Working underground messes with your head in ways most people above ground will never understand.

We need to talk about the shit no one wants to admit—FIFO work quietly screws with your mental health, and it doesn’t care what’s between your legs. Man, woman, parent, single, new to the game or 15 years deep—if you’re flying in and out, your headspace is under fire.

We didn’t fall apart in one big blow-up.It was quiet.Slow.Like rust eating through steel.

Being a FIFO dad f*cks with your head and your heart.

You tell yourself you’ve earned it—and maybe you have. After busting your ass for 12 hours, that first beer feels like a pat on the back. Deserved. Needed. But then it turns into two. Then five. Then ten. Before long, it’s not a reward anymore—it’s a ritual. A crutch. A coping mechanism.

You don’t notice how loud site life is—until it stops.

Let’s be honest—FIFO pays damn well. You’re pulling in $120K, $150K, maybe more. So why the hell does it feel like you’re always broke? Where’s all that cash going?

Let’s not sugar-coat it:Saying “I’m fine” when you’re clearly not is one of the most expensive lies a bloke can tell himself—and it’s costing more than your pride. It’s costing your health, your relationships, your sleep, and in some cases, your life.

Let’s not stuff around—mining is tough. FIFO or DIDO, underground or surface, you're constantly in a pressure cooker: long hours, isolation, busted sleep, and the quiet war going on in your own head. And here’s the blunt truth: if you don’t maintain your mental health like you do your gear, you’ll break down.

Let’s not sugar-coat it—breakups suck. But if you’re already running on fumes from long swings, shit sleep, pressure to perform, and no real downtime, a breakup doesn’t just sting—it can completely gut you.

The FIFO Father’s Guilt: Trying to Be a Dad From 1,500km Away

Let’s not sugar-coat it—blokes in mining drink. A lot.And if you're in the FIFO game, odds are you're either doing it, watching someone else do it, or pretending it’s not a problem.