Working in agriculture brings its own set of unique experiences and stresses. These stresses can range from equipment breakdowns to long hours to isolation from others. Signs of stress are warning signals, like the flashing yellow or red light on the dashboard of a car, that are reminding you to pay attention, slow down and take steps to check for signs of trouble.
Having a process that you can use in managing the pressures that impact your family, your farming operation and your life in general is helpful. This publication introduces four steps for managing stresses in the Managing Rural Stress Model. Although we face common stress experiences, the stresses for each individual or farming operation are unique. This model provides you with a process and set of steps for thinking about the different stressors you may experience and strategies for managing them more effectively.
The Managing Rural Stress Model allows you to use a reflective approach and explore multiple steps in dealing with stress concerns. It helps you identify and use effective resources and strategies. The four steps explored here are: (1) assess needs and impacts, (2) identify and access resources, (3) pursue good-quality decisions, and (4) connect with sources of support..