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Stress at work is almost inevitable. Deadlines, meetings, digital overload, and interpersonal friction all contribute. But you don’t have to wait for big reforms. Small, consistent habits can ease pressure, improve mood, and make your work environment healthier for everyone.

In this article, Tribune Online examines ten simple habits that workers and leaders can adopt now.

1. Deep Breathing/Micro-Breaks

Taking short pauses just to breathe deeply, stretch, or look away from the screen helps reset tension and improve focus. Studies show that micro-breaks reduce fatigue and mental strain.

2. Set Clear Boundaries

Define what ‘work time’ means vs. ‘personal time.’ Turn off notifications after hours, and avoid answering emails late at night. Clear boundaries protect mental energy and help avoid burnout. OSHA guidance and other sources emphasise that organizations that foster respect for personal time see less work-related stress.

3. Prioritise Meaningful Tasks

Tackle tasks that give you a sense of progress or purpose first. Knowing that your work matters improves well-being. Research on meaningful work in SMEs shows that when employees believe their work is meaningful, their mental health improves.

4. Improve Social Connections

Friendly, respectful relationships with colleagues matter more than many think. When interactions are trusting, positive, and collaborative, they enhance well-being; when not, they can harm health and reduce motivation.

5. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation

Even a few minutes a day of mindfulness, paying attention to breathing, being present, helps reduce anxiety and overthinking. Harvard Health recommends both formal and informal mindfulness practices.

6. Stay Organised: Plan and Prioritise

Use to-do lists, set realistic daily goals, and break large projects into smaller steps. Rushing or trying to do everything at once is a major stress trigger. The American Heart Association and others advise planning so you don’t constantly have to rush.

7. Maintain Healthy Sleep and Self-Care

Work stress often worsens when rest is neglected. Good sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, and avoiding excessive caffeine late in the day all help. Self-care is not a luxury; it’s foundational.

8. Express Gratitude

Taking moments to acknowledge what went well, thanking colleagues, and celebrating wins (even small ones) builds a positive atmosphere. Gratitude also improves resilience and mood.

9. Learn to Say ‘No’/Delegate

Not every request needs to be accepted. Overcommitment is a frequent cause of stress. Delegating tasks when possible, or pushing back (politely and with reason), helps prevent being overwhelmed.

10. Encourage Feedback and Open Communication

A culture where people can raise concerns, ask for help, or suggest improvements without fear of judgment helps reduce tension and uncertainty. Leaders who practise this see higher engagement.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has been honoured with the traditional title of Barayan Yamman Kaltungo by the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Muhammad, in recognition of his contributions to healthcare development in Nigeria.

The conferment took place during a homage visit led by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, shortly before the Minister’s commissioning of health projects in Kaltungo.

The Mai Kaltungo commended Prof. Ali Pate for his tireless service to humanity and urged him to sustain his efforts in supporting the health and well-being of Nigerians.

He also prayed for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and for the success of ongoing reforms in the sector.

Visibly humbled by the gesture, Ali Pate described the traditional honour as both encouraging and inspiring.

‘This is a call to greater service, not just to Kaltungo but to the entire nation. I pledge loyalty, commitment and continued dedication to improving the health and welfare of our people,’ the Minister said.

In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya lauded the Minister’s contributions and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to complementing the Federal Government’s efforts for the benefit of the Gombe people.

The Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, who delivered a welcome address at the palace, described the occasion as a homecoming for the Minister and praised his support for Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s health sector agenda.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, had earlier praised Gombe State as a shining example of primary healthcare revitalisation in Nigeria, following his commissioning and inspection of the newly upgraded Ture Balam Primary Healthcare Centre in Kaltungo Local Government Area.

The Ture Balam Primary Healthcare Centre is one of 228 PHCs revitalised by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to ensure equitable access to quality services across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, told the Minister that the centre now runs round-the-clock services, serving over 5,300 people.

‘Before revitalisation, the centre averaged 15 deliveries monthly; last month alone, it successfully recorded 27,’ Dr Shuaibu disclosed, noting the marked improvement in maternal and child health outcomes.

Prof. Pate expressed delight at the progress made, describing the model as worthy of replication across the country.

He stressed that Gombe State’s approach underscores the importance of strengthening grassroots health facilities to improve national health indices.

The Minister pledged continued support from the Federal Government for Gombe State’s healthcare initiatives, assuring that the Renewed Hope Agenda will prioritise similar interventions nationwide.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya attributed the success to deliberate investment and collaboration with development partners.

‘What we are witnessing today at Ture Balam is proof that when we invest in facilities, incentivise health workers and strengthen partnerships, lives are improved and communities become healthier,’ the Governor said.

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has warned against the collection of levies from petty traders in the state.

