SUNNYBROOK WELDING BLOG
Why Taking Care of Yourself is the Smartest Business Decision You’ll Make
Every spring, something shifts. The fields wake up. The air smells like potential. Machinery hums to life, and calendars start to fill with early mornings and late nights. For farmers and for business owners like me, spring is less of a season and more of a launchpad. It's easy to focus on everything that needs doing. But here's the part we often miss: you can't run a business if you're running on empty!
You know the feeling - when your body moves, but your mind is behind. You're checking boxes, making decisions, showing up for everyone else... but inside, you're running on fumes. You tell yourself you'll rest after the next deadline, after planting, when harvest is over, after the next fire's out. But the truth is, that feeling of being constantly drained doesn't just affect your health - it chips away at your clarity, your patience, your leadership. Running on empty doesn't just hurt you. It echoes across everything and everyone you lead.
The Wake-Up Call from the Field
Like many of you, I've had 'seasons' where the pressure didn't let up, where everything felt urgent, and the thought of slowing down felt like falling behind. As the CEO of a manufacturing business deeply rooted in agriculture, I've learned the hard way: you can have the best team, the best strategy, and the best equipment, but if you're not at your best, it eventually catches up with you. Decisions get rushed... communication slips..., and resilience wears thin.
I know you see this on the farm, too. When you run thousands of acres, the equipment matters, but the operator matters more! Let me say that again... the operator matters more.
Nature Knows When It's Time to Reset
Spring isn't just about planting; it's about recalibrating. Research consistently shows that spending time outdoors improves mood, reduces stress, and increases mental clarity.¹ Just 15 minutes of natural sunlight exposure can boost serotonin levels, the chemical that helps regulate mood and focus.² So, whether taking the long way on your UTV or walking the yard before the crew shows up, nature is your ally. Let it work in your favour. For those who may not be farmers with nature out their front door, be intentional with yourself and make the time to connect with nature. I don't mean going for a walk outside that might be down a busy street; I mean going to the park or another very nature-Esque place and taking it in.
You might think, I don't have time for that... well, let me be very blunt here... if you have time to scroll mindlessly on your phone or binge-watch the next Netflix series, then you have the time.
What Dr. Greg Wells Says About Sleep (and Why It Matters)
I recently had the privilege of hearing Dr. Greg Wells speak at an event. And while so much of what he said seemed to be 'common sense,' it really resonated with me how important it is to take care of yourself. According to Dr. Greg Wells, a scientist, human physiologist, performance expert, and best-selling author of The Ripple Effect, sleep is the foundation of human performance. Wells
"If sleep were a credit card, we'd all be maxed out. And eventually, the interest becomes too much to handle." - Dr. Greg Wells
He explains that sleep deprivation impairs decision-making, weakens the immune system, and reduces your ability to deal with stress, all of which are bad news in the middle of a tight planting window, harvest or any other high-stakes business cycle.³
And, honestly, the fix isn't complicated.
Just one extra hour of sleep per night can:
- Improve reaction time by up to 25%
Increase productivity and focus
- Reduce the risk of burnout and long-term health problems
You're the Engine Behind the Operation
Whether you're driving a combine or a company, you are the most valuable asset on the team.
Let's be real here... your crew, crops, customers... they're all counting on your leadership. But that leadership is strongest when it's coming from a place of clarity, energy, and presence.
This spring, I'm not just resetting our production schedule; I'm resetting myself. And I'm inviting you to do the same.
Spring Reset Checklist: 6 Simple Habits to Take Care of Yourself
- Sleep like it's a job. (Because it is.) Aim for 7-9 hours4. Wells
Fuel with intention. Skip the 3 p.m. sugar bomb. Add more water and protein.
Unplug briefly each day. No phones during meals or before bed.
Get outside with no agenda. Let nature slow your nervous system down.
It's ok to say no. Protect your margin; being busy is not a badge of honour.
- Check in with your crew. They're watching how you lead, especially when things are hard.
Final Thought: The Harvest Isn't Just in the Field
If there's one thing being a CEO for an ag manufacturer has taught me, it's this: you can't grow anything well in depleted soil, and that includes yourself. So, this spring, while you're prepping equipment, checking planting conditions, and reviewing projections, I hope you'll take five minutes to ask yourself: How am I doing? Really?
Long-term success, whether in the field or the boardroom, starts with the one thing you can't outsource: Taking care of yourself.
References
¹ Bratman, G. N., et al. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26124129/
² Harvard Health Publishing. "Sour mood getting you down? Get back to nature." (2021). https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/sour-mood-getting-you-down-get-back-to-nature#:~:text=Research%20suggests%20that%20mood%20disorders,a%20walk%20in%20the%20woods.
³ Wells, G. (2017). The Ripple Effect: Sleep, Eat, Move and Think Better. HarperCollins. https://drgregwells.com/books
Author: Kyla Smith, MBA
