I must applaud those of us living back here in Lagos. These days, the traffic situation has escalated to the point that I sometimes wonder how we can cope. 

It’s pretty saddening to see the constant slow movements we tag as “go slow” (traffic) on our roads. How do we go through hectic days at the office / our places of livelihood and then head into a traffic that extends for 4-5 hours or even more, only to be back at the office the following day and then experience the same thing all over again?

Recently, I noticed two young drivers virtually dozing off at the wheels while driving. I quickly understood that fatigue could be the underlying cause. Many Lagosians could arrive at their destinations as late as 12midnight. You then ask, when do they sleep? and for how many hours? only to wake in probably 4 hours to start the tiring journey once more. 

I guess it’s a bit unfair and inconsiderate of our authorities to subject at least half of the populace to only one route home. This traffic situation equally has a ripple effect on passengers who stand at the bus stop for hours trying to get a ride home. 

Fatigue is a primary source of exhaustion and if not handled properly can have dire consequences on the sufferer. I decided to research a bit on it and here’s what I found.

Defined as extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness. It is the leading cause of a vast range of other physical, mental and emotional symptoms which include:

• chronic tiredness or sleepiness
• headache
• dizziness
• sore or aching muscles
• impaired decision-making and judgment
• moodiness, such as irritability
• blurry vision
• short-term memory problems
• poor concentration and a host of others.

Fatigue is a symptom that can be felt and is not a condition or disease. Exhaustion could become extreme if it isn’t relieved by rest. This eventually leads to a state of weariness that develops over time and reduces one’s energy, zeal, and concentration. 

An honest inventory of one’s lifestyle is the first step towards experiencing relief, as fatigue could get better over time with some practical lifestyle changes. Therefore, it is recommended to work with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

So please tell me, how does one make changes to their lifestyle if they are subjected to such endless hours of traffic with no option for improvement?

References 

Fatigue, Better Health Channel, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/fatigue  assessed 24th April 2022.

Fatigue, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/fatigue/basics/definition/sym-20050894 assessed 24th April 2022.