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One of my favorite podcaster/bloggers in the world of farm stress is Steph Schmitt from Australia, who is a farmer and a psychologist (you can check out her site here ). She is full of practical advice, grounded in the reality of being a working farmer herself.
Today I read something she posted about farmers taking a break, which I thought was brilliant, so I want to share it with you. We all know that many times, taking a long break and getting off the farm just isn’t possible—during planting, or harvest, or a weather event—and being told “you just need some time away from the farm” can be unrealistic and frustrating. [Of course, other times of the year, if you can take a break from the farm, even for a day, you should try to do it.]
But during those crazy busy times, think instead about what Steph calls “micro-moments.” These are small bits of time when you take a breath and find satisfaction in everyday tasks and farm jobs. Take a 30 second mental break and think about what you are doing, and take pride in the fact you’re doing it well. Take a deep breath and look for something on the farm that is beautiful and enjoy it. Watch the birds, or the clouds, or your dog being goofy. For a micro-moment, give yourself grace and think “farming is really hard, and I am doing my best.”
Just those few moments of breath and grace can give your brain and your spirit the bit of rest they need to recharge and keep going. Micro-moments can be a tool for thriving on the farm.