Sowing and self-care
As a Psychologist, I have spent many years supporting farmers in our community. I also happen to be married to one.
Farming is a job like no other. You live at work. Your stock do not go home on Friday and come back on Monday so you can have the weekend off. You are completely reliant on something you have no control over. You certainly don’t work 9am to 5pm. At many points in the year, it’s a 24 hour game.
That being said, farming can be a beautiful life. Many farmers love what they do and could never imagine doing anything else (my husband is one of them!) It can be a really beautiful place to raise a family – what an amazing experience and an incredible playground for your children.
Farming can be a rewarding life, particularly if we take steps to care for ourselves, especially in the tough seasons. Sowing and harvest can be a really intense time physically and mentally. We need to remember that as farmers, we need to play the long game so we can have a sustainable career and lifestyle.
Personally and professionally, I have learned many things over time that help with these tough periods. Here’s a few of my top tips:
Sleep. You really have to get some. I know timing is critical in getting the crops in and long days become part of the gig, but humans are not designed to run without sleep. Fatigue has a powerful impact on the brain. We lose concentration, become more forgetful, and make more mistakes, none of which is helpful when dealing with heavy machinery. Poor sleep can also lower our mood and increase our anxiety. All in all, we can come out of sowing a shell of our former selves.
Fuel your body. It is so tempting to swig down the coffee and Coke and to fill that tuckerbox with sweets to give us that caffeine and sugar high. Now more than ever it is important to try and fuel your body well to give it the energy it needs to get through the big days.
Fill your silo. Your days are busy and you feel you have no time to spare. Taking even 10 minutes for yourself, however you want that to look, can be game changing. Stop and have a cuppa, sit in the sun, have a short walk in the fresh air, read the paper, speak to a friend – whatever you do that helps to fill your silo. While you might feel you couldn’t possibly fit it in, it might surprise you how much better you feel, and the difference this can then make not only in terms of getting through the day a little easier and managing your mood and energy, but also in increasing productivity! A tired brain is a sluggish brain. You aren’t at your best when you are that stretched.
Phone a friend. Long days on the tractor can lead to lots of time to think. While sitting with our thoughts can sometimes be helpful, too much time to think can sometimes be a problem. Turn the radio on, listen to a podcast or audiobook, or phone a friend you haven’t spoken to for a while. This is not the time to become more isolated.
Reach out. If you are finding the season hard, or if times like this have been tricky for you in the past, you do not have to feel this way, and you are not alone. There are plenty of services that can assist you (we can even use telehealth to talk to you on the farm!) Reach out.