Fatigue

Well It's Nov 27th and I have just returned from LA today! I spent 24 hrs at the hotel this trip! and at least 26hrs in the air!

MENTAL FATIGUE & CAUSES (according to Wikipedia);

More or less a decreased level of consciousness.

Fatigue is typically a result of working, mental stress, overstimulation and understimulation, jet lag or active recreation, depression, and also boredom, disease and lack of sleep.

Funny but not so funny things that happened on this trip due to fatigue or tiredness; didn't sleep at all on 14 hr return flight, watched a friend spill 500ml of water on floor before reacting, set my alarm for Aussie time whilst in LA, had a conversation with colleage and 12 hrs later realised it wasn't who I thought it was, and micro-sleeps in flight deck.

I have just arrived home from LA after a 24 hr journey involving a bus, plane, train, train, bus and walk and I am absolutely exhausted! Fatigue and tiredness is THE biggest downfall to this job. I left for LA Tuesday evening and returned home Friday morning. I spent one half of the trip complaining I was tired and the other half convincing people I wasn't tired. Learning how to manage your sleep seems to be a constant battle! You can call me tired and emotional on the days I return but whatever you do, don't call me! I'm useless, I can barely string a sentence together. I'm often found slurring my sentences, staring into space, crying over spilt milk or drooling on my luggage, fast asleep on the train! Not a pretty sight!

On one occasion I fell over on the tarmac walking onto my next flight, ripped a hole in my stocking and a hole in my knee! I still have the scar as a reminder! Needless to say, I no longer take the stairs when I'm tired! If I had to complain about something in this job it would be the constant feeling of tiredness. They say that If a plane was to crash and bodies were recovered, the organs they would take first would be the that of the flight crew. Flying constantly, has a similar effect on the body to that of altitude training! Our lung capacity increases and our general fitness level is higher than most passengers.

But I often wonder what all the lack of sleep does to our brains long term?! We all know sleep is vital for our brains to function and watching yourself deteriorate due to fatigue is a visual reminder of that!