Getting Ready for Spring

It’s hard to believe it’s already mid-February. As I was driving to the grocery store yesterday I noticed banks of blooming daffodils, sprouting shrubs, and budding leaves. Yep, Spring is on the way. I know that in February there’s still always the risk of a cold snap, but my guess is that we’re all thinking about spring.

Early spring is such a hugely busy time on the farm—getting equipment and fields and people ready for the hard work of planting and other spring tasks.

Spring is also a stressful time. There is so much to do, and it feels like there’s never enough time to get it all done. Worry about weather, costs, having enough hands to get the work done, is always back of mind.  Being ready, because of that early spring work I mentioned above, makes it all a little easier.

Many of you are doing all that preparation for spring work right now. I’d like to suggest that this is also a good time to get ready for the stress that comes with spring work. Here are a few things we can do to get ready when we know a stressful time is ahead:

1. Take care physically:  May sure in the time leading up to a big spring push you are getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, eating well, stretching and staying limber so no muscles get pulled or hurt (check out this Farmer Daily Stretching Program  from University of Vermont);
2. Prepare mentally:  A few weeks ago I talked about “thought exercises”  — a way to imagine a stressful event in the future and problem-solve ahead of time. You can do this for problems likely to come up on the farm during spring, and have a few possible strategies “in your pocket” in case you need them;
3. Strengthen supports:  Take a few minutes to connect with people who care about you—family, friends, pastors, farm colleagues. Remind yourself that you have people you can call or text when you need to vent or get some support and advice;
4. Build your relaxation skills:  When you’re under stress, taking 5 minutes for some box breathing, 3 minutes to listen to a song and sing along, or even 2 minutes to quiet your brain, really makes a difference. Try to find lots of relaxation strategies and get comfortable using them. Here are some Relaxation Skills from the University of Michigan.

By taking a little time now, you’ll be more resilient and better able to manage the stress of the coming months and keep on thriving! 

To celebrate spring, here’s one of my favorite time-lapse videos of flowers blooming. Watch it for a minute or two—it’s very stress-reducing!