The ups and downs of harvest (and running a property every other day of the year) can be extremely taxing. Managing stress is crucial to avoiding burning out mentally and physically or creating long term health issues.
The National Centre for Farmer Health breaks down the signs of stress into physical, emotional and behavioural. Consider the below when experiencing your own behaviours and moods and those of the people around you. Stress can manifest differently depending on an individual and it is important to respond and handle it with consideration.
Physical: headaches, chest pains, increased heart rate, clenched teeth, fatigue, procrastination, stomach problems, sore, irritated or strained eyes (that aren’t triggered by hayfever!).
Emotional: an increase in angry reactions, frustration, impatience, difficulty in controlling moods, thoughts of taking your own life, low self-esteem, depression, short tempered, neglecting health.
Behavioural: overeating, not eating enough, increased smoking or alcohol drinking, change in sleep habits, restlessness, lack of concentration, withdrawn from others, trouble adapting, forgetfulness, becoming argumentative.
Tips for managing as a team:
Tips for managing yourself:
Places to get help:
Sources & Further Reading:
Managing Stress on the Farm – The National Centre for Farmer Health