Maximizing yourself at the busiest times of the year, like seeding and calving time is as much your mental state as it is physical state.

Dr. Brynn Winegard is an expert on brain science and understands how ultradian rhythms work.

She told Ag Director Neil Billinger of 600 CJWW Saskatoon Radio those rhythms, which cycle every 90 to 120 minutes, are important and why farmers need to think of the work day as a number of sprints instead of a marathon.

“There are way you can work with your own ultradian cycles to maximize your productivity when your energy is highest and plan to take a break and do other activities when your energy is at its lowest,” said Winegard.

Winegard says they can be very important to farmers.

“I think you notice at the end of harvest when people are starting to burn out that’s the challenge when treating it like it’s a marathon every day.”

“If you want to maintain your energy throughout the harvest season.  Then planning your day in a series of cycles will actually allow you to be more productive during some parts of your day, but less productive in other parts of your day.”

She says part of the way to do that is to assign yourself different tasks throughout those 90 minutes.

Winegard adds the research shows your maximum break time should be about 15 minutes.

Dr. Brynn Winegard is a speaker at CropSphere which is taking place this week in Saskatoon.