This episode introduces a new format I'm calling Topic Roulette — where I pull one word and let it take me wherever it wants to go.

Today's word is maintenance.

We usually think of maintenance as something boring or inconvenient. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized how much of life quietly depends on it. Relationships, friendships, work, and even our sense of self don't fall apart all at once — they fade when they're no longer maintained.

In this episode, I think out loud about the unglamorous, often invisible work it takes to keep things alive. Not to fix them. Not to perfect them. Just to keep them from quietly falling apart.

This isn't an advice episode. It's an observation — about consistency, presence, and the small ways we show up when no one's watching.

• What "maintenance" really means beyond chores and routines
• How relationships change when maintenance is ignored
• The quiet upkeep required in friendships
• Maintenance at work — before burnout happens
• Why self-maintenance isn't selfish, but necessary

Most things don't break suddenly.
They wear down slowly — when maintenance stops.

Topic Roulette is a recurring format on Unpack My Brain where one word becomes the starting point — not a conclusion. No rules, no advice, just space to explore how everyday ideas show up in real life.

What in your life could use a little maintenance right now — not a major overhaul, just attention?

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This podcast uses music from Ende.app:

Music: Relaxing Lofi - Hexakaideca
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://ende.app/en/standard-license
Source: https://ende.app/en/browse
Changes made: trimmed and faded