Stress Management on the Farm
Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. This is often attributed to the uncertainty of farming. Farmers base their entire livelihood on events completely out of their control, such as weather, market prices, and input prices.
Tips to Cope With the Stress of Farming
1. Have an emergency plan for your family and business.
Set aside time to have discussions with family members and employees to determine a plan in the event that something bad happens to yourself, a family member, an employee, or the farm. Ensure that you have a plan for all livestock care and child care if necessary.
2. Make time to get a good night’s sleep.
During stressful times, sleep is most often overlooked. However, adequate sleep is essential for having a healthy body. Adults should get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. Before you head to bed, limit screen time, as this can disrupt your body’s natural sleep cycle and result in poor sleep quality.
3. Work on your external support team.
We can not always do everything on our own, so it is important to enlist the help of those around us. Build a support team filled with people with different skills or specialties. This can help reduce the stresses of unexpected issues that may be outside of your wheelhouse. This support team does not have to be limited to those in the agricultural world. It is important to also enlist the help of those in other industries.
4. Always have open communication lines.
Catching up with friends and loved ones can help ease the stress that comes with farming. Remember to take time to meet with family, friends, and neighbors as often as possible. These loved ones are important to confide your struggles in, and you might also be helping them with their struggles.
5. Always be on the lookout for how you can help others.
Helping others makes you feel useful and needed, which can help bolster your mental health.
6. Maintain a healthy diet.
Having a healthy diet helps with your overall health and removes some of the stresses that are associated with bad health.
7. Limit your alcohol intake.
When we are stressed or anxious, often we turn to alcohol to suppress those feelings. Increased intake of alcohol is detrimental to your overall health and can increase your anxiety. As opposed to turning to alcohol for help, seek out others to talk to.
8. Take a step back.
Make time each day to take a step back to pray, exercise, or just sit back and relax. Just a few minutes a day can greatly reduce the stress in your life.
9. Hold each other accountable.
Work as a team with those around you and encourage healthy habits.