Soludo gave the warning at Solution Stadium, Ekwulobia, on Saturday during an endorsement rally organised by the community to support his re-election bid in the forthcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in the state.

He urged local authorities to refrain from collecting fees from the traders. The call stemmed from his visit to Eke Market in Awgbu, where it was observed that levies were still being collected from petty traders with less than one hundred thousand naira capital, contrary to government directives.

‘Don’t collect from them anymore. We will arrest anybody that goes ahead to disregard this,’ he warned, reaffirming his commitment to protecting the livelihoods of petty traders.

Governor Soludo expressed gratitude for the community’s support, declaring, ‘It is now a people’s movement.’ He highlighted the significance of Ekwulobia, noting that while Jim Nwobodo had designated Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia as cities, the latter appeared to have been overlooked in development plans.

‘To become a real city, Ekwulobia requires serious planning,’ he stated, proposing the establishment of a dedicated committee on town planning to facilitate this growth.

In addition to municipal reforms, Governor Soludo emphasised his administration’s commitment to social welfare, including free education, free antenatal care, and delivery services for the underprivileged. He also commended the Ekwulobia community for its resilience and continued support in the face of challenges.

Earlier, Chief Joseph Okafor expressed his appreciation, stating, ‘Mr Governor, you have achieved remarkable feats in just three years, not only in Aguata but across Anambra as well. We are truly thankful for your efforts.’

Dr Chibueze Offorbike, the Mayor of Aguata Local Government Area, stated, ‘We have transformed from a rural to a semi-urban and now an urban local government area, courtesy of Governor Soludo. Thank you for making us proud. We assure you of our commitment from the wards to the polling units.’

A cheque of eighty million naira was presented to the Governor, alongside the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, to support his campaign.

Reality TV star and disc jockey, Tolani Shobajo, also known as Tolanibaj, has disclosed readiness to move on from her party lifestyle and embrace marriage.

The 31-year-old former Big Brother Naija housemate made the revelation in a Snapchat video, where she confessed that clubbing no longer excites her and that she has been forcing herself to enjoy it.

‘I need to start being honest with myself. I no longer enjoy clubbing. I keep forcing it but. I want to see if I can experience some kind of excitement. I need excitement in my life. I’m tired of clubbing. I don’t want to be outside. What am I looking for outside if I have a partner? We can be outside together, maybe travelling,’ she said.

Expressing her desire for a more meaningful lifestyle, Tolanibaj said she is done pretending to enjoy the nightlife and believes marriage could be the next phase of her life.

‘I think it’s time to get married,’ she declared.

However, the disc jockey admitted that the thought of marriage still feels intimidating, describing it as a ‘scary commitment.

‘That’s a scary commitment, y’all. Like, how am I not sure that after one month, I will not start saying yeah,’ she joked.

Parents play central roles in shaping their children’s growth, values, and sense of belonging. Yet, even in strong relationships, careless statements can leave wounds that might take years to heal. Words spoken in anger or frustration may seem harmless in the moment, but they can linger long after, shaping how children see themselves and the world.

These are not always single words but phrases that echo in memory for years. Some of the most damaging are hurtful words to children that weaken trust and strain the bond between parent and child.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at five hurtful words to children that parents should never say.

1. You are useless

Calling a child useless is one of the most painful things a parent can say. It tells them they have no value, no matter what they do. Such hurtful words to children harm their confidence and make them doubt their abilities in school, friendships, and daily life. Over time, they may grow up feeling inadequate and believing they can never meet expectations. Instead of encouraging growth, this statement destroys hope.

2. Why can’t you be like your siblings?

Comparison, as they say, is the thief of joy. It may seem harmless, but they are among the most common hurtful words to children. Telling a child to be more like a brother, sister, or another relative, or even outsiders, makes them feel invisible and unworthy.

Also, it can spark resentment toward the sibling being praised, damaging family relationships. Every child has unique strengths that should be nurtured, but constant comparisons only communicate that they are not good enough.

3. I regret having you

Few phrases wound a child as deeply as hearing they were a mistake. Among the most hurtful words to children, this one strikes at their very identity, making them feel like they do not belong.

Even if spoken in anger, the memory often lingers, feeding feelings of rejection and abandonment. It leaves a child believing they were never wanted, which may shape their trust in others and their ability to form healthy bonds later in life.

4. You will never succeed

Telling a child they will never succeed is not only discouraging but also destructive. These hurtful words to children instill fear of failure and convince them that effort is pointless.

Children thrive on encouragement, yet such statements rob them of motivation and resilience. When told success is beyond their reach, many stop trying altogether, living beneath their potential not because of inability, but because of doubt planted by words.

5. I don’t love you

Probably the most devastating of all hurtful words to children is ‘I don’t love you.’ Love is the foundation of the parent-child relationship. Hearing this may cause lifelong emotional scars, making them question their worth and fear rejection in future relationships. No matter the situation, children need constant reassurance of love, not its withdrawal.

