Mental Health are you coping?

[Kevtherev]

Good tip I had of some one is to write things down on a list it really works to offload the mind.
Winter and financial pressure are the biggest trigger I think.

 

[KennyO]

Thanks. Sounds like the right way forward. I think it will be easier to keep one decent one going rather than carrying on messing about with two that just seem to have one problem after another. We have other tractors anyway so why punish ourselves trying to keep so many going? We sometimes lose sight of what we are about and end up bogged down in problems, which might be satisfying to solve but which consume a lot of time and energy that would be better spent on more productive things or just having s break. I think I inherited that trait. Dad would spend weeks mending something on which he did an excellent and thorough job
but as a result the crops didn't quite get their fertiliser and sprays on time.

I made the decision to simply our business a few years ago. Stopped growing Spuds and lost our one full time plus casual staff. It has made a massive difference to me as we are not continually trying to repair old machinery or spending money replacing things. Also I can concentrate on doing our crops and cattle well, not always thinking I must get this done, so that I can get on with the next thing. Now have a decent kit for cropping and cattle. Still like to bugger about with some old machinery but life is much better (mentally and financially).

I think going with some of your other posts it may help you to do similar. Just my 2p, no offence meant.

 

[Kevtherev]

Remember don’t worry about changes to work or business.
Swallow your pride.
I gave up silage contracting in 2008 one of the best decisions I made with no regrets.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there KennyO. Rebuilding something from nothing is very satisfying and fulfilling. The difference is you are not working to a time limit which is what running repairs entails.

 

[DrWazzock]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there KennyO. Rebuilding something from nothing is very satisfying and fulfilling. The difference is you are not working to a time limit which is what running repairs entails.

Exactly. I enjoy spanner work generally and nothing gives more satisfaction than a bit of renovation. But when one after another of the kit needed to earn a living breaks down, it becomes a burden not a hobby and means I can't get the essential jobs done in a timely manner without working all hours and even then things start backing up.

It's been helpful to hear others views on this. Thanks.

 

[DrWazzock]

I think it's time to join some clubs or something. Get out more. The pub is alright but there are only half a dozen of us mostly small or retired farmers and business people moaning about the state of things.

Other activities and interests needed to get my mind off the farm.

Best wishes to all.

 

[Greenbeast]

I'm really missing my hobbies right now, i know work/business isn't everything but we're still trying to get this farm going plus having a 8 month old in the house. I used to sing, lift weights and blacksmith (which became part time employment out of the office), more recently i enjoyed dog training when i got the pup but none of it happening right now.

 

[A1an]

Don`t be like me.............accept you aren`t coping.....ask for help.

Nail, head, hit!

 

[onesiedale]

Went to see Doug Avery speak on his recent tour . I thought I was going to hear about how he turned his farm business around overcoming drought conditions. However he spoke largely on how to over come stress and the depression that so often follows on. Affecting so many of us in different ways. Mental health must be a limiting factor in so many farm businesses, it is so important to understand how to manage it.

His book , 'The Resilient Farmer,' is well worth reading

 

[Red Fred]

I think it's time to join some clubs or something. Get out more. The pub is alright but there are only half a dozen of us mostly small or retired farmers and business people moaning about the state of things.

Other activities and interests needed to get my mind off the farm.

Best wishes to all.

We needed some more new members in our archaeology club, and one of the folks suggested putting our group on the "Meetup" website. I'd never heard of it, but discovered it is really good for finding out what is going on. You put in your interests and locality and it flags up all the groups in your area. There is far more going on than you might think.

 

[Steevo]

Went to see Doug Avery speak on his recent tour . I thought I was going to hear about how he turned his farm business around overcoming drought conditions. However he spoke largely on how to over come stress and the depression that so often follows on. Affecting so many of us in different ways. Mental health must be a limiting factor in so many farm businesses, it is so important to understand how to manage it.

His book , 'The Resilient Farmer,' is well worth reading

Thanks for the recommendation. My agronomist recommended it some months back and mentioned it again this week. It rang a bell having recently read your post so was fresh in my mind. I will now add it to my "to read" list.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Good tip I had of some one is to write things down on a list it really works to offload the mind.
Winter and financial pressure are the biggest trigger I think.

We all have a list of jobs floating around in our heads (without considering financial pressures);

• Jobs we need to do
• Jobs we ought to do
• Jobs we want to do
• Jobs others ask us to do "can you just..."

I quite enjoy Winter, apart from the short days.

Every now and then my mental list of jobs just gets to the point where I realise that I am struggling to cope, usually because I end up losing my temper with someone or something.

I've found that a three stage process really helps.

Firstly, write down the list of jobs, which empties the mind.

Secondly, put the jobs in an order of priority and cross off any that just aren't going to get done, either because they are not important or because they can be delegated.

Finally, choose a job off the list that you've been wanting to do but not yet found the time. At the weekend I dropped everything else and just took 5 minutes to fill up the bird table and now every time I look out of the kitchen window there are LBJ's and allsorts filling their faces, which has cheered me up no end.

 

[Deutzdx3]

We all have a list of jobs floating around in our heads (without considering financial pressures);

• Jobs we need to do
• Jobs we ought to do
• Jobs we want to do
• Jobs others ask us to do "can you just..."

I quite enjoy Winter, apart from the short days.

Every now and then my mental list of jobs just gets to the point where I realise that I am struggling to cope, usually because I end up losing my temper with someone or something.

I've found that a three stage process really helps.

Firstly, write down the list of jobs, which empties the mind.

Secondly, put the jobs in an order of priority and cross off any that just aren't going to get done, either because they are not important or because they can be delegated.

Finally, choose a job off the list that you've been wanting to do but not yet found the time. At the weekend I dropped everything else and just took 5 minutes to fill up the bird table and now every time I look out of the kitchen window there are LBJ's and allsorts filling their faces, which has cheered me up no end.

The last week or two I have been very unproductive, reading what you wrote is exactly what I’ve been doing. I have two sides of a4 as a main list, I then divide it into what needs doing fist and also what’s weather related.

It helps but in some way they are all important. Stress isn’t fun. It takes the fun out of life. Some stress is good for you, to much is very bad for body and mind.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

The last week or two I have been very unproductive, reading what you wrote is exactly what I’ve been doing. I have two sides of a4 as a main list, I then divide it into what needs doing fist and also what’s weather related.

So frustrating when you've more outside jobs than daylight

 

[Greenbeast]

So frustrating when you've more outside jobs than daylight

I just got lights into my tool container, which has enabled me to sneak out once the OH has gone to bed, i've tidied it up and even found space to get the barbell out, did some deadlifts last night (at 2230) for the first time is about 5 years! Felt great to get to that point

 

[Deutzdx3]

So frustrating when you've more outside jobs than daylight

Especially when every thing is wet and dank. It doesn’t help when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

 

[ollie989898]

Nothing better than writing a list and putting a lovely black line through them one by one when they are done.

 

[ollie989898]

Remember don’t worry about changes to work or business.
Swallow your pride.
I gave up silage contracting in 2008 one of the best decisions I made with no regrets.

I agree, very very few things in life are worth endless amounts of stress and there should be no reason people can't feel they can turn their backs on them.

 

[Deutzdx3]

Nothing better than writing a list and putting a lovely black line through them one by one when they are done.

That is very true. Except when you’ve added 2 more things to the bottom of the list and only done one previous. [emoji25]

 

[Stevethemeat]

Am I copeing No and don’t seam to be able to stop slipping downhill