Farming is a demanding job, which can also be dangerous. Use these tips to farm as safely as you can, while using your time efficiently.

Prioritise

Prioritising is a must. Spend your time doing the most important work first. Do up a list of the jobs to be done around the farm and list them based on their importance.

Get help

Tap into temporary help to do important but time-consuming and routine tasks. For instance, if your invoices are a mess or the yard is untidy, consider hiring someone for a short period.

Categorise

Organise your work into categories like ‘do today,’ ‘action needed this week’ and ‘ideas’. Sort tasks and jobs as they come to you. Time management experts say most people can spend up to seven hours each week just looking for things or being distracted by clutter.

Don’t take on too much

It is generally recommended that you plan only about 70% of your day. Leave the rest of the day for interruptions and unexpected events, which is something that farmers are all familiar with given the nature of the job.

Focus

Do not try to multi-task. Concentrate completely on one task at a time. You will be able to work faster and to a higher standard. This is also a much safer way of working and will help prevent farm accidents from happening.

Do not skip meals

After a few hours, even when you are doing something you enjoy, there is still a tendency to burn out. Energy and productivity are improved by taking a break and thinking or talking about something else for a while.

Family time

Spending time with your family and friends is so important. Try adjusting your work so you can spend a set amount of time with them, if possible.