We service our cars once a year to ensure they run smoothly and keep us safe. If a pipe in the house starts to leak, we call someone in before it bursts.

But how often do we check in to make sure we’re not about to burst?

Not often enough. We carry on, pushing through stress, headaches, aches and pains – wondering why we feel so low, so often. That’s where mental maintenance comes in.

Counselling, therapy, and small acts of reflection can help reduce the risk of burnout and emotional shutdown. Just like your car or household, your mind deserves regular care – not just once per year when everything feels like it’s falling apart – we want to experience balance between the messy and the good stuff – happiness, joy, excitement, all waiting to bloom out of our mind. 

Feel all the vibes, not just the happy ones

I mentioned happiness just now – not because it’s the only emotion we should aim for, but because most of us want to feel it more often.  But, happiness doesn’t show up without the full emotional range. We need those ugly cries, the red cheeks, the moments where everything feels just too much – to truly work through the ones weighing us down. Feeling it all is necessary to be able to move through ‘stuff’ that is seriously hard to navigate if we are constantly trying to put on a brave face, and see it through alone. 

Being human is complex. We’re navigating fear, joy, grief, connection, anxiety, and constant change – in our bodies, minds, and relationships. That’s why regular maintenance matters.

Your car may need a service once a year, but your mind? It needs more than that – it needs presence, support, and space to just be.

How to Maintain Your Mental Health More Regularly

1. Make space for regular reflection
   
   Sometimes we don’t realise how much we’re carrying until we pause. Regular reflection – through journaling, stillness, or simply taking five conscious breaths – helps bring those hidden stressors into the light. It’s not always about finding answers, but about noticing what’s there.
   
   
2. Build real self-awareness
   
   Journaling is great — but true self-awareness goes beyond the page. It’s about checking in with yourself in real time:
   • How am I feeling right now?
   • Am I pushing this emotion aside or holding it quietly?
   • When do I feel most like myself?
     
     This kind of moment-to-moment awareness is the foundation for long-term emotional health.
     
     
3. Talk to someone you trust
   
   Therapy and counselling aren’t just for when everything feels like it’s falling apart — they’re part of emotional maintenance. Whether it’s a therapist, a support group, or a friend who gets it, having space to be heard and seen is powerful. You don’t need to go it alone.

Not just good vibes, but all vibes are welcome here.