8 Self-Care Tips For The Financially Stressed

Financial problems can cause a great deal of emotional stress, which in turn can have a huge effect on your mind and your body.

The anxiety can make it difficult for you to sleep or eat properly, and your mood and energy levels may fluctuate. Sometimes, you may even doubt yourself or lose hope that things will get better—or get angry that you are going through something like this.

That’s why self-care is so important when you’re financially stressed. Now more than ever, you need to be calm, alert, and focused on finding solutions to your problem. You also need to be physically healthy, because the last thing you need is to get sick and worry about medical bills.

Financially Stressed? Try These 8 Solutions!

These self-care tips for the financially stressed are simple, inexpensive, and easy to do.

1. Exercise At Least 30 Minutes A Day

Even light exercise such as walking, or yoga can help lower your blood pressure and help you feel calmer.

But moderate exercise where you can get your heart rate up and sweat it out has even better effects for the stressed. You release endorphins, which are your body’s natural “happy hormones”, and the physical exertion can actually make you feel that you’re releasing all the pent-up stress.

2. Talk To Someone You Can Trust

Many people are embarrassed to admit that they’re financially stressed and pretend that everything’s okay. While you’re entitled to your privacy, share your feelings with at least one person who you can trust and who will listen to you without judgment or giving advice.

You can approach a friend or family member, or you may feel more comfortable talking to an outsider like a counselor or someone from your church or community support groups. You can also call mental health hotlines, which are free and operate around the clock.

3. Find A Hobby

Even if you’re stressed, you can still find many simple and inexpensive hobbies like listening to music, drawing, writing in a journal, or taking care of plants. You need this creative outlet to distract you when you’re overwhelmed.

4. Sign Up For Free Recreational Activities

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun. Many local community centers have free classes or events, or they can refer you to one. The YMCA also has programs that are either free or have very low rates, and museums and parks may hold free concerts or movie showings each month.

5. Get Your Sunshine

There’s a lot of scientific evidence that shows that not getting enough sunshine each day can aggravate feelings of anxiety and depression.

So if you’re stressed, don’t give in to the temptation to stay in bed or hide out in your home the whole day. Go out for a morning walk or tend to the plants in your garden. Think of reasons that will force you to go out even when you’re not in the mood, like offering to walk your neighbor’s dog.

6. Practice Affirmations And Positive Thinking

When you’re stressed, there’s a tendency to use self-defeating language like “I’m always going to be broke” or “I don’t have enough.” So instead of seeing it as a problem that you can solve, you make a general statement about your future and your self-identity.

That can have huge emotional repercussions, and some may even say that such powerfully negative thoughts can actually attract even more negative experiences to occur in your life.

You have to push away these negative thoughts by consistently replacing them with affirmations and positive thinking. You can find free sample affirmations online and print them out and place them in your pocket or on your wall.

Alternatively, you can also listen to positive thinking podcasts and YouTube videos—which are also free and can really make a difference in your mood and mind frame when you’re stressed.

7. Focus On What Matters Most

Financial problems can make you lose sight of what you already have: your family and your loved ones, your health, your character and values. As you go through these challenges, rely on these things to help you remember what matters, and find joy and contentment in your everyday life.

8. Loans For The Financially Stressed

Southwest Title Loans offers registration loans for people who need to quickly raise money for emergency expenses.

A registration loan uses your vehicle registration as collateral. It is an alternative to a title loan if you are still paying off your car loan and don’t own your vehicle outright. It is a unique loan that is only available in Arizona and can’t be found in other states.

You can borrow from $200 to $1,500, and because of Southwest Title Loans’ efficient application process, you can raise the money you need very quickly.

How To Get A Registration Loan Now

• Documents. You will need a valid Arizona driver's license or government-issued photo I.D., an Arizona motor vehicle registration that is in your name, an active checking account in your name, and a valid social security number.
• Process.  Complete our online inquiry form and one of our representatives will call you to explain the process and answer any questions you may have about getting a loan. After the call, go to the nearest Southwest Title Loans store where a loan representative will look at your required items and determine if you qualify for approval.
• Time. The in-person process takes as little as 30 minutes, and if you are approved, you can even get the money on the same day or the following business day.

Final Thoughts

If you’re financially stressed, don’t let the anxiety and negative feelings wear you down. Focus on your well-being and gathering the physical and emotional strength to weather the storm. You will get through this—and if you need emergency financial help, a registration loan can help you manage some of the expenses until you find a long-term solution to your financial challenges.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.