Feeling ultra-stressed from financial woes isn’t uncommon – in fact, according to the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, roughly 84% of Americans in an early 2021 survey reported experiencing some kind of stress related to their finances. That incredibly high number was linked to quite a few factors under finances, including…
- Job security, especially during the COVID-10 pandemic
- Having enough money stored in savings accounts
- Health care bills
- Having enough money set aside for eventual retirement
- Income fluctuations
- Being able to afford mortgages or monthly rent
- …and more!
Clearly, there are some major ties between finances and feeling stressed. Like any other type of stress, it’s important to practice some relaxation techniques to keep yourself feeling calm, cool, and collected.
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Tip 1: Get your financial matters prioritized.
One of the best ways to relieve some financial stress is to get your financial matters prioritized. When you’re dealing with a lot of pressure on your finances from multiple angles, it can be a challenge to prioritize them. Taking some time to get your thoughts organized can help you better understand what needs to be handled immediately…and what can likely wait for later. This lets you focus on one thing at a time rather than feeling bombarded and overwhelmed by everything all at once.
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Tip 2: Give yourself a chance to mentally escape from your financial struggles.
Engage in a hobby or activity you enjoy to give yourself a mental escape from financial stress. Mental escapes are meant to be healthy activities that benefit you rather than make problems worse. They are temporary – making a mental escape isn’t a permanent solution to a problem; it is simply a way to give yourself a mental break so you can return to the problem later feeling more refreshed and relaxed.
Tip 3: Declutter your spending habits and budget.
Take a hard look at your budget and your spending habits. Are there any places where you could slash your budget or change some of your spending habits? When you examine your spending habits closely, you will likely realize that there are places where you can change your spending habits to take a little pressure off your budget, such as…
- Canceling subscriptions you don’t need
- Eating at home more versus eating out at restaurants
- Swapping some of your usual products to off-brand or store-brand versions
- Packing lunches and snacks for work versus buying them from vending machines or cafeterias
- Reducing the amount of services you receive from television or cell phone plans
Tip 4: Confide in someone you trust when financial stress feels out of control.
Talking to someone you know and trust is an excellent way to relieve some financial stress. When you confide in someone you know you can trust, you’ll feel an immense amount of pressure leave your shoulders – as a bonus, your trusted confidant may also have some advice to help with financial problems.
Tip 5: Make time for some self care.
Self care is extremely important when you’re experiencing any type of stress. It can be extremely useful for relaxing when you’re experiencing financial stress. Self care activities don’t need to cost money or follow a complicated plan – you can engage in some free ones to help put your mind, body, and spirit at ease when you’re going through challenging financial times. Some examples of no-cost self care activities include:
- Getting outside for some fresh air and exercise
- Listening to music to clear your mind
- Journaling about your day
- Taking a long, hot bath or shower
- Taking a nap
- Meditating somewhere quiet and relaxing
