by
Dave Phipps
| Apr 16, 2020
As my kids were growing up, every Thanksgiving, my mother would have a little talk with her grandchildren and tell them a little story that instilled a “gratitude attitude.” I feel her optimism was instilled in me to this day and hope it will carry over to my two sons and their families someday.
So, the other day as I was reading my wife’s Farm Journal — yes, she receives these; she owns wheat land in the Palouse — and a story popped out titled Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude, written by Sara Schafer. I couldn’t help but see the parallels between farmers and superintendents in their day-to-day lives when it comes to daily stressors on the job. With Sara’s permission, I have reproduced her piece below.
ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
In being thankful for your many blessings, you can reduce stressHow can you keep your chin up this growing season, which will likely be sprinkled or slammed with stress?
Take a gratitude walk, suggests Dave Gordon, an author and motivational coach. For five minutes each day, walk around your facility and clear your mind of everything stressing you out.
“I started this practice 15 years ago, and it changed my life,” he explains. “Say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day.”
Gratitude is like a muscle, Gordon says, the more you exercise it the stronger it becomes. Build your muscle by reading uplifting books, spending time with positive people and thanking important people in your life.
“We know people who reflect on gratitude are happier, feel valued and experience fewer health issues,” says Marty Kelly, CEO of Productive Leaders. Use Kelly’s tool to inventory your blessings. You can download the PDF here.
Monitor your health
As a golf course superintendent, you owe it to your family to monitor your stress signals. If it were as easy as your car when the red light pops on, you would have it made. You need to be aware of what some of the stress signals are. I read in the April 2020 Farm Journal, that unhealthy patterns such as headaches, increased irritability, sleep difficulty, increase use of alcohol or drugs, communication difficulties and isolation are all signals to slow down and focus on wellness.
Sean Brotherson, family science specialist for North Dakota State University stated, “Health is the most important asset to any operation. If it is the most important asset, it also needs to be the most important priority.”
Brotherson and Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension farm health and safety specialist, offer these suggestions for farmers, ranchers, and their families but I think golf course superintendents fall under these suggestions as well:
- Know the warning signs of stress.
- During stressful times, do a stress self-inventory.
- Slow down and prioritize sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Get a physical checkup.
- Seek local resources, including clergy and medical professionals.
- Talk with other superintendents.
- Exercise daily.
- Take regular breaks throughout the day.
Credit: Farm Journal/AgWeb.com