Wellness Tools in Times of Farm Stress

Each of us copes with the stresses and challenges of life on a daily basis. We rely on different “tools” or strategies that we are familiar with from our toolbox of coping approaches. When it comes to farm stress, we need to find those tools that help us manage stress and make decisions for our health, our families and our future.

First, think about your strategies for using resources or coping with stresses that can be used and whether they are effective. In other words, what is the right “tool” to use from your current coping toolbox? Perhaps you need to learn a new wellness strategy or use a different tool in your stress management efforts. A listing of wellness tools for times of farm stress is in this publication. Use the following points to explore this topic:

■ Assess current strategies being used to manage stress. Brainstorm and list other possible options.

■ Explore whether what you are using as a coping strategy in relation to a specific need is working. Be open with yourself and/or others. What are you doing? Does the approach you are using have a helpful effect or a harmful effect? Does it promote your wellness?

■ Assess whether a change in coping strategy is needed. What might need to change?

■ Focus on using wellness strategies that are most effective and work for you and your circumstances.

■ You may need to learn new wellness strategies or adopt different ways of managing stress that you have not used before. Practices such as mindfulness can help in managing stress. Changing the way you work and schedule time can also be examples. Being open to new coping or wellness practices is helpful.

The doctor diagnosed you with mild to moderate depression in the last month. How are you coping with this issue?
 

Circle or list at least three wellness tools you can begin doing today and post this in your home, office or vehicle as a reminder.

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For more information on this and other topics, see www.ndsu.edu/extension