5 Signs You’re Stressed About Money and How to De Stress

This is a sponsored conversation  on how to de stress is written by me on behalf of SunTrust. The opinions and text are all mine.

Money is one of the highest reasons for stress, anxiety and fighting in a marriage.  Knowing how to de-stress is something you have to be very aware of and work at.  Sometimes you may not even realize just how stressed you are because your life is so busy.

But there is hope for you when you pause and look at the signs that you are stressed about money and focus on how to de stress.

When we started down our road to student debt, I had no idea just how much stress would follow.  I felt like nothing in our life was right.  I felt anxious about just about everything.  Everything was a big deal, even when it really wasn’t.  You know the feeling?

I thought there was no way out.  I thought this would be my life until we paid off our debt.  I felt utterly hopeless. I found as I started to focus on the fact that I was stressed about it.  Acknowledge what we had done, see the signs of the stress and deal with them one at a time.

Five signs you are stressed about money

You fight with your spouse
Did you know that 21% of couples who rate their financial stress as at least “somewhat high” are arguing more?  Financial stress is also one of the leading reasons for divorce. This stress can literally take over your life, so everything becomes part of that stress.

You don’t have a budget
When you feel stressed about your money, you don’t want to do anything including looking at your money.  You avoid even the things that will help you to gain control and relieve stress.  So you ignore it, hoping if you don’t see it, it isn’t really there.  Out of sight, out of mind!

You feel anxiety about spending money of any amount or for any reason
This is one of the things I still guilty of.  Money plays a big part in my decisions and choices.  I avoid spending money of any amount and have a hard time even using money I have saved for a specific purpose.  I am included in the 12% of Americans who skip going to the doctor because of financial concerns.

You avoid looking at your bank account
Again, avoiding the problem makes it go away!  If you don’t look at your account, you don’t know that you are spending money that you don’t have.

You avoid making healthy choices because of costs
32% of adults say their finances keep them from living a healthy lifestyle.  If you are avoiding the cost of being healthy so you make unhealthy choices you are stressed about money.

Stats are from OnUp.com

So what do you do when you feel this way?  Figuring out how to de stress is another thing on your plate and something that can make your life even busier.  Here are easy ways to de-stress.

How to de stress without adding more work

Make a budget
Making a budget is one of the best things you can do to relieve stress about money.  It takes time and flexibility to get your budget worked out and in place, but that time can help you to get a handle on your spending, help you see how you need to plan for your future, and can give you the confidence to succeed.

I reccomend finding a website that can help you to plan your budget and track it.  My favorite software I have found for this is Every Dollar.  It gives you options for the way you budget, if you roll money over month to month and financial planning for future expenses and funds.

Find a financial friend or join a financial community that can help you with step to step help
Having someone you can talk to about your finances helps you to be accountable and to help you see what you’re doing well.  A friend is an excellent way to make changes as well.

The other option is to join a community where you get help and support in the journey to financial well-being.  There are communities like onup.com where they help you become more confident in your finances.

Have some down time with your favorite book or other activity

Pucker up
I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a fun way to relieve stress! It doesn’t matter if you have a significant other or not, you can kiss your kids, your pets, or your mom.  But this is something that can easily help you to connect and relieve some stress.

Web MD did a study that showed that “Kissing relieves stress by creating a sense of connectedness, which releases endorphins, the chemicals that counteract stress and depression.”  So pucker up and relieve some stress!

Put on some music
Have a dance party or put on some calming music.  Either way, you do it, it will help to relieve some stress.  I like to have a dance party with my kids of a personal one while I do work around the house or on the computer.

You can’t keep me from moving when there is music on.  the added benefit of that is that I get stress relief from the movment and exercise as well!

Unplug
This is a stress reliever many people find hard to do.  When you unplug from electronics it allows your brain to clear out and shut off for a bit.  This recovery helps you see things as they really are and gives your brain a chance to deal with the stress.

what suggestions do you have for how to de stress about your finances?

At SunTrust Bank their purpose is lighting the way to financial well-being. When you feel confident about your money, you can save for your goals and spend knowingly on what matters most to you.

The onUp movement was created to guide millions of people one step at a time towards a more financially confident life without ever losing sight of the moments that matter along the way.

Join the growing number of people transforming their stress into positive motivation to move onUp.

Join the movement

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SunTrust. The opinions and text are all mine.

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