Farmer Focus: Mental health personal trainer hits the spot
Jack Bosworth © Tim Scrivener I hope everyone is well. While there is currently no shortage of topics to write about within the pig industry, I always see the passing of the old year as a good time to reflect.
It’s been a tough year for many of us, whether you are having to make a choice between heating and eating, are caught up in the nightmare of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or are one of the many dealing with personal loss – among them King Charles, who has come through a very sad and, I’m sure, challenging time.
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About the author
With the cost-of-living crisis following hard on the heels of the Covid pandemic, many people are being or will be hit hard.
They won’t just be affected in the practical day-to-day sense; it will hit them mentally.
I certainly include myself in that group, by which I mean I’m mentally weaker than I was three years ago.
I am not afraid to say that, and what’s important is recognising it and working at it to build that mental strength back up to where I want to be.
Like many farmers, I’m guilty of not taking enough time off and not “switching off”, both of which are probably a result of writing to-do lists as long as my arm and trying to help steer the ship that is our family farming business through exceptionally tough times.
Farming can suck you in – for many of us it becomes much more than just a job, but we all need to remember to look after ourselves at the same time.
On that note, it’s great to see that Fram Farmers is offering its members mental health training for farm workers. We have booked two places.
While mental health is being spoken about more, I feel there is more that can be done.
I am trialling spending 45 minutes each week talking on the phone to someone I see as my mental health personal trainer, which so far I would highly recommend. Best wishes to everyone for 2023.