Ever found yourself lying in bed at 3 a.m., replaying the to-do list, worrying about the weather, or planning tomorrow’s jobs? You’re not alone.

In this episode of From Stress to Strength: Navigating Life on the Land, Steph dives into one of the first things we sacrifice when life on the farm gets hectic — sleep. It’s not a luxury or something “soft and fluffy.” It’s fuel. The thing that keeps our bodies and minds running well enough to get through the day (and all those long nights).

Steph explores:

• Why sleep matters more than we often admit

• How stress messes with our ability to switch off

• Practical strategies to help your body and brain wind down, including progressive muscle relaxation, yoga nidra, and cognitive shuffling (yes, it’s a real thing — and surprisingly effective)

• Simple wind-down habits that actually work for farm life

Whether you’re feeding out, in the header, or wide awake at midnight, this episode offers small, doable ways to rest, recharge, and reclaim some decent shut-eye.

Listen to Episode 8 now:
🎙 From Stress to Strength: Navigating Life on the Land — part of Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt.
Proudly supported by Ski for Life, promoting mental health, wellbeing, and suicide prevention across rural communities.

Find more tools for your Farm Life Handbook here:

- www.farmlifehandbook.com.au

Connect with Steph online:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stephschmidt.farmlifepsych/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephschmidtfarmlifepsych/

Resources mentioned:

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation (free guides on YouTube or Insight Timer)

• Yoga Nidra sleep meditations (Spotify/Insight Timer)

• “The Pocket Psychologist” on Instagram for cognitive shuffling tips

  
  

If you’re struggling with ongoing sleep or stress, reach out for support.
Lifeline 13 11 14 | Regional Access 1300 032 186 | Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636