Jason Halford learnt the hard way about burnout on-farm. Now he’s working with Farmstrong to raise awareness about what farmers can do to prevent it.
How’s the season been for you?
It’s been a tricky spring for everyone, hasn’t it [laughs], very wet and overcast at times here and unexpected frosts, but that’s what the weather does these days.
You’ve been using Movember to raise awareness about rural mental health. What’s planned?
Yesterday a group of us walked up Mount Tauhara in Taupō. We’ve also got a few fun things coming up like some golf and a swim in the lake. The idea is just to get away from work for a bit and have a good catch-up.
You suffered from burnout when you were dairy farming, didn’t you?
Yes, I’ve been there and felt like that. I was in a milking shed one day absolutely in tears, just thinking “Man, I am so tired.” Anyone’s who’s ever been in that position knows how horrible it feels. Now I’m doing my bit to prevent others going through what I experienced.
I think a lot of farmers will be interested in what you do differently now. How do you hold down a high-pressure job and keep well?
The main thing is making sure you get time off. That’s just so important. I learnt the hard way that long days and plenty of them are no good for you in the long run. It might seem like you’re doing the right thing at the time, but believe me, you’re not. Everyone needs time to recover physically and mentally.
What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Exercise is key for me. When I was dairy farming, for example, I set myself a challenge of running a half marathon. I had to train to do that so there was no excuse. So, my advice to dairy farmers would be, after a busy time like mating, set yourself a challenge with a friend then get into it. As farmers we’ve already got a base level of physical fitness to bounce off, so instead of letting your winter weight come on, do something to boost your mood.
You mean “weight” in every sense of the word?
Absolutely. Getting out there and doing something different is great for your mental health.
What else is important?
Having a good support network. I was lucky when I was farming in the Hawkes Bay that I had a mate who would always ring me and just say, “Hey I haven’t seen you much. What’s going on?” He was always checking in and positive. Those are the sort of people you want around you. Farming can be a very demanding job and it’s so easy when you get together to just complain and bring each other down! Somehow you need to avoid that negative spiral.
How do you maintain a good “headspace”?
I write my challenges down. It makes you step back and honestly assess, “Is this really a problem or am I just needlessly stewing over something in my head?” Nine times out of 10 you’ll go, “Yeah, that’s not actually such a big deal.” The other thing I find helpful is to make sure I live in the present and don’t let my thoughts wander off.
How does that help?
Well, it’s good to look forward and plan things, but to be happy you actually have to live in the present and be excited about that. Living like that has helped me realise that farming’s pretty awesome and I’ve just got to enjoy the good stuff and not worry endlessly about things that may never happen.
What about those days when nothing seems to go right?
For me it’s as simple as getting home and spending 10 minutes with the kids. Life’s simple for kids and it should be. If you can’t do that, try 10 minutes of exercise. Something as simple as a walk down the road can do the trick and clear your brain.
What can you do if you’re feeling exhausted?
I’d say make sure you’re eating and sleeping well.
What do you mean by eating well?
Making sure you’re eating a lot of good food and you’re getting three good meals a day and not skipping breakfast and trying to compensate with sweet stuff and energy drinks. You’ve got to eat for tomorrow in farming and get the fuel in the tank your body needs for a physical job.
A lot of farmers tell us they struggle with sleep.
Yes, I know that feeling and that’s a sign of stress. That’s why it’s important to live in the present and not always be worrying about the future. If you can do that, you can tell your brain, “Hey, now I’m sleeping and I’m not going to worry about that” and get back to sleep. That’s what I do.
What’s your main message to other farmers?
Don’t wait until you reach a crisis point like I did. Pick up on the signs that you’re not feeling 100% and talk to someone about it. If you’re finding it harder and harder to get motivated that’s a sign you need to talk to someone – a good friend, a helpline or your doctor. Accept you’re not feeling 100 and deal with it.
What’s at stake?
How you’re feeling on farm impacts many people – your family, your farm team, your community. That’s why you’ve got to do something and not struggle on. It starts with admitting “I’m not right, I’m going to stick my head up and I’m going to get some help.” Or if you’re sitting there in a discussion group and noticing that some people aren’t turning up or don’t seem to have their head above water, go and talk to them.
Farmers are always busy. How do you integrate this thinking into your business?
It’s about committing to change. Write some goals down, get excited about those and then stick to your plan for three months until it becomes a habit. If you fall off the horse for a while, make sure you get back on it. That’s what I’ve done.
Do you think people are more open to talking about these issues?
I think there’s still some stigma around the topic of mental health and we’ve got a way to go. That’s why I’m more than happy to talk about it, because it’s better for New Zealand agriculture if we do.
What about Farmstrong? Do you think its messages are catching on?
These ideas are definitely worth promoting. Poor wellbeing nibbles away at you like a mouse eating holes in a block of cheese ’til there’s not much left. If you do nothing, it makes it so much harder for you to get better. That’s why we need to be proactive.
How does the business benefit?
The farm benefits immediately. If you’re in a positive mindset, you back the farm and you back your team. Dairy farmers spend a lot of time with their team and they soon pick up on this stuff.
What does being Farmstrong mean to you?
It’s about being able to wake up, do a good day’s work and go home feeling pleased and positive about the day. It’s about spending time with your family, making sure you’re not working 14 hours a day and having strategies in place to get through the year, so you don’t burn out. Being Farmstrong means being physically and mentally prepared for the job every day.
MORE: Farmstrong is a nationwide rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers to manage the ups and downs of farming. For farmer-to-farmer tips and resources on how to stay Farmstrong, check out farmstrong.co.nz
