Before I continue, let me confess: I am guilty of this post. 😂
Not once, not twice. Many times.
You know how your stomach will embarrass you in public if you skip lunch? That growl that sounds like a broken generator? The brain doesn’t do that. No alerts, no vibration, no “low battery” notification. It just… stays quiet. Until one day, you wake up and realize you can’t even remember what you read yesterday, you’re snapping at innocent people, or your body is tired even after a full night’s sleep.
That’s your brain, hungry.
Unlike food hunger, mental hunger doesn’t come with jollof rice and chicken solutions. It needs something else; silence, slowness, curiosity. But let’s be honest, in the hustle of 8-5 jobs, “urgent 2k” requests, and WhatsApp groups that never stop buzzing, who remembers to feed their inner world?
We were trained to wait until we “earn” rest. Finish the project, survive the week, break down first—then you can rest. But the truth is, the mind doesn’t work like that. The fog creeps in slowly, and by the time you notice, you’re already running on fumes.
Your brain might not growl, but it speaks in other ways:
- That forgetfulness that makes you misplace your keys for the third time this week.
- That frustration that makes you roll your eyes at small things.
- That fatigue that sleep can’t even cure.
And maybe what it needs is not a weekend in Dubai (though, amen to that! 😂). Sometimes it’s simpler: a short walk without your phone, one page from that book you abandoned, a playlist that makes you feel alive again, or even just sitting in silence without guilt.
I’m learning that feeding the brain is not luxury, it’s survival. And it’s not something to postpone until life gets less busy—because newsflash, it probably never will.
So, let me throw this to you: how do you feed your brain? Is it through reading, music, nature, gist with friends, or just intentional rest? Share with me, please… I need tips, because clearly, I’m still guilty. 😅
Not guilty conscience laughing at me🤣
Thank you for sharing this
😂😂😂😂
We are all in this together…
Honestly, I feed my brain in layers. Reading sharpens my thoughts, music calms my emotions, and nature grounds me when life feels noisy. Conversations with people I value add fresh perspectives, and rest helps everything settle. I’ve learned it’s not about one single source but creating a balance that keeps both mind and spirit alive.
Wow! Just wow! So much to digest here… thank you so much, Wans!
This is so on point. I crash often because of this, and I don’t usually see it coming. I work a lot and barely get to really rest.
My brain-feeding activities are a real mix. Sometimes it’s auditory, like listening to sermons, an interesting podcast, psychology videos or classical music. Other times it’s more active, like taking a walk (my go-to), playing the guitar, or finally picking up that book I abandoned 😂.
Thanks for this important reminder. You should also pick up your guitar and practice again.
😂😂😂
Thank you so much, Ini! I didn’t see the stray bullet coming 😂
Oh yeah, I just remembered this.
Watching shows like The Voice & AGT helps. As well as seeing old music videos on YouTube for those nostalgic moments.
I absolutely agree with you… thank you for the recommendations!
This reminded me of a quote our maths teacher never ceased to tell us. ‘Maths is like a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly, if you don’t practice, you’ll lose your edge.
If you forget to feed your brain with the necessary nutrients, it’ll be malnourished and it’ll gradually lose its ability to function optimally.
Thank you, Norma for sharing this.
I have learned something today… thank you so much for your input, Arit!