The urban part of Nigeria is notoriously filled with enough stressors to earn you at least one avoidable doctor’s appointment. At the very least, these stressors are enough to make you think of seeing the doctor. It can also have you thinking of taking a break from everything.
It is so easy to get lost in the rhythm. Warding off exhaust smoke in Lagos traffic and dealing with generator noise tops the list. These stressors severely impair the quality of life and have long-term negative health effects. As such, it is important to identify them and actively work our way around them.
Bad Neighbours
This is a popular one. Many Nigerian urban residents have had at least one neighbour that they seriously disliked. So much energy is wasted on one person, and over something that matters little in the future.
Ignorance is not as easy as it seems. It may be toxic to just hoard so much negativity and hatred. A sit-down may also be unconscionable. The hack is to take conscious efforts over time to ease off the bad feelings and hate. Also, trying to see ways in which, yes, you, may have been the bad neighbour.
If indeed it is an absolute situation of your neighbour being terrible, then you may have to stay longer in this process.
Generator Noise
A couple of things are certain in urban Nigeria: death, taxes, and generator noise. A lot comes with a country partly marred by an epileptic power supply. You deal by taking the stressful option of getting a generating set.
But how do you deal with the noise?
Simple: you do not.
You can only control the amount of generator noise your generator emits. Investing in noise-cancelling earbuds is a good way to start. This can tone down the stress that generator noise brings. A ‘getaway spot’ may also be beneficial. This could be a hangout spot or the house of a family member or friend. This spot, however, must be situated in a less noisy area, which you can visit occasionally.
Fumes and Smoke
Fumes and smoke are easy to stumble upon in urban Nigeria. It could be emissions from generators, bush burning, or vehicles in traffic. They are arguably also harder to deal with than bad neighbours and generator noise.
Carbon monoxide is no joke, which is why you must constantly roll up your windows whenever fumes or smoke arise. This could be worse when you’re off your comfort zone. Worst still, you experience this while on a public bus. Covering one’s nostrils with a handkerchief remains the best bet. Some may go as far as holding their breath through a bout of passing smoke. Whichever way, it is best done sparingly.
