Today for Farmer Health and Safety week, we’ll be talking about overall farmer health and tips and tricks to stay healthy. Health goes beyond just the body, so it’s important to consider mental health in addition to physical health. Let’s discuss!

1. Hydration

When you’re working in a field whether it be with animals or crops, you are often exposed to harsh weather conditions. This can be extreme heat or cold, ruthless UV rays year-round, or even exposure to allergens in the air. One way to battle all of these things is by staying hydrated. Some great hydration drinks include Liquid IVs, Body Armor, Gatorade, and the simplest of them all… WATER! These drinks have electrolytes in them which help our bodies regulate fluid levels and are essential minerals.

If you’re out in the sun all day, be sure to keep a bottle of water or other electrolyte-replacing drink on you at all times. Sun and heat strokes can occur over very short periods of time and can be deadly, so it’s important to stay hydrated while working outside. Your life might depend on it!

2. Sun Protection

Going along with hydration, sun protection is just as important and can actually help you stay hydrated in the long run by avoiding wind/sunburn and preventing future dehydration. Sunblock may sound a little annoying to apply every morning, and you may just sweat it off, but it is just as important as all dermatologists make it out to be! Farmers and other primarily outdoor occupations, such as construction workers, are at a significantly increased risk of developing skin cancer due to their prolonged and often unprotected exposure to the sun.

Another means of protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays would be to wear hats, long sleeves, long pants, or any other kind of clothing that will keep your skin covered. While you may be hotter clad in long sleeves and pants in the middle of summer, your skin will thank you down the road.

3. Sleep

Another important component of good farmer health (and everyone’s health) is sleep! Sleep deprivation can cause a multitude of issues, the main one being the functionality of the brain. Without sleep, our brains can be very forgetful and careless causing us to make simple mistakes (both big and small) in our work.

Making a mistake while driving a tractor or operating a combine could be the difference between going home at the end of the day and a trip to the emergency room. This is why a good night’s rest is so important, especially for farmers.

4. Mental Health

Last, but certainly not least, is mental health! We live in a day and age where mental health is talked about much more openly. Burnout is a real consequence of work and you’ve likely experienced it before. There will be days you’re sad, days you may be overwhelmed, and days you’re extremely happy! Each of these days is worthy and valid, and they will each come and go.

Mental health is so important because your brain is what keeps you going! So please, take a weekend away from work, breathe, and take breaks when your brain needs them! Your mental health matters just as much as your physical health.