STRESS!

Although homesteading can be a dream come true, there are times when it can be a bit of a nightmare…
And that’s when stress can take over.

Being under lots of pressure, facing big changes, worrying about… anything, not having much (or any) control over the outcome of a situation, having overwhelming responsibilities, uncertainty…

There are so many possible causes for stress.

There might be one big thing causing you stress, but stress can also be caused by a build-up of small pressures.

So, my question to you, how do you reduce or eliminate stress in your life?

Touching soil, listening to birdsong and water flowing. Feeling the cold rush of air off a waterfall or out of the mouth of a deep cave. Leaning into the wind on a blustery day. Taking a walk and looking as far into the distance as my eyes can see. Letting my senses ground me and pull me out of my head.

Waking up in the morning, have a cup of coffee and looking around what has to be done, then pick the first task and think about where and how can I make it easier but not loosing the focus or creating a shortcut, to do myself proud when its done.
Then I approach the task with a relaxed but steady pace but I make sure I give it at least 8 hrs. of my attention...
Sure, I do not mind if the day ends with the first task, tomorrow is another day..
(Rome has not been built in one day)

Your heart will thank you for this laid back lifestyle.

Sometimes the best thing for me, is spending time with my critters. We have goats, chickens, ducks, and turkeys, and just watching them do their thing, including following me around, chasing bugs, lizards, and an occasional mouse - or another chicken with one of the above, trying to hide it... Sometimes, just breathing, in my hammock swing or plunking my butt down, on the ground, and resting against a tree, taking in some fresh air... Generally, spending time reading my Bible. In anything, and everything, finding my way back to an "attitude of gratitude" is my no fail stress buster.

Hey,

So some of the things I do to deal with stress,
Is if i am feeling overwhelmed at any stage,
I write down the things I am stressed about, I sit for 5 minutes and list everything on my mind,
Then I use the Eisenhower matrix,
Do
decide
delegate
delete,

If I can not complete end, stop the stress, I do something that will work to help with the situation,
Like going to travel to a new company, with new technology, and in a location you have never been ,with no one you know, whilst trying to learn prototype gear.  whilst having to undertake 100s of inductions, test and trainings, and administration.

If the stress is from someone who will not stop, or listen, I go for a walk and keep my own space, for hours until I come to terms with why I am being stressed and apply Acceptance and commitment based phycology to myself. and find why I am stressed what is it exactly,
So if the stress is I can not allow anything to go wrong, why? what has happened in the past, when has something gone wrong that was not as big of an issue.

If its unknowns,
accept you can not know,

Often I find myself, looking at walls, floors and environments if I am stressed, reading the cleavages of stones, naming every material, looking at the weaknesses, seeing every flaw, naming every scent, noticing every fire exit, first aid, bathroom, measuring the distances of walls with my eyes, seeing every exit entry, naming every sound, comparing the hardness of every material in my head, looking for chemical reactions in my head, naming the plants, breaking every object and remaking in my head. looking at the slope of the ground. the flow of wind and water. Pulling apart different electronics in my head and making something out of them in my head. visualising the entropy of everything around me. looking at plants and naming the uses. looking at animals and visualising the bones and muscles of them. After a while I am distracted and able to think in a clear manner.

If I have something that doesn't work I fix it,

Sometimes I just go for a run through bushland and any dead trees that a real potential hazard to others, I pull down and make into habitat, or use to slow water flow, or what ever is best for the environment.

Some times I grab a piece of wood that would have been thrown away and carve it into something channelling the energy, the pain, the emotions, into something spending sometimes over a hundred hours on the item, and then give it away without knowing anything about it or what will happen to it, the less connection to the item the better, I give it away and not know if the person just burnt it, throw it away or cherished it, or hoarded it, it doe not matter I let go with the item.


Some times I will go to the most secluded place where no one will be around for 10s of kms, and shout about the situation.

Sometime I go to a burger restaurant and order food to eat dressed in very nice clothes, I use the manners of a gentleman with complete respect, I eat the meal making sure to try and enjoy every bit of it, I do not use my phone or look at any screen, I simply eat and enjoy the moment, when it is all done, I leave $5-10 dollars as a tip if the service is good, (we do not tip in Australia). for a $15 meal!  I take this time to think of myself as successful and a winner and then through myself into success.

go for a drive with my sister to an obscure location, just so we can talk privately, and then have some laughs.


