Farming requires daily problem-solving: operators, equipment managers, and farm owners are often asked to make informed decisions within a short period. How can they mindfully manage their mental load? Consider following these five rules.

We all know a career in agriculture can require long hours to manage economic pressures, unpredictable weather patterns, or crop needs. Farmers must make informed decisions as they quickly weigh multiple factors. The resulting mental load can contribute to mental fatigue. Defined by the National Library of Medicine as the “psychobiological state of tiredness caused by prolonged periods of performing demanding, cognitive-load-inducing activities,” mental fatigue can impair a farmer’s ability to concentrate and increases the likelihood of mistakes. Further, mental fatigue can become exhaustion when a farmer must maintain intense activity without rest. Without rest periods — especially during the busy harvest season — this fatigue cycle can lead to long-term mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

When the harvest tasks require much of our daylight hours and well into the evening at times, ag management tools and precision technology can simplify daily operational decisions. During this year’s Farm Safety Week, every person in the ag industry can support mental health by discussing five simple rules to improve overall well-being and reduce the likelihood of increased mental fatigue even during demanding seasons.

You may have heard that several former Presidents wear essentially the same outfit every day – the same combination of suit, shirt and tie. In doing so, they are automating their decisions to allow more room for the decisions that really matter. For farmers, they too can take meaningful steps to minimize the variables they must manage and leave some mental space for big decisions. Consider these five rules to follow.

#1 Create Transparency When Possible

By its very nature, farming doesn’t generally follow a fixed schedule or a meticulously organized to-do list. Each day presents new challenges, and agricultural professionals perpetually grapple with a cascade of issues, each demanding attention. Amidst this dynamic environment, mental fatigue arises from the constant decision-making process — choosing the right course of action and, sometimes, second-guessing those decisions.

And, here’s where today’s technology can help. During an all-operator meeting I recently attended at a large farm, operators discussed the numerous benefits of connected machinery, including data sharing among team members. One operator described how unplanned check-in calls disrupted his work and hindered his efficiency. But when his machine connected to a Farm Management System (FMS) through a Modular Telematics Getaway (MTG) and JDLink Connectivity modem, this mostly eliminated the need for those check-ins. These calls from the manager made the operator feel micromanaged at times and raised stress levels for both team members. The operator began to fear he’d make mistakes, while the manager thought he had to take on extra work to prevent issues. Now, the operator and manager say an MTG improves communication by sharing real-time location, fuel or Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) usage and other essential info.

#2 Develop a Communication Process 

Getting any labor started for the day can be time consuming, and double-checking they have the most up-to-date info about daily tasks and field conditions,  a few hours later can be stressful. One forward-thinking farmer saw the opportunity to simplify sharing operational tasks and monitoring his team’s progress. One farmer opted for John Deere Operations Center Farm Management Software (FMS). By using the Operations Center, he could use the Work Planner function to share essential details with each connected machine.

The Work Planner shared essential details — like field boundaries and guidance lines along with required chemical treatments — with each connected machine. Then, this farmer writes on the whiteboard the names and locations of fields that need attention. When any operator clocks in, they see the whiteboard with the field locations before opening the Work Planner tool while they are still in the office. Instead of operators seeking directives before proceeding with tasks, they can quickly see where they need to work and what needs to be done.

In addition to sharing daily tasks, the Operations Center highlights the fleet’s work when applicable machines are connected and send data to their Operations Center. When the farmer views their Operations Center dashboard, they can dispatch support vehicles like nurse and fuel trucks at the right time to increase overall efficiency. Through MTG and the Operations Center, the farm team creates a streamlined system where tasks are clear, and everyone knows what to do next.

#3 Adopt a ‘Data Growth Mindset’

Intuitively, farmers understand the opportunity for continual improvement by learning and adapting for better outcomes. They do this every growing season as they harvest and prepare for the following spring, work with new varieties, or try new chemistry to make the best product. Farmers can apply this tradition of growing their abilities alongside their connected equipment to adopt a “data growth mindset.”

Consider one farmer’s experience: they had 15 fields with Clearfield wheat and 15 with non-GMO wheat. They prioritized spraying the Clearfield wheat field and needed to communicate these tasks with their operator quickly, add their tank mix information and give an idea of how to get to those fields. To promptly identify those fields, the farmer relied on their FMS plus a trusted precision ag expert. Through the FMS and expert training, he queried the Operations Center’s Variety Locator to define field prescription zones and shared that info with an operator.

Remember, the data that is available and easily accessible at a moment’s notice is the most useful when making a fast, year-changing decision. Relying more on streamlined data management practices can help reduce anxiety. When those decisions are supported by regular conversations with a trusted precision ag data expert, farmers can feel more confident about protecting crops or ensuring livestock health.

#4 Create a Team Goal 

Team goals create accountability for each team member to make decisions so the team can progress on its one big goal — whether that’s harvesting in less time or using fewer inputs or improving yield.

A farmer can help his team achieve a goal by clearly communicating the goal’s intent during the next few weeks. This information empowers operators and creates team pride. Without the need for constant check-ins, all operators’ work experience improves.

A farm maintenance manager contributes to a team goal by preemptively scheduling maintenance and ordering parts with Operations Center PRO Dispatch. In their Operations Center PRO Dispatch account, they can review real-time map updates to help track each machine’s work and send operators a prioritized list of fields that need an application, even with mixed fleets. They can also calculate the total spraying application productions required in that field with a push of a button before sharing that info.

The farmer who trusts their team members and encourages them to work toward the big picture goals by clearly communicating the necessary info equals success despite possible problems.

#5 Practice Self Compassion 

A kind word can go a long way – that’s true when you offer one to your team but is equally true when you offer one to yourself. Recent studies from Harvard psychologists report that self-compassion reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone in the body) even if nothing else changes in a person’s daily life. What does self-compassion look like on a daily basis? It simply means not beating yourself up or, even better, treating yourself with care and understanding, particularly when things go wrong. Often, we offer more compassion to others than ourselves to just talking to yourself as you would a good friend is one way to think about how to implement this practice.

Self-compassion safeguards against a spiral of second-guessing decisions so we can use mental energy to focus on learning daily and solving problems. It’s amazing how much mental energy negative talk can take up so clearing that out of your brain can make room for more productive mental work, such as analyzing data and setting a productive path forward. For example, at the end of the day, when farmers and operators finish their field work, they can sit down pull any number of data reports to adjust for current field conditions, redeploying a machine from one field to another or changing the spraying application.

It may sound strange but trusting data management tools, including the Operations Center, can build trust with team members and increase confidence in decisions. These are all benefits that extend well beyond improved accuracy, speed and overall outcomes. These are benefits that help us continue to learn, grow and thrive – even in challenging times.