Emotional Health For Financial Health

(Photo and Article by Kelly Kinnard)

In today’s reality, few of us are strangers to financial worries.  For many, these financial troubles begin to take a toll on our emotional and physical well-being.  Fear and anxiety can zap our motivation and leave us feeling defeated.