Sean Bennett: Invest in your yourself and future

Sean Bennett.

Wellbeing of farmers is becoming an increasingly regular topic at industry field days around the country.

Ten years ago, farmer wellbeing was unlikely to be a topic of interest at any field day.

There has been a significant shift and this change is in part due to the growing recognition that farming is a high-pressure profession and the effect it can have on individuals and their families.

Historically, pressures have existed around volatile weather, commodity prices, intense physical workloads, and isolation.

A snapshot of 2018 shows those same historical pressures still exist. However, what has really changed is the complexity and noise surrounding the modern farming business.

Farmers in 2018 must contend with many new challenges such as the increasing mental workload on farmers, their family and their team.

Increasingly, high debt levels, high turnover of staff or the ability to find suitable staff in the first place, are adding to the day to day pressures farming businesses face.

When we add in environmental limitations, health and safety regulations, NAIT, negative public perceptions and the feeling that we are farming in a fishbowl, it's no wonder that some cannot cope with a constantly changing and challenging operating environment that exists around them.

A recent health check of nearly 3000 farmers produced the following results;
* Six out of 10 farmers have high blood pressure
* Four out of 10 reported disturbed sleep
* One in three of us carry extra kilograms we don't need
* A third have cholesterol levels that need medical attention
* Many were at significant risk of heart disease
* A third suffered some form of pain which interfered with their work
* Nearly half of all farmers wanted advice on how to achieve a better work-life balance
* Over a third wanted more information on how to manage energy levels, tiredness and fatigue.

Pretty sobering reading for all of us.

If we take a moment to stop and consider what is the best investment in our farming business it has nothing to do with land, livestock or machinery. The investment with the biggest pay back is in ourselves, our family and our team that works alongside us every day. Coping with all the above requires a healthy mind in order to have healthy thinking and make good decisions. There are many great resources out there with strategies designed to get the mind in a great space.

Here are the top five tips from Farm Strong:
* Be giving of your time to help others
* Connect with others and leave the farm, get away from the day-to-day responsibilities
* Live in the moment, find enjoyment in even the most ordinary day
* Life-long learning, keep the top two inches sharp and your outlook positive
* Be active, get off the quad and walk a bit
If you do one thing after reading this, start investing in yourself. It's your future.