Georgina Mitchell-Jones: We should cut ourselves a bit of slack

As February arrives, the inevitable review of new year resolutions begins.

Have they already been abandoned? Were they unrealistic from the outset?

Did the temptation of leftover Christmas chocolates and the finest cheeseboard simply prove too much?

It’s a time for quiet reflection and, occasionally, harsh self-assessment.

See also: Peter Gittins – urban-rural divide is stark and dangerous

About the author

Georgina Mitchell-Jones

Georgina Mitchell-Jones, 24, graduated with an MA in Politics from the University of Edinburgh. A farmer’s daughter from south Leicestershire, she is particularly interested in the pressures shaping the next generation of farmers. She is an active member of Lutterworth Young Farmers’ Club, where she has been Treasurer for the past two years.

Read more articles by Georgina Mitchell-Jones

But what did young farmers’ new year resolution lists look like?

The past few years have been particularly unkind to farmers.

Political uncertainty, shifting social landscapes, and the relentless changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive, inheritance tax and agricultural property relief have created a backdrop where simply keeping the business afloat feels like an achievement.

Against that, the pressure to start a year envisioning an “improved version” of ourselves can feel unrealistic, if not unfair.

So, a young farmer’s new year resolution… Drink less at a Young Farmers’ party? Unlikely. Have more time off? Optimistic.

Diversify the farm business? Possibly – once Westminster decides what direction it would like us to head in.

New year resolutions are usually designed to sit neatly outside of work.

They belong to evenings, weekends and spare headspace. But for young farmers, work and life are inextricably linked.

There is no neat divide between the two, and very little time exists outside of the day-to-day effort of keeping the farm running.

While Dry January sounds sensible, a pint in the pub after a long day remains one of the backbones of rural life.

Taking more holidays would be lovely too, but relies on time, labour and finances magically aligning.

We exist in a world where time and personal development go hand-in-hand, and time is something farmers rarely have in abundance.

Creating resolutions can sometimes feel like a luxury reserved for people whose work lives switch off at 5pm.

So looking ahead to next year, maybe farmers’ resolutions should simply be cutting ourselves a bit of slack.

Meanwhile, if you find yourself in the pub this month, listening to a farmer halfway through a grumble about the weather, TB or Westminster, consider this your resolution: buy them a pint.

Because after everything this industry has been dragged through, the fact they’re still standing – and still showing up – certainly deserves one.