How do you take a holiday when you're a farmer? These families tell us how they did it

School's back and the run of regular public holidays is almost over. But it's not too early to start thinking about your next break.

"It's extremely important for your mental health and sense of wellbeing to take breaks from work, especially work that is a source of mental strain," says Chantal Corish, a cotton farmer and psychologist from Goondiwindi.

"The idea that we know we are going to do something to boost our wellbeing can give us a sense of hope and joy."

While holidays are really important for letting our bodies and minds rest, it's not always easy to take the time. 

As I have discovered since moving to a farm, this is especially true for those working the land. Unfortunately, the demands of a farm don't stop because you do.

But farmers need holidays too, so I spoke to two families about how they made it work.

'If you wait for the right time you won't ever go'

Mark Mortimer is a third-generation sheep farmer from Tullamore in western NSW.

He and his family just returned from their first holiday in three years.

"We have just spent two wonderful weeks exploring Tasmania," he says.

"We usually do a [NSW] south coast holiday, but the last time we were down there was just after the fires and then obviously with the pandemic everything has been a bit out of whack since."

Mark admits he was a bit grumpy in the lead-up to his break, because walking away from a farm isn't as simple as shutting a gate.

"You could plan months out for a holiday, and it might not rain for three months leading up to that and somebody's got to feed 6000 sheep every day," he says.

"You need to plan for that."

But, he says, overall it's better to have something to look forward to — otherwise you'll never leave.

"So now we just book a holiday up-front and say we're doing this, and you've just got to make it work."

And hopefully you'll be better rested for your return to the farm.

"Since coming back I still feel somewhat in holiday mode, but our sowing window opened while we were away so it's straight back to work for us, to get our crops in the ground."

'The Mum guilt builds up'

Claire Booth is a busy lady.

Not only does she run her own law firm in Dubbo, regional NSW, she and her husband Brendan also have a successful mixed enterprise farming business, with one of their main ventures being producing corn for popcorn.

"The mum guilt that comes with working whilst you've got young children really gets to me," she says.

Claire, her husband and two children recently spent a week travelling a loop around western NSW — from Cobar to Louth, camping on the Darling River, to Bourke, Brewarrina and back via the Macquarie Marshes near Warren.

"I'm really proud about that."

Claire may have only been back a few days, but she's already planned her next holiday — to Nelson's Bay in NSW with her extended family.

"So many of my friends don't take holidays and I used to be one of them," she says.

"But I feel it's so important having something to look forward to and locked in the diary."

With two businesses and about 14 employees, going on a holiday takes planning and organisation, not just for the family itself.

"We also give our employees more annual leave; they need extra time to travel as we are based regionally," she says.

Claire will do one thing differently when her next holiday rolls around.

"I'm probably going to take a few days at the end to get myself together after we get back," she says. 

"But I'm so thankful we take holidays now, and we will continue to do so into the future."