Balancing Personal Life and Farm Work is Tough. Key Strategies to Help You Win.
From staying organized and prioritizing family time to embracing flexibility and involving loved ones in the work, we uncover diverse strategies for balancing the demands of farming with personal life. Mike shares his own perspective on juggling responsibilities while keeping his passion for farming and family alive.
Rest Easy: Prioritizing Family, Work, and Life’s Unexpected Lessons
Life often feels like a balancing act. Whether it’s navigating family responsibilities, managing work commitments, or reflecting on the quirky, unexpected moments that shape us, we’re constantly juggling priorities. A recent conversation brought these challenges to the forefront when someone said, "If you can lay your head on a pillow at night and rest, don’t worry about us coming back to haunt you. We’re not going to be here to make those decisions for you." This sentiment underscores the importance of teamwork, especially within families, and the weight of making decisions when the torch has been passed.
The importance of scheduling and avoiding procrastination (Zach Hefty).
Prioritizing family and creating hard boundaries (Josh Linville).
Incorporating family into the farming lifestyle (Kevan Hueftle, Chad Tentinger).
Recognizing life’s seasons and asking for help when needed (Lori Nelsen and Kristin Stien).
The value of gratitude, humility, and rolling with life’s challenges (River Klass, Farmer Tyler Froberg).
The Power of Teamwork in Family Decisions
Discussions about family priorities often lead to complex and heartfelt moments. As parents, we want to guide our children to make thoughtful choices, knowing we won’t always be there to help. It’s a reminder that teamwork doesn’t end with the immediate family unit. Siblings must often come together, setting aside differences, to tackle decisions and support each other. These moments build bonds and teach us about compromise and resilience.
Embracing the Unexpected
Life isn’t all serious talks and heavy decisions. It’s also about those unexpected moments that catch us off guard—like rediscovering the spookiness of a childhood movie. Watching The Polar Express with family recently, I couldn’t help but notice how eerie some scenes were. A ghostly hobo chasing characters across a train top? How did I not find that terrifying as a kid? This unexpected realization reminded me of how our perceptions change over time and how small moments, even seemingly unrelated ones, can bring families closer.
Making Family a Priority, No Matter the Timing
For many of us, balancing work and family isn’t as simple as shutting down at 5 PM. Some jobs, especially in industries like farming or real estate, demand availability during unconventional hours. However, it’s not about adhering to a strict schedule; it’s about being intentional. Whether it’s a morning school drop-off, an afternoon walk, or a late-night movie, what matters most is making the time we have with family meaningful.
Gratitude for Those Who Work Through the Holidays
Not everyone has the privilege of taking time off during the holidays. From gas station attendants to restaurant staff and emergency responders, countless individuals work tirelessly during times others spend with loved ones. Their efforts remind us to appreciate the sacrifices they make, often prioritizing the needs of others over their own downtime.
The Importance of Communication
In today’s hyper-connected world, communication can be both a blessing and a burden. Smartphones and email make it possible to work from anywhere, but they also make it harder to disconnect. Setting boundaries—like turning off notifications or leaving your smartwatch on the dresser—can help reclaim precious family time. Clear communication about availability, whether by responding promptly or setting expectations, goes a long way in maintaining both professional and personal relationships.
Life Lessons from Work and Family
From making hay while the sun shines to embracing the “suck” during tough times, there’s no shortage of life lessons in work and family. It’s these challenges that push us to grow and, as one farmer put it, “get after it” instead of giving up. These lessons often come with a healthy dose of humor and humility, whether it’s burning your finger while welding or realizing you own more hitch pins than you’ll ever use. They remind us to laugh, learn, and keep moving forward.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, life is about balance—balancing the needs of others with your own, balancing work with family, and balancing the serious with the lighthearted. Whether it’s setting aside time to reconnect with loved ones or embracing the lessons that come from unexpected moments, we can all strive to make our days more meaningful. So, lay your head on the pillow at night knowing you’ve done your best, and let tomorrow bring its own adventures.
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