Finding your farmer well-being
The holidays can be a great time to slow down, relax and take time for yourself. Still, it can seem more stressful than normal trying to balance your time between the farm, holiday gatherings and end of year inventories.
One thing to know, you’re not alone! The University of Minnesota Extension offers help and advice specific to farmers for managing stress. See their available resources below.
Well-being relies on physical, mental, and emotional health - Think of your overall well-being as a three-legged stool. Your physical, mental, and emotional health are the supports that can get you through tough times.
Good self-care helps relieve stress - Self-care isn't selfish. It's a strategy for coping with life's curveballs.
Resources for difficult times – Find help for counseling, advocacy, legal, and referral resources.
Coping with rural stress - Programming and expertise to help families and small towns respond to challenges that overwhelmingly affect rural and farming communities.
Remember grace in times of change - What is considered "normal" changes over time. It’s not good or bad, it’s just what’s next
For many farmers, constantly working hard can seem like your cross to bear. It may even seem hard to enjoy downtime or time off the farm given this mentality. A great starting point is to make little changes to your routine or lifestyle that positively impact your physical, mental, and emotional health. Think about taking a class or starting a new hobby, setting a goal outside of farming, or even just giving yourself a designated day off.