Running a farming business can take a real toll on both your mind and body, making breaks essential for your well-being. Rest is not one-size-fits-all, as everyone resets differently. However, farmer mental health and taking time to reconnect with yourself is not a luxury but vital for your health.
Feeling tired is not a weakness. It is a natural signal from your body to pause, recharge, and honour your own needs.
Some people find relaxation and emotional relief in a facial, manicure, or pedicure, while others recharge by moving to their favourite music. For farmers who often have little personal time, even a 30-minute walk can reduce stress, boost circulation, and improve mental clarity.
Peace among the peaks
For KwaZulu-Natal farmer Ayanda Fakude, resetting emotionally is a daily ritual. A moment of prayer, stretching with yoga, and quiet reflection help her reconnect with herself.
Living near the mountains, she says, offers more than a scenic backdrop; it is central to her emotional balance.
“Sometimes I take mountain walks, listening to the birds, feeling the wind, watching the beauty around me, and hearing water flowing nearby,” she shares.
Meditation is also part of her routine.
“Good music makes it even better. It helps me focus and clear my mind.”
Ayanda Fakude
On some days, she takes a full break from the farm and goes on a blue screen detox, staying offline from social media and other platforms.
“Since I am family-oriented, I carry a separate phone for emergencies only,” she explains.
These practices, she says, help her think more creatively, plan new strategies, and face business setbacks with a calmer, clearer mind.
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Finding joy in exercise and family
Limpopo farmer Mokgomotsi Morodi finds that exercise helps him reconnect with himself. On stressful days, running lifts his mood and clears his mind.
“Spending time with my family and cooking the food I grow in the garden gives me moments of joy.”
“ I love listening to their farming stories and learning how they have survived and thrived over the years,” he explains.
Morodi adds that picking up new skills also helps him reset emotionally and maintain balance in his daily life.
Akhona Gxuluwe, a farmer based in Kenilworth, Cape Town, finds peace by dining at a nice restaurant, listening to the ambient sounds in the background, and savouring every sip of wine.
She is also into fashion, enjoys all things beautiful, and says buying a little red dress or getting a mani and pedi helps set the mood.
“Spa dates are my thing. The feeling you get when you receive them makes me forget a little about farming,” she explains.
Gxuluwe adds that even a new hairstyle can lift her spirits, and she makes it a point to treat herself every month whenever the opportunity allows.
Farm-life balance essential
Experts say it is essential to find calm amid the chaos of farm life.
Bronwen Bayman, relaxation therapist and founder of Mindful Practice in Cape Town, shares simple techniques to reset your mind and recharge your spirit.
Bayman says when you are stressed or burnt out, you are unlikely to function optimally. She tells Food For Mzansi that these kinds of emotions can affect your health. She adds that simple practices like gratitude leave no room for other negative emotions to exist in your mind and body.
“You cannot feel fear and be brave at the same time.”
She notes that a simple routine of journaling can help someone going through an emotion to set up their mood.
“You just need to train your mind on the things you are grateful for.”
Bayman further notes that conscious breathing also helps relax your nervous system.
By embracing these moments of peace, farmers can not only survive the challenges of their profession but truly thrive, ensuring a more sustainable and fulfilling life both on and off the land. Your body and mind are your most valuable assets, and tending to them with the same care you give your crops is the key to a prosperous and peaceful future.
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