Is Mental Wellness Just About Showing Up?
(A note for drivers who are tired of being told to suck it up.)
Is Mental Wellness Just About Showing Up?
I recently heard a business leader say:
“Mental wellness isn’t about how you feel. It’s about how you show up.”
And I paused. What? He can’t mean mental wellness for bus drivers.
Because that sounds neat and motivational — until you’ve actually worked a job that demands more than you have to give.
Like driving a bus.
You’re out there in traffic, dodging people’s moods, pushing past fatigue, ticking off stop after stop — and you’re expected to “show up” like everything’s fine.
Even if:
- You didn’t sleep
- You’re on edge
- Your chest is tight
- You’re running on caffeine and pressure
- You haven’t felt “fine” in a long time
So let’s ask it honestly:
What is mental wellness for bus drivers, really?
Is it a smile slapped on during your shift?
Or is it something deeper — like knowing how to navigate what’s going on inside you so you don’t crash and burn later?
What I’ve Noticed
Most of us weren’t taught how to take care of our mental state.
Not in school.
Not on the job.
Definitely not in driver orientation.
We learned to push through.
To “just show up.”
To joke it off, or eat through it, or numb out when we get home.
I am wondering if:
That old programming?
It might be why so many drivers feel like they’re running on fumes.
So What Actually Helps?
Mental wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all.
For some people, it might be:
- A product that actually helps calm the mind or steady the gut
- A quiet walk after a rough day
- Learning how to interrupt spiraling thoughts before they take over
- Or even just talking to someone who doesn’t say, “Cheer up!”
For others?
It might be realizing they’re not weak — they’re just carrying too much.
Final Thought:
If you’re tired of “just showing up”…
If the old routes in your head aren’t working anymore…
You don’t need to fake it.
You don’t need to blow up your life either.
But you do deserve better tools.
Better support.
And maybe even a better map.
You’re allowed to feel what you feel —
And still figure out how to show up in a way that works for you.
🚌 Follow This Blog for More
If you’ve ever felt like no one really gets what you deal with on the job…
you’re not wrong — and you’re not alone.
This space is for drivers who want more than just a slogan or a supplement.
It’s for people ready to update the old mental maps and feel like themselves again.
Follow this blog for more posts like this — short reads, sharp insights, and honest help for the road ahead.
