Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques

One of the unique aspects of farming/ranching is that husbands and wives often work closely together. Consequently, farm/ranch operations and family life are tightly interwoven. Farm/ranch decisions are more likely to affect the entire family than are job decisions of workers in other occupations. For example, a decision to buy a new tractor is likely to affect plans for purchasing a new refrigerator. Especially during the harvest when one stressful event piles up on top of another and tensions run high, working closely together can lead to high levels of stress for the entire family.

Another source of tension for some farm/ranch couples is related to changing roles. Fifty years ago our society more clearly defined the differences between activities of husbands and wives. But today, with increasing farm/ranch costs, more and more farm/ranch wives hold two or more jobs (farm/ranch partner, mother-homemaker and off-farm/ranch employee). Some men who are accustomed to more traditional sexual roles may have difficulty accepting women working off the farm/ranch or making important decisions.

So, stress between a farm/ranch couple is not unusual considering the close working relationship and societal pressures. To relieve the strain, there are several things you can do.

* Plan ahead. Set measurable goals together for your lifetime, five years from now, and a year from now. Decide how long the two of you want to stay in farming/ranching; then get busy enjoying what you have decided to do.
* Communicate realistic expectations clearly. Use “I statements” more often than “you statements.” “You’re always wanting to buy something else!” will probably not get your spouse to change. Try using an I statement instead: “I get worried and angry when I hear you wanting to buy a new . . . What I’d like is for the two of us to sit down and decide together which major purchases we can afford.” Then, especially on serious matters, listen well so that you can repeat back to your partners satisfaction what she or he says and feels.
* Be flexible in your roles and attitudes. Letting others do things you usually do and relaxing your high standards can reduce pressures.
* Negotiate. When problems arise, schedule time for the two of you to brainstorm. Weigh the costs and benefits of each solution. Arrive at a plan that enables both of you to get something you want.

What are the Management Standards for work related stress?

The Management Standards define the characteristics, or culture, of an organisation where the risks from work related stress are being effectively managed and controlled.

The Management Standards cover six key areas of work design that, if not properly managed, are associated with poor health and well-being, lower productivity and increased sickness absence. In other words, the six Management Standards cover the primary sources of stress at work. These are:

* Demands[1] – this includes issues such as workload, work patterns and the work environment.
* Control[2] – how much say the person has in the way they do their work.
* Support[3] – this includes the encouragement, sponsorship and resources provided by the organisation, line management and colleagues.
* Relationships[4] – this includes promoting positive working to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour.
* Role[5] – whether people understand their role within the organisation and whether the organisation ensures that they do not have conflicting roles.
* Change[6] – how organisational change (large or small) is managed and communicated in the organisation.

The Management Standards represent a set of conditions that, if present, reflect a high level of health well-being and organisational performance.
The Management Standards:

* demonstrate good practice through a step by step risk assessment approach;
* allow assessment of the current situation using surveys and other techniques;
* promote active discussion and working in partnership with employees to help decide on practical improvements that can be made;
* help simplify risk assessment for work related stress by:
o identifying the main risk factors for work related stress;
o helping employers focus on the underlying causes and their prevention; and
o providing a yardstick by which organisations can gauge their performance in tackling the key causes of stress.