Movember: Men's Health Issues for Farmers

It is important to shine a light on important health issues in men including testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and mental health issues, including depression and suicide. November is men’s health month all over the world, and the movement is called Movember. What is Movember, and how can you contribute to this movement? Learn more about how Movember impacts farmers.

What Is Movember and Why Does it Matter?

Movember is an international movement that seeks to draw attention to major health issues that impact men all over the world. This includes testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and mental health issues. Unfortunately, there is a perception that for men to be “strong,” they simply need to deal with these major issues on their own. As a result, a lot of men do not ask for help when they need it, which can make a lot of the above issues worse.

This is true among farmers, who are dealing with major physical and mental stressors all over the world. Some of the biggest sources of stress for farmers include:

Farmers have too much to do and not enough time to do it.
Climate change is impacting farmers all over the world.
A lot of farmers face the stress of an uncertain income, which might be combined with a large debt load.
New regulations could be adding to the overhead expenses of farmers.
The markets might be erratic, leading to unfair returns.
Many farmers do not get enough sleep at night.
Because of the long to-do list, farmers may feel like they do not have enough time to see the doctor, which directly impacts their overall health.

These are just a few of the biggest sources of stress on farmers. How can farmers take steps to improve their overall health?

What Can Farmers Do To Improve Their Overall Health?

Even though there are a lot of steps you might be able to take to remove stress and improve your health, today I’m asking you to do one thing. You do not need to try to change everything at the same time, as this might be too difficult; however, you need to pick one thing to improve your health.

Health is important. Without your health, you will not have the ability to provide for your family, and you might not be able to enjoy life. Here is a list of possible changes and actions you can take to improve your health. These include:

Start Exercising Regularly: The first change you might make is to start exercising regularly. You do not have to go out and run a marathon, but consider going for a walk every day. You can even go for a walk on the farm. This is not a walk to work, but a walk to exercise and relax.
Get More Sleep: Put yourself on a healthy sleep schedule. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night. If you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, you can put your body in a rhythm, getting better quality sleep at night.
Schedule an Annual Medical Care Checkup: Make an effort to see the doctor at least once per year for an annual checkup. The doctor might have ideas for changes you can make to further improve your health.
Make a Change in Your Diet: You might want to make changes in your diet to eat healthier. Consider reducing your intake of sugar and saturated fat. You might want to cut back on alcohol or other liquid calories as well.

These changes are important for your physical and mental health. You need to exercise regularly to protect your cardiovascular health and prevent the development of complications such as diabetes and obesity. If you can combine this with dietary changes, you will feel better about your overall health, which could help reduce your stress.

If you can also find a way to get more sleep at night, you will have more energy during the day, further reducing your stress and giving you the strength needed to take better care of your farm.

Which One Are You Choosing?

During Movember, you need to focus on important men’s health issues, and this includes issues related to farming. Farmers are under a significant amount of physical and mental stress, but there are changes you can make to improve your overall health. Consider making changes in your diet and exercise routine to improve your health, and remember to see a doctor at least once per year for an annual checkup. Which of the possibilities above are you choosing?