Dial down the stress response

Dial down the stress response

Three essential steps to feeling better, both physically and mentally

Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s been well documented in recent years that farmers are experiencing high levels of stress. And although farmers are typically very resilient, when the demands placed on them exceed their strengths, talents and resources, it can go far beyond healthy levels. Such stress responses can activate a myriad of unhealthy symptoms and behaviours, explains Kathy […] Read more

Guide Health: Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring

Guide Health: Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring

At first, sleep apnea and snoring may just be bothersome

Reading Time: 3 minutes Apnea is Greek in origin and means “not breathing.” Thus sleep apnea occurs during sleep. It is a breathing disorder that occurs as the result of the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway by soft tissue and muscle. This results in a lack of oxygen, which in turn causes the brain to arouse […] Read more


There’s no end to situations that can prompt a person to get angry, but emotional outbursts not only affect you, but the people around you as well.

Manage anger on the farm

Angry outbursts affect you, those you work with and ultimately your farm business

Reading Time: 5 minutes A Chinese proverb says, “if you can be patient in a moment of anger, you will escape 100 days of sorrow.” It’s wise advice, but we all know it can also be tough advice to follow if you’re prone to angry outbursts. Yes, you may feel remorse for it afterwards. But do you understand why […] Read more

Guide Health: Monitoring your blood glucose

Guide Health: Monitoring your blood glucose

Blood glucose monitoring is important in the effective management of both type 1 and 2 diabetes

Reading Time: 3 minutes One in three Canadians has diabetes. Many don’t even know it. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by suboptimal insulin secretion and/or diminished insulin activity. Insulin is the hormone in the body that is responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates such as glucose, so with diabetes, glucose levels are elevated. This then puts individuals at […] Read more


Achieving your goals in 2022

Achieving your goals in 2022

Turn your New Year’s resolutions into goals that will keep you healthier and more alive

Reading Time: 5 minutes There is something about flipping the calendar over to a new year that prompts many of us to want to adopt better habits such as eating healthier, drinking less alcohol or exercising more. These are worthy goals. Taking care of your body and mind can give you more energy, improve your mood, and have many […] Read more

“Learning how to think means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning.”

Thriving with the science of positive psychology

Optimism and pessimism aren’t personality traits. They’re choices

Reading Time: 5 minutes Positive psychology is the study of human flourishing. It offers evidence-based insights, tools, skills and strategies for coping and for resilience during life’s challenges. “It’s about building up what’s right with us, not trying to fix what’s wrong with us,” explains New Dundee, Ont. well-being educator and coach, Rebecca Byers. Our thoughts, actions and behaviours […] Read more


After a heart attack, each prescribed medication has a specific use to support a positive health outcome.

Guide Health: Why so many drugs after a heart attack?

Most people take five or six medications after a heart attack

Reading Time: 2 minutes According to Health Canada, heart attacks or myocardial infarcts occur in about 2.3 people per 1,000 Canadians, and many more may have other heart or cardiovascular conditions.  “Myo-” means muscle and “cardial” refers to the heart, while “infarct” refers to a lack of oxygen that results in the death of tissue. Thus a myocardial infarct […] Read more

Life experiences teach us lessons that we can remember and adapt to help us cope with other circumstances as we move through the decades.

What success really boils down to

Guide Books Review: GRIT | The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Reading Time: 4 minutes GRIT | The Power of Passion and PerseveranceBy Angela Duckworth(Collins, 2018 • 368 pages, $33) What is the secret ingredient to success? Some say it’s innate talent. Others disagree and say it’s all about learned skills or hard work. And still others point to luck and being at the right place at the right time. […] Read more


Savvy travel tips

Savvy travel tips

Ready to see the world again after COVID-19? Travel writer Anna Hobbs shares insider advice to make it a great trip

Reading Time: 5 minutes Editor’s note: This article was written for the December 2021 issue of Country Guide. As the COVID-19 situation changes from day-to-day, please refer to the latest information for your area or any area you plan to visit. If you have already returned to travel, you know travel has changed. It requires more preparation, more paperwork, […] Read more

"Any movement in the direction toward your goals should be celebrated,” says Dawn Hart.

Creating a better picture

A “vision board” will help keep you focused on your goals

Reading Time: 5 minutes Dawn Hart is passionate about the power of setting goals. When your goals are clear, she says, you know what you’re trying to achieve and you’re more likely to succeed. About five years ago, Hart began creating a vision board to display her goals along with pictures that represent those goals. Since adding this visual […] Read more