Sometimes I lie down and look to the stars and try and name them, and then just star looking to them,

some times I will go look out at waves striking rocks alone for long periods of time,

If I am at my end, I just have a stack of junk food, soft drink, chips, ice-cream, chocolate, and a blanket and watch a tom hanks film, or something trashy with my sister.

I don't have issues with stress, my problem is anxiety.

Meditation has been a great help.
I began with mindfulness meditation but now I just meditate on topics that interest me.
I learned to limit my exposure to problems, so I occupy my mind with less worrysome stuff.
I dedicate a few moments to try to solve or prepare for the things I am troubled.
I spend some time caring for plants, it's a nice distraction.
I perform a daily ritual to help me staying calm.


Against stress, I think that you really have to acknowledge and accept your limits. Stress comes when you want to do (or you are required to do) more than you are able to. You can force yourself for a few days if need arises, but overdoing cannot last.
If in doubt, think about what you'd do to exercise without burning: you keep working a muscle until it hurts, then a little bit more, and that's it until next day. The mind is no different. Work until you are weared, then a little bit more and stop.

I come from a long line of worriers and worrying caused me stress. Then I read a book on meditation and this was written under a chapter heading.

“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

I don’t remember the book and I still don’t meditate, but that quote was the single biggest stress reducer in my life.

Edward Norton wrote:“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

This ⬆️

Homeopathic Ayahuasca helped me get sober it is a complete miracle.  Self medicating for anxiety for years became a problem in itself . I'm also a helluva good mead maker so that didn't help. You never run out of things to do on the farm but you have step back once in awhile and just rest. And then when you're rested you might need to take a day to do something fun - something that has no obligation behind it. Feeling good is an art that requires discipline.

meditation. Not reading news or being on social media. accepting my own limitations and releasing control. Sometimes I still get super stressed and overwhelmed but then I just breathe, breath breath.

For me, I find the forums, permies, a great stress reliever.

Next, I find that music really helps.  I like all kinds of music though I usually tune into Classic Country.

Maybe, if those don't do the trick, I take a walk.

Myk Brazier wrote:Homeopathic Ayahuasca helped me get sober it is a complete miracle.

Could you tell me more Myk about Homeopathic Ayahuasca…?
I couldn’t find any real information about it online.

I used to be a project engineer.  Thousands of parts and calculations running through my head.  It was nothing to have a million dollars worth of time and parts rapped up into a project.  The stress of getting it right took a tole on my body.  I was over weight and  irritable.  I don't think at this point is was even worth worrying over.

Now, cows, goats, hogs, turkeys, puppy and chickens are always happy to see me.  It is nice to be wanted.  The calf comes up so I can pet him.  The extra work it takes to keep the farmstead going is great to relieve my stress.  Having enough food and feed stored away is a good feeling.  Having no debt to an institution is a great feeling.  Church gives me a place to talk and be needed.

Christopher Shepherd wrote:The extra work it takes to keep the farmstead going is great to relieve my stress.  Having enough food and feed stored away is a good feeling.  Having no debt to an institution is a great feeling.

I can totally relate, Christopher…
Thank you for sharing.

N. Neta wrote:

Myk Brazier wrote:Homeopathic Ayahuasca helped me get sober it is a complete miracle.

Could you tell me more Myk about Homeopathic Ayahuasca…?
I couldn’t find any real information about it online.

My homeopathic doctor mixed it up for me. It's not something I've seen to buy commercially and we have a lot of remedies. I have done the real deal Ayahuasca trips in Peru and they were completely profound and amazing. The interesting thing about taking it homoeopathically is that it seemed to completely shift my consciousness into a state where I don't really need to take a break from it (by getting intoxicated in anyway). It took awhile to take effect but when it did it was a miracle. Sorry I don't have any info on obtaining it but if you find out how to make your own remedies or know someone who can - that would be your best bet.

Myk Brazier wrote:My homeopathic doctor mixed it up for me. It's not something I've seen to buy commercially and we have a lot of remedies.

Thank you, Myk…
I’ll see if any homeopathic practitioner I know - knows anything about it.