There are only two things in life that hit harder than a cold bottle of Coca-Cola on a hot day: surprise credit alerts and unexpected public holidays. Think about it—there’s a different kind of joy that comes from getting something you didn’t hustle for. That’s what public holidays feel like. Pure, effortless bliss.
Let’s be honest, annual leave is great, but it comes with paperwork, prayer points, and crossed fingers. Meanwhile, public holidays just appear. No forms. No follow-up emails. Just you, your pillow, and the freedom to wake up at 10am on a Tuesday without guilt. (Fingers crossed your manager is sleeping too 😩)
We need more days like this.
Of course, we appreciate the OGs; Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Eid holidays, and Democracy Day but Nigeria owes us a few more. Think about it:
– Traffic Trauma Recovery Day – strictly for Lagosians who have survived a Mainland bridge at rush hour.
– Post-Salary Reflection Day – a quiet day to mourn how our account balance will move from “I have blown” to “My last 2k” in 72 hours.
– Leg Day Recovery Day – because climbing stairs after gym pain is an Olympic sport for gym bros and sis (the rest of us need the day off too for moral support, obviously).
– Or even Work BFF Appreciation Day – because your office BFFs deserve more than the tea and emojis.
What about a day to recover from attending two owambe’s back-to-back in full gele and heels? If that’s not national service, what is?
While I’m usually team “do absolutely nothing,” every now and then if I feel extra, I go offline during the break. No scrolling. No group chats. Just books, face-to-face convos, and maybe rediscover what silence sounds like. Other days, I visit people I love, fix that one thing at home I’ve ignored for weeks, and give myself a gold star for adulting.
In the end, whether it’s a nationwide break or a cheeky week off you gifted yourself, the message is the same: you’ve earned it. And since yesterday was one of those rare days you got to pause and breathe, I hope you did just that.
