Wellness

West Coast/Top of the South Sharefarmers of the Year are no strangers to hard work and determination. But they’re no strangers to burnout and mental health challenges either. They understand only too well the importance of work-life balance and walk that tightrope of high achievement and wellbeing on the daily. Woeds Anee Lee, Photos Kelsey McKenzie.

Understanding what’s happening in your brain when it’s constantly overloaded can help you recognise early signals all is not well. Listening to those signals and using some practical tools can help you reset and find balance again. Words Lance Burdett.

Action man, Jack Jensen, is directing his energy towards a cause that hit close to home, sparking connections to help others with tools that bring back the joy. Words Anne Lee.

Driving out the farm gate for a well-earned break may be the best investment you make for yourself, your family and your farm. Finding work-life balance means being proactive and locking that time away into your calendar. Words Anne Lee.

In an open letter to New Zealand farmers, Aro Hā Wellness Retreat Co-Founder Damian Chaparro says it’s good to be hardworking, but not privately exhausted. Words Damian Chaparro.

Trying to achieve a successful succession story can be difficult for the younger generation who may feel they have no control over the decisions being made.

Those long days sitting behind cows in the race, fixing fences, picking up hay are all examples of continuous sun exposure for farmers, leading to a lot of sun damage to our skin. Words Dr Alice Armstrong.

Historically, whole-fat dairy products were stigmatised due to their saturated fat content, but emerging research suggests a more nuanced understanding of their impact on heart health.

Lactose intolerance is a significant health issue globally, although a lot of people are self-diagnosing. What’s the science behind it, what do we need to understand and how can we help people with less lactase? Words Dr Anneline Padayachee: The Food Scientist.

Farmers are great at looking after their cows’ optimal health, but several farmers need a bit of a nudge to get along to visit their GP and keep on top of their own health. Words Dr Alice Armstrong.