Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt

Send us Fan MailEver had one of those weeks where everything seems to go wrong, and you’re still expected to keep showing up anyway?This week I’m sharing a very real, very unpolished reflection on stress, overwhelm, and the pressure so many of us are carrying right now on the land. After recording this episode three times thanks to technology dramas, I decided to stop aiming for perfect and simply have an honest conversation about what helps when life feels heavy. I talk through some of the practical tools I’ve been sharing in my recent “What the F?” sessions with farmers across Australia, including the Circle of Control, moving towards rather than away from our values, and why sometimes the most important question we can ask is: What can I do in the next five minutes? We talk about how stress pulls us into autopilot, why tiny actions matter more than big fixes, and how giving ourselves a bit of grace can help us step out of shame spirals and back into what matters most. This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to hold it all perfectly. You can be exhausted AND still care deeply. You can feel overwhelmed AND keep taking the next small step. If you’re carrying a lot right now, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone and gives you a couple of practical anchors to come back to.I’d love to hear what resonated with you from this episode. What’s one small thing helping you get through this season right now? Come and connect with me over on Instagram @stephschmidt.farmlifepsych   What we cover in this episodeSteph shares the chaos of recording this episode three times Reflections on pressure and overwhelm in agriculture right now Overview of the “What the F?” online sessions The Circle of Control explained What’s in our control vs outside our control Focusing on the next five minutes instead of the whole season Practical examples from seeding, lambing and farm life Moving towards values instead of away from discomfort Stress, autopilot, and noticing unhelpful coping habits Small steps that reconnect us with what matters Giving ourselves grace when we don’t show up perfectly Parenting, capacity, and realistic self-compassion The tension between competing values and priorities Final reflections on stress, imperfection, and next stepsConnect with StephSteph's websiteDigital Hub for Farmers: farmlifehandbook.com.au Steph on FacebookSteph on LinkedInSteph on InstagramSteph's upcoming events