This year we’ll be harvesting only 10 percent of our farm and are
optimistically expecting one to two percent of our average annual yield.
We are not unlike many of the grain farmers in the prairie provinces
this year. Livestock producers are probably in worse shape.
It is not unusual for farm families to have stressful life events. The
stresses facing farmers can be caused by unfavourable weather, high
costs and low unpredictable prices, government regulations, changes in
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trade patterns, multi-generations working together and long hours with
too much to do in too little time.
Stress overload can affect farmers and cause higher rates of heart
disease, ulcers and fatigue-related accidents.
It is timely to discuss healthy ways of dealing with stress.
- Recognize and admit to yourself when you are worrying about the farm
family or business.
- Talk about your concerns and fears with a family member, trusted
friend or counsellor.
- Take time for healthy fun and recreation.
- Communication is about planning, working and sharing decisions and
rewards together. It is about knowing the expectations of each other.
In farming, it is often the quiet, serious, respectful members who feel
the most stress from the lack of communication.
- Escapes, such as getting away for a week or a weekend, can provide
temporary relief and a fresher outlook.
- Anger can come from frustration, hurt and fear, and is too often not
openly and honestly expressed. Physical exertion, such as playing a
sport, gardening, or shoveling grain (if we had any), can help
alleviate anger.
- Humour is the best medicine. Find ways to laugh.
- Everyone needs outside interests. Worries can be relieved by
participating in community events, volunteer work or doing something
for
others.
- Expecting too much of oneself causes worry and decreases enjoyment.
Set realistic goals, and leave time for recreation and fun. Life is not
a dress rehearsal.
- Avoid thinking about all that has to be done too far ahead. Instead,
priorize and organize.
- Keep criticism of yourself and others constructive and minimal.
Realistic expectations are important.
- Give the other person a break, using co-operation rather than
competition. Avoid power struggles. Give in occasionally.
- It is healthier to make yourself available for discussion, for help
or for fun. Make the first move.
- Recreation is essential for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
health. Schedule it in and have a routine or set time to do it, so it
doesn’t get pushed aside for more “important” activities. You and your
family and friends are worth it.
- Develop, nurture and maintain a positive attitude toward work, play,
and living.
Readers may be interested in this scale, in the box to the right, that
has been designed to help predict crisis or stress-related illness.
Changes in a person’s life, good or bad, can have a stressful effect
and lead to illness. It also gives you an idea of what factors cause
stress in your life, so you can do what you can to compensate for the
increased stress load.
A quick pick-me-up
Recently at one of my aunt’s, I had a wonderful lemon tart. This recipe
is quick and easy to make for busy people.
Old-fashioned lemon tarts
1 lemon
4 eggs
2 cups granulated 500 mL
white sugar
1/2 cup butter 125 mL
16 tart shells ( 21/2 inch/6 cm)
Cut the lemon into quarters, then thinly slice, and remove seeds. Place
it in blender along with the eggs, sugar and butter.
Process until the lemon is finely chopped. Divide the mixture evenly
among the tart shells. Place on a baking sheet and bake in 350 F (180
C) oven for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Social readjustment rating scale
The numbers in the right-hand column represent the level of response
required to cope with each event, averaged from hundreds of people. The
more changes you undergo in a given period of time, the more points you
accumulate. The higher the score, the more likely you are to have a
health change. Add up your score for all the items that applied to you
in the last year.
1. Death of spouse 100
2. Divorce 73
3. Marital separation 65
4. Jail term 63
5. Death of close family member 63
6. Personal injury or illness 53
7. Marriage 50
8. Fired from work 47
9. Marital reconciliation 45
10. Retirement 45
11. Change in health of family member 44
12. Pregnancy 40
13. Sex difficulties 39
14. Gain of new family member 39
15. Business readjustment 39
16. Change in financial state 38
18. Change to different line of work 36
19. Increasing arguments with spouse 35
20. Mortgage over $10,000 31
21. Foreclosure of loan 30
22. Change in responsibilities at work 29
23. Son or daughter leaving home 29
24. Trouble with in-laws 29
25. Outstanding personal achievement 28
26. Spouse begins/stops work 26
27. Begin or end school 26
28. Change in living conditions 25
29. Revision of personal habits 24
30. Trouble with boss 23
31. Change in work hours or conditions 20
32. Change in residence 20
33. Change in schools 20
34. Change in recreation 19
35. Change in church activities 19
36. Change in social activities 18
37. Loan less than $10,000 17
38. Change in sleeping habits 16
39. Change in number of family events 15
40. Change in eating habits 15
41. Vacation 13
42. Christmas 12
43. Minor violations of the law 11
What your score means:
Below 150 points: You are on safe ground with a one in three chance of
a health change in the next two years.
Between 150-300 points: Your chances rise to 50/50.
Over 300 points: Your chances are almost 90 percent that you may suffer
from a serious health change.
Source: Between Generations! Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Ont.
Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of
four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care
of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4.
