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I was recently talking with the wife of a Georgia grower, about the stresses her husband is under and how he won’t take time to go to the doctor or take care of himself. In frustration she said “I just wish he would take care of himself as well as he takes care of his…
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May has been Mental Health Awareness Month but isn’t every day a good day to take a minute or ten to take care of yourself? Mental Health Awareness month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. The purpose of recognizing this work is to educate the public, help to reduce stigma,…
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Did you know that happiness isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling? Happiness has actually been linked to good health. People often think of health as the absence of illness or depression or anxiety. But it’s much more–it also includes all those positive feelings, both physical and emotional, that we enjoy. If you’re happy and you…
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I read somewhere that farming is a profession of hope, and it seems to me that planting is a perfect example of that. I’ve been talking with Extension agents, and all of them are intently focus on planting right now, as I’m sure many of you are too. It’s planting season—it’s hoping season. We hope…
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Now that April (Stress Awareness Month) has come to a close and May (Mental Health Awareness Month) is starting, I thought it would be a good time to talk about the difference between good stress and bad stress and how they affect your mental health. Good Stress Some stress can be good – it…
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Last post I wrote a little about grief on top of stress, telling you about what I was learning through the experience of both my parents dying two days apart. Well, I’m still learning, and I thought I’d pass along what I’m finding. It’s humbling—I’m learning that I may know about handling stress, but actually…
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For this post, I wanted to offer a few thoughts about something that’s a little more personal, but that many of you may have or may also experience at some point in your lives—loss on top of chronic stress. Sometimes in life you’re going along, managing your stress OK and keeping it all in balance,…
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Farming can be lonesome work. Long hours in the field or on a tractor by yourself can be stressful, giving you lots of time to sit and think about all the things that are causing you stress. Research has shown that stress-related hormones are actually higher in people who are lonely and have low social…
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One of the things I have learned in my conversations with farmers and their families is that time is one of the most precious commodities on a farm. There is never enough time to get everything done—the actual farm work, the paperwork for the government, the day-to-day record keeping, equipment repairs, spending time with your…
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Most of us consider thinking a good thing, something we do to solve problems or recollect fond memories. But sometimes, our thinking can be counterproductive. You know the times…something goes wrong and you think “this is all my fault” or “I should have seen this coming.” In a little while that voice in your head…
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