Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
How to make sleep work more effectively for us: that is the issue at the core of an upcoming conference in Saskatoon on December 6, co-sponsored by the Institute for Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health (I.ARE.H) and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s Farm Stress Line.
“For agricultural producers, getting enough sleep is one of the major issues that need to be addressed when one looks at controlling injuries,” says Ken Imhoff, Manager of the Farm Stress Line. “If a person is experiencing stress because of his or her work life, getting enough sleep can be a challenge—especially in light of the fact that farming families are increasingly involved in off-farm income generating activities. This can lead to burnouts and accidents, causing injuries.”
The Farm Injury Control Summit is for rural municipal leaders and partners, and is aimed at helping to eliminate deaths and disabling injuries in Saskatchewan.
“This one-day workshop will serve to increase understanding of sleep dynamics and show how one can get the most out of their sleep,” says Imhoff. “The workshop will provide health professionals and agricultural interest groups with some practical information that can help farmers, their families and their workers manage stress,” explains Imhoff.
To facilitate this process, the organizers are calling on the experience of Jon Shearer, a sleep researcher since 1977 and a professor at Ontario’s Algonquin College, who will be conducting the “Sleepless in Saskatchewan” workshop. Shearer has studied the effects of sleep deprivation on shift-workers, such as nurses and police officers, for some time. He has lectured and conducted workshops for over 1,000 professional associations.
“His credentials include the publication of 25 articles on the subject, as well as serving as an expert witness in a number of shift-work arbitrations,” adds Imhoff.
The morning will feature an exploration of stress and its impact on our relationships with family, the people we work and deal with in our life. There will a segment on how, as stress builds up, it changes us, not only physically, but psychologically.
“As our behaviour changes, those around us begin to notice these changes,” Imhoff points out. “Participants will be given a series of warning signs to look for as stress creeps into their lives.”
Career orientation will be looked at, especially the relationship between career commitment and stress.
Participants will gain insight into the relationship between sleep and our natural biological clock. There will be emphasis on how our daily routines can enhance our chances of getting a good night’s sleep, which in turn increases our ability to operate in the most efficient and safe manner in our work and interpersonal lives.
The science of sleep will be discussed, as well as the ways to increase the amount of positive sleep we can get. One of the aspects discussed will be the impact of diet on sleep efficiency.
Lastly, the summit will focus on gaining an understanding of the effects of extended hours of work on our physical, psychological and emotional status, and how to cope with extended hours of work.
To register, contact Kendra Ulmer at I.ARE.H at (306) 966-6643. Sleepless in Saskatchewan will be held at the Saskatoon Inn.
For more information, contact:
Ken Imhoff
Manager, Farm Stress Unit
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-5196
How to make sleep work more effectively for us: that is the issue at the core of an upcoming conference in Saskatoon on December 6, co-sponsored by the Institute for Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health (I.ARE.H) and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s Farm Stress Line.
“For agricultural producers, getting enough sleep is one of the major issues that need to be addressed when one looks at controlling injuries,” says Ken Imhoff, Manager of the Farm Stress Line. “If a person is experiencing stress because of his or her work life, getting enough sleep can be a challenge—especially in light of the fact that farming families are increasingly involved in off-farm income generating activities. This can lead to burnouts and accidents, causing injuries.”
The Farm Injury Control Summit is for rural municipal leaders and partners, and is aimed at helping to eliminate deaths and disabling injuries in Saskatchewan.
“This one-day workshop will serve to increase understanding of sleep dynamics and show how one can get the most out of their sleep,” says Imhoff. “The workshop will provide health professionals and agricultural interest groups with some practical information that can help farmers, their families and their workers manage stress,” explains Imhoff.
To facilitate this process, the organizers are calling on the experience of Jon Shearer, a sleep researcher since 1977 and a professor at Ontario’s Algonquin College, who will be conducting the “Sleepless in Saskatchewan” workshop. Shearer has studied the effects of sleep deprivation on shift-workers, such as nurses and police officers, for some time. He has lectured and conducted workshops for over 1,000 professional associations.
“His credentials include the publication of 25 articles on the subject, as well as serving as an expert witness in a number of shift-work arbitrations,” adds Imhoff.
The morning will feature an exploration of stress and its impact on our relationships with family, the people we work and deal with in our life. There will a segment on how, as stress builds up, it changes us, not only physically, but psychologically.
“As our behaviour changes, those around us begin to notice these changes,” Imhoff points out. “Participants will be given a series of warning signs to look for as stress creeps into their lives.”
Career orientation will be looked at, especially the relationship between career commitment and stress.
Participants will gain insight into the relationship between sleep and our natural biological clock. There will be emphasis on how our daily routines can enhance our chances of getting a good night’s sleep, which in turn increases our ability to operate in the most efficient and safe manner in our work and interpersonal lives.
The science of sleep will be discussed, as well as the ways to increase the amount of positive sleep we can get. One of the aspects discussed will be the impact of diet on sleep efficiency.
Lastly, the summit will focus on gaining an understanding of the effects of extended hours of work on our physical, psychological and emotional status, and how to cope with extended hours of work.
To register, contact Kendra Ulmer at I.ARE.H at (306) 966-6643. Sleepless in Saskatchewan will be held at the Saskatoon Inn.
For more information, contact:
Ken Imhoff
Manager, Farm Stress Unit
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-5196
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