad mood, the better for you. Here, I’ve reviewed six morning habits that can help jumpstart your day and get you ready to be productive.

Let’s dive right in.

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1. Wake Up With Intention, Not Alarm Panic

Instead of jumping out of bed in a panic because your alarm is screaming, wake up intentionally. You can achieve this by setting your alarm 10 to 15 minutes earlier. It gives you enough time to breathe, stretch, pray, or simply enjoy the quiet before the world gets loud.

Experts often say that starting calmly can prime your mind for a more focused and less stressful day.

2. Hydrate Before You Caffeinate

Your body gets dehydrated overnight.

We know you’re longing to grab a cup of coffee, but first, grab some water. Drink a full glass of water to help your system readjust to the day. Most people squeeze a lime into their early morning water to make it more flavourful.

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Remember you’re doing this because of water’s ability to jumpstart your metabolism, flush out toxins, and literally wake up your cells.

3. Move Your Body (Even If It’s Just 5 Minutes)

You don’t have to run 10 kilometres or hit the gym at 5 AM. A simple stretch session, a few yoga poses, or a quick dance party in your living room is enough to get your blood flowing and boost your energy levels. Apart from keeping your feet, moving releases endorphins, which is your body’s feel-good hormone.

4. Practice a Mindful Moment

Instead of diving straight into emails or social media, take a few minutes for mindfulness. During this time, you can do anything from breathing to journaling, or even a short meditation. Whatever it is, just be sure to invest your emotions and thoughts into it.

Mindfulness helps ground you and build emotional resilience against the chaos of the day.

5. Fuel Up With the Right Breakfast

Skip the sugar-loaded cereals and heavy, greasy foods for breakfast. Instead, choose energy-boosting options like Oats, Fruits, Eggs, and Smoothies.

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Experts suggest that a balanced breakfast stabilises your blood sugar and keeps your energy steady, with no mid-morning crashes.

6. Set Your Top 3 Priorities for the Day

Before your day spirals into meetings, errands, and WhatsApp group messages, write down the top three things you want to achieve. It doesn’t have to be complicated or too many. Just three simple goals can help you clear your priorities and avoid distractions.

Our eyes are a treasure. They’re a vital part of how we experience the world. So it’s not surprising that we’re often urged to prioritize protecting them. But how can we protect these sensitive parts of the body?

By adopting a few simple yet effective habits, you can maintain healthy eyes, reduce the risk of vision loss, and preserve your sight well into your later years.

Here, let’s look at important lifestyle changes that can safeguard your eyes while ensuring improved eyesight now and in your latter years.

Eat a healthy diet

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You didn’t expect us to start from anything else, did you? Good diet means good health and that extends to the eyes. So if you want improved eyesight, work on your eating habits. Essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and selenium, along with carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, helps to prevent age- related eye issues.

Quit smoking

You’ve heard so many times that smoking has many negative effects. However, one effect that’s seldom talked about is bad eyesight. Smoking has such a negative impact on eye health that experts often warn middle-aged people to stop smoking to prevent age-related issues like glaucoma, cataracts, dry-eye syndrome, etc.

Besides, cigarettes typically have a toxic substance that can cause inflammation and restrict the flow of blood to the eyes.

Reduce screen time

You’ve heard it before – prolonged screen time can damage your eyes. It typically causes eye issues like strain, dryness, and weariness. So opticians typically recommend limiting screen time as much as possible. However, if you can’t reduce screen time, then you should buy and use an anti blue light glass to mitigate the impact of blue light.

Stay hydrated

Never underestimate the importance of hydration. Dehydration can cause irritability, dry eyes, and exhaustion. So you must keep the eyes hydrated and there’s no better way to do this than drinking plenty water and other liquids throughout the day. Also prioritize foods with high water content like watermelon, cucumbers, celery, etc to keep your eyes hydrated.

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Blink More

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When you’re focused on screens, you blink less – which leads to dry, irritated eyes.

Make a conscious effort to blink fully and often, especially when working or binge-watching. The best way to think of it is as a spa treatment for your eyes. Every time you blink, you’re giving your eyes the treat it needs to stay strong and refreshed.

Wear Sunglasses (Even When It’s Not Fashion Week)

The Nigerian sun isn’t just hot – it’s harsh on your eyes too. Exposure to UV rays increases the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

So we recommend investing in good-quality sunglasses that block 99%–100% of UVA and UVB rays. It give you the fly look, while protecting your eyes from the damage that this sunny season can do to it.

So that’s it – maintaining your eye health is not very difficult. You just need to pay attention to certain habits and you’re good to go. Don’t forget to visit an optician once in a while, especially if you’re approaching old age. They can check your eye condition and offer customized advice to help.

As a proper Nigerian who grew up in a Nigerian home, you already know the drill. When you get sick, before going to the hospital, come prayers, agbo, and some black soap.

Most of our parents believed so much in these traditional remedies that they had them stored at home for emergencies.

So, whether it’s mild stomach pain or a severe fever, they always reach for traditional medications. But now that we’re grown and washed up in civilisation, we often ask whether these traditional remedies really worked.

We did some digging and found this about them.

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1. Agbo (Herbal Concoctions)

A bitter, dark herbal drink often brewed from leaves, bark, roots, and spices. Most users take it to fix malaria, typhoid, body pains, and “general sickness.”

Does It Work?

Some herbs used in agbo, such as neem and bitter leaf, have proven anti-malarial and immune-boosting properties. However, because agbo recipes are not standardised, dosage can be risky and even dangerous.

Verdict:

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There’s real science behind some ingredients, but modern caution is needed. Always ask a medical herbalist or doctor for the right herbs and dosages before taking.

2. Palm Oil for Poison

If you’ve stayed around an older person, you’ll know this one. It’s the most popular remedy for moments when you accidentally ate something you shouldn’t have. It is supposed to coat your stomach and neutralise poison.

Does It Work?

Palm oil can act as a mild protective agent, but it doesn’t neutralise strong poisons or toxins. For serious poisoning, immediate hospital treatment is critical.

3. Alligator Pepper for Stomach Ailments

Remember that one time your grandma popped a few alligator pepper seeds into your mouth for stomach cramps, indigestion, or diarrhoea. Well, it’s a popular practice among people her age, and we’ve seen it more than a few times.

Does It Work?

Alligator pepper has antimicrobial properties and can aid digestion. It’s also known for reducing inflammation. So, it’s not surprising that it’s effective in some mild cases! But again, moderation is key.

4. Hot Water and Robb (Menthol Balm)

Suffering from catarrh, cold, or congestion?

Hot water in a bucket + Robb Balm = DIY steaming therapy. You cover yourself with a wrapper and “inhale healing.”

Does It Work?

Steam inhalation can loosen mucus and ease breathing. The menthol in Robb provides temporary relief from nasal congestion. However, be careful while doing this to avoid burning your face.

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5. Bitter Leaf Juice for Malaria

Fresh bitter leaf squeezed into juice form and gulped down to “flush out malaria parasites.”

Does It Work?

Bitter leaf contains compounds with anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Scientific studies support its effectiveness against certain infections, but it is not a guaranteed cure. We recommend pairing it with proper malaria treatment for a complete cure.

So you see, our parents weren’t entirely wrong for relying on these remedies. But the evolution of science has made it mandatory to find a balance between traditional wisdom and modern medicine. Always talk to your doctor about anything you put in your mouth.