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Why do we know exactly what needs to change and still feel completely stuck?

If you’ve ever had that thought of “if nothing changes, nothing changes” sitting in the back of your mind, but still can’t quite take the step forward, this episode will meet you right there. I talk through why change isn’t just about willpower. It’s about capacity. And when you’re already stretched thin on the farm, at home, or mentally, change can feel almost impossible.

I walk you through what’s happening in your brain when you’re under stress, and why you might keep falling back into the same patterns even when you know they’re not helping. I also share a practical framework, the Stages of Change model, to help you understand where you’re at and what your next small step could look like.

This episode isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about making sense of why things feel stuck and finding a way forward that fits your life right now.

What’s one change you’ve been thinking about but haven’t quite made yet?


I’d love to hear what came up for you in this episode. Come and share it with me over on Instagram @stephschmidt.farmlifepsych

What we cover in this episode

• The phrase “if nothing changes, nothing changes” and why it can feel frustrating
• Why knowing what to do doesn’t mean we’ll do it
• How habits form in the brain and why change feels effortful
• The impact of stress and low capacity on behaviour change
• “Limp mode” and how stress shuts down higher thinking
• Why we default to autopilot under pressure
• Giving yourself permission and grace when change feels hard
• Introduction to the Stages of Change model
• Pre-contemplation stage and lack of awareness
• Contemplation stage and feeling stuck in indecision
• Why many people sit in contemplation for long periods

What The F? Practical Strategies for the Season We're In

April & May 2026

Register today:
- Daytime Sessions Register Here

- Evening Sessions Register Here

Find out more here - https:/

What The F: Practical Strategies for the Season We're In
Join Steph - farmer and psychologist - for 4 x 60 minute live online sessions. Running in April & May 2026.
Evenings - Wednesday 7.30pm-8.30pm
Daytime - Friday 10am-11am

Register here - https://stephschmidt.com.au/what-the-f/

Supported by the South Australian Government's $117 million Drought Support Package

Connect with Steph

• Steph's website
• Digital Hub for Farmers: farmlifehandbook.com.au
• Steph on Facebook
• Steph on LinkedIn
• Steph on Instagram
• Steph's upcoming events

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Are you feeling stuck in the heaviness of this season and wondering how you’re meant to keep going without pretending everything’s fine?

In this episode, I talk honestly about how hard things feel right now. No glossing over it. No “just stay positive.” Instead, I walk through how we can hold space for both the weight of what’s happening AND the strengths we already have in our farming lives. I share some of the research-backed protective factors that are already part of what we do every day. Things like purpose, autonomy, and movement, and how we can start to notice them again when stress narrows our view.

I also bring it back to practical, small moments. Not big mindset shifts, just noticing, catching and giving yourself a bit more space in the middle of it all.

This episode is about steadying yourself when things feel uncertain, and remembering that even in tough seasons, there is still something to hold onto.

What’s one small thing you can notice or catch today? I’d love to hear from you. Come and connect with me over on Instagram @stephschmidt.farmlifepsych

What we cover in this episode

• Why “just think positive” misses the point
• Acknowledging how heavy things feel right now
• How stress narrows our focus and thinking
• The risk of getting stuck in rumination cycles
• Introducing the idea of noticing “what else is here”
• Exploring protective factors in farming life
• The role of purpose and meaning in wellbeing
• Real-life examples of meaning in farming
• Practical ways to “catch” moments of purpose
• Autonomy and sense of control as a psychological need
• Reframing “I have to” into “I choose to”
• Small, everyday choices that rebuild agency
• Movement to manage stress
• Using physical activity to process stress responses
  
  

Connect with Steph

• Steph's website
• Digital Hub for Farmers: farmlifehandbook.com.au
• Steph on Facebook
• Steph on LinkedIn
• Steph on Instagram
• Steph's upcoming events

Send us Fan Mail

Are you feeling like it’s all just a bit too much right now, and you don’t get to press pause?

I’m back behind the mic, and if I’m honest, I almost didn’t record this one. Things have felt heavy. A lot like what so many of us are carrying right now on the land. Between the chaos in the world, rising costs, pressure on the farm, and just the everyday juggle, it can feel like there’s no space to catch your breath.

In this episode, I share why I’ve come back to basics, not because it’s new, but because it’s what helps when everything feels stretched.

I walk you through three simple anchors I keep coming back to on our own farm when things feel overwhelming.

The AND, holding space for both the hard and the good.

SOW, a way to slow things down and come back to what matters.

And the reminder that if we don’t take small moments to look after ourselves, our mind and body will eventually force us to. These aren’t big, life-changing overhauls. They’re small, steady tools that help you keep showing up when life doesn’t ease off.

If you’re feeling tired, stretched, or like your resilience muscle is just about done, this episode will meet you there with practical ways to get through the season you’re in.

What’s one small thing helping you get through right now? Come and share it with me over on Instagram @stephschmidt.farmlifepsych

What we cover in this episode

• Returning to the podcast during a full and overwhelming season
• Reflections from the Motherland Conference
• The current pressure across agriculture including fuel and fertiliser impacts
• The idea that resilience can feel worn out, not weak
• Why now is a time for reminders, not new strategies
• The importance of small moments of self-care before burnout forces it
• Anchor 1: The AND and holding dual realities
• Real-life example of a tough farm moment with the kids
• Anchor 2: SOW – Slow down, Observe, What matters
• Using SOW in relationships and daily decisions
• Recognising what matters most in the moment
  
  

References mentioned in this episode

• Motherland Conference

Connect with Steph

• Steph's website
• Digital Hub for Farmers: farmlifehandbook.com.au
• Steph on Facebook
• Steph on LinkedIn
• Steph on Instagram
• Steph's upcoming events