At this difficult time, which is causing many of us from all different walks of life financial worry, I thought it might help to talk a little about ways we can try and relieve and manage some of this pressure. Financial stress and pressure can have many different effects on your mental and physical health, such as causing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, convincing you to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drink and/or drugs and many other issues. Below I have created a list of 6 tips I hope you find helpful at this time. • 1. Reach out for help, you may feel alone and isolated if suffering from financial pressure or debt, but remember that your close family and friends are there for you. Find somebody you trust and speak to them about what you are going through, you may be surprised just how understanding a close friend or family member can be. You may also be surprised how simply talking through your issue with someone you trust can feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders. There are also many organisations that can help and can be found with a quick google search, you can also seek professional advice through www.citizensadvice.org.uk • 2. Do not turn to alcohol to try and manage the stress and to blot out the worry. Unfortunately, it can be in times of pressure hard for individuals to refrain from looking for answers in the bottom of a bottle, people will turn to alcohol to help hide away from the worry, it is important to not allow this to happen and if necessary, it may be wise to stay away from alcohol altogether during hard times. As much as having a drink can be relaxing, it is important to remember that alcohol is a depressant and even a small amount can significantly affect your mood the next day. Should you feel you are suffering from a problem with alcohol there are many organisations that can help such as www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk. • 3. Remember to stay active. We all know that exercise is good for you, but not only does it help prevent long term health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack and some cancers, exercising will also release endorphins into your body which in turn trigger a positive feeling and a happy mood. People who regularly exercise also report having improved self-confidence and concentration as well as more energy, motivation and the ability to find creative solutions to their problems. • 4. Remember to eat as healthy and as regularly as possible. Eating regularly can stop your blood sugar level dropping, which in turn can stop you from feel tired, sluggish, irritable and bad-tempered. Eating healthy can improve your energy levels as well as making you feel better about yourself and giving you more energy to face the day with. • 5. Limit your media and news intake. Consuming too much news and media can be bad for you, it is always good to stay abreast of what is happening, but listening to nonstop negative commentary on a situation that isn’t rapidly changing will start to drag you down and will possibly make you feel that the situation is worse than it actually is. • 6. Remember to get a good night’s sleep. Firstly, it has been proven that getting a good night’s sleep can significantly decrease your chances of suffering from many chronic illnesses. Secondly getting a good night’s sleep will give you more energy to face the day as well as improving your mood, it has also been shown to improve your memory function as well as contributing to a stronger immune system and even combating depression. For more information on why getting a good night’s sleep is so important, I highly recommend Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker https://amzn.to/3TC2MLl 2 / 2 I hope you have found these simple tips helpful, and should you wish to, please feel free to join my Facebook group, I have put the link below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/566996033909048/
I also have a fee to join community for professionals in coaching and counselling
And last but not least, with Christmas fast approaching and the financial situation being what it is, I have a group where I will post daily deals from Amazon, if you wish to join, please feel free to follow the lino below.
Until next time, here is to you best life. Tom.