Let’s face it, friend, the past 18 months have been tough on our immune systems. Not only has it been fighting off the COVID- 19 virus, but it has also been under attack by cortisol – the stress hormone.
While there are many stress triggers during the pandemic one of the most predominant has been financial. According to an article published by Translation Psychiatry” … of 3000 participants surveyed the financial stress of the pandemic was as troublesome as contracting the virus itself.”
Prior to the pandemic money was the number one stressor. We know that financial stress impacts our mental health, but it also effects our physical health by suppressing our immune system.
Here are 5 ways to boost your financial wellness and lower your Money stress:
- Reframe your financial situation – Financial stress is deep rooted in our money mindset and the money story we tell ourselves. A financial crisis is not a form of personal failure. Poop ???? happens to good people all the time. The situation is not your fault, many others are going through a similar crisis themselves. Working though it demonstrates your strength.
- Take a Break – Instead of reworking your finances over and over again step away from the situation for a while and return to it later when you are more relaxed and have a fresh perspective. Ruminating on the problem will not help you solve it. Step away go for a walk, read a book, watch Ted Lasso or whatever takes your mind off it for a little while.
- Focus on learning – As Winston Churchill once said “don’t let a good crisis go to waste” learn from this experience. A financial crisis may be one of the stops on your journey to financial fulfillment it may help you develop healthier financial habits down the road.
- Make a plan – talk to people you trust who are financially savvy about helping you make a money plan. Not talking about money is one of the reasons why so many of us experience financial stress because it is still so taboo.
- Set goals – we know that only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time and so it goes with developing good financial habits. Start small by pulling out your statements and looking where your money is going. Does it align with your values? If not start here.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. The monster under your bed never appeared when your parents shown a flashlight on it. The same goes with your money crisis. Once you are able to fully understand your financial situation then you can make a plan and change your money story for good.
Yours in good financial health.
April
PS. COVID-19 is a physical health crisis. It’s also a mental health crisis. On top of that, it is a financial crisis. If you or someone you love is affected by money stress as a result of COVID-19, please reach out to me and if I can not help you, I may be able to point you to someone who can.