Nollywood actress Laide Bakare has retraced her steps, denying introducing her teenage daughter, Simisola, to alcohol, following backlash over her earlier statement about taking the 17-year-old to a nightclub.

The actress, who recently celebrated her daughter’s birthday, clarified in a new Instagram post that she only took her daughter to the club for the first time to give her ‘a bit of exposure’ and not to drink alcohol.

‘No pls, I didn’t do Alcohol with @simlineboss, only club, and it’s just to give her a bit of exposure towards the future. I’m not as bad as you think. Don’t forget she is still a minor. A teenager with robust figure,’ she wrote.

Reiterating her position in another post, Laide Bakare stated:

‘Let me mention clearly here that I never said I introduced my daughter, @simlineboss, to Alcohol. I only stated that she entered club with me for the very first time in her life at her birthday after-party. How is that bad naw?’

Earlier, Tribune Online reported that Laide Bakare, in a viral video, had claimed she gave her daughter her first clubbing and alcohol experience at the age of 17 years.

The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has debunked insinuations that the party was covertly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said he was not aware of any such arrangement, stressing that the SDP was currently strategising ahead of the 2027 elections.

He, however, admitted that some party members could have their loyalties elsewhere but noted that this was one of the challenges the party leadership was working to address.

‘We don’t know the rumours and talk, but what I know is what the party is doing. I only participate in what the SDP is doing officially.

‘But what I find out is that people who are in political parties tend to have loyalty outside their political parties. I think it’s part of the problems we try to solve by bringing in more ethical leaders.

‘But all my politics – 100 per cent of my own politics – is done inside the SDP. And in this day and time, there is no way you could have relationships with people without evidence of it. Either they will see you with them, you will take a photo with them, they will trace their money to you, or they will trace the activity to you.

‘So, if you really want to know where somebody belongs, other than just passing rumours or propaganda, you will know.

‘So, there may be elements of people in the SDP who have sympathies for other parties as well, but what we intend to do is, when we catch them, we relegate or expel them,’ he said.

On Nigeria’s 65 years of independence, Adebayo lamented that leaders had failed to live up to the dreams of the country’s founding fathers.

He decried the fact that corruption and the rule of law had remained recurring campaign issues 65 years after independence – a development he described as unfortunate.

He noted that everyone knew corruption was bad and unacceptable and should not exist in the system, but lamented that instead of treating it as something that should not arise in the first place, successive administrations had used it as a campaign thrust.

He also stated that Nigeria’s perennial problems were traceable to its history.

According to him, the history of Nigeria is rooted in trade, one driven by external necessity.

‘Nigeria started merely as a trade zone, just like you have free trade zones or export processing zones nowadays.

‘So it’s a zone. It’s like the arbitrariness with which they created areas for discos – Lagos disco, Ibadan disco, Benin disco, Yola disco, different discos, you know. That’s how Nigeria was to the Royal Niger Company. It was just a trade zone. And those trade zones were different kingdoms and communities and all of that,’ he said.

The Federal Government has commended the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for spearheading the transformation of the health sector in the state, describing it as a model for health system strengthening in Nigeria.

The commendation came from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, during the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency (A and E) unit at the General Hospital, Kaltungo.

Built from the ground up by the Inuwa Yahaya-led administration, the new A and E complex boasts consulting rooms, a triage area, seminar rooms, a library, restrooms and offices.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, explained that the facility is part of sweeping upgrades aimed at repositioning the hospital for effective service delivery.

In his remarks, Pate praised the governor’s comprehensive reforms, spanning primary healthcare revitalisation, hospital upgrades, human resource development, and specialised medical centres.

He said, ‘His Excellency and his team have done an amazing job in improving the health system. From revitalising PHCs and upgrading general hospitals, to converting the former Kumo General Hospital into a Federal Medical Centre, these efforts are in tune with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.’

The minister also lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s recent approval of CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for health workers, calling it a bold and strategic step toward retaining skilled personnel.

Inuwa, in his remarks, attributed the success to teamwork and collaboration.

‘All the praise belongs to the team. Facilities alone are not enough, which is why we incentivised our health workers so our facilities, from primary to tertiary, can function effectively,’ the governor said.

While on inspection of the Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre, Kaltungo, the minister emphasised its regional and international importance, particularly during farming seasons when snakebites are most common.

‘This centre treats between 2,000 and 3,000 patients annually, many of whom come not only from Gombe but also from across the Northeast and even neighbouring countries.

‘The Federal Government, in partnership with Gombe state, will formalise arrangements to expand its role, not only as a treatment hub but also for training, research, and, ultimately, local production of anti-snake venom,’ Pate said.