I didn’t mean to disappear since July. I really didn’t.
But if I’m being honest with you, heart to heart, I wasn’t living, I was just surviving. My cortisol levels were through the roof, and I was struggling with a severe case of creative block.
You see, by day, I’m a Brand and Creative Strategist. I build roadmaps, define USPs, and solve problems for big names.
But the irony of being a strategist is that while I was plotting world domination for clients, my own personal ‘strategy’ consisted of surviving on pouches of Capri-Sun and looping Dunsin Oyekan tracks at 2 AM.
Since I don’t drink or smoke, this became my only way to numb the anxiety that spiked every time my phone pinged.”
Then, my partner looked at me and said the six words that changed everything: “Pack your bags, we’re leaving.”
The Escape: A Weekend Getaway from Lagos
We didn’t fly across the world. We just drove two hours out of Lagos to Abeokuta.
We pulled into the Green Legacy Resort at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL). If you haven’t been, the place has a presence.
The resort stands tall and almost intimidating, kind of like a strict uncle who demands you sit up straight. Wrapped in an aura of history and solidity that I desperately needed because I felt so fragile.
From the moment we checked in, I felt a physical weight lift. I didn’t even look at the itinerary. I ate lunch, turned off my phone (sorry, emails), and did something illegal in the “Hustle Culture” handbook: I went to sleep
Four hours that afternoon. Then, after dinner, another nine hours.
For context, I hadn’t slept properly in three weeks prior to this. But there, surrounded by the quiet old town of Abeokuta, staring out my window at that rocky, ancient scenery, my body finally felt safe enough to shut down.
The Science: Why Travel Cures Creative Block
You might think, “It was just a nap, why the big deal?”
Now, because I’m a nerd (and your favorite mental health creative), I have to explain why this happened.
As creatives, who work in high-pressure jobs like Digital Marketing, we stay in the same stressed environment (Lagos traffic, work desk, bedroom), our brains get stuck in a loop called the Default Mode Network (DMN).
This is the “Worry Loop.” It’s great for survival, but terrible for creativity.
By moving my body to a completely new environment like the Green Legacy Resort, I triggered a Novelty Response.
The sheer size of the resort, the different smell of the air in Abeokuta, and the lack of notifications forced my brain to exit “Survival Mode” and enter “Rest and Digest” mode.
That “Brand New Body” feeling I woke up with? That was my cortisol dropping and my dopamine resetting. It wasn’t just a vacation; it was neurological first aid.
Finding Clarity at OOPL
The next day, we explored the OOPL grounds. It’s a lovely, expansive space that makes you feel small in the best way possible.
My partner and I sat down for what we called “Clarity Sessions.” For the first time in months, I wasn’t reacting to client’s crisis; I was actually thinking about my life. The noise was gone. The 150 tabs were closed.
I realized that being a “Creative” doesn’t mean you have to suffer for your art. Sometimes, you just need to leave the city.
So, I’m back to blogging. I’m back to sharing these stories. And if you’re reading this with your own 150 tabs open, take a breath.
Maybe you don’t need to quit your job. You might just need a weekend in Abeokuta.
Sometimes, the best cure for creative block isn’t working harder. It’s packing a bag and driving two hours away.
Your creativity will be waiting for you there.
See you in the next post? (I promise it won’t be in 8 months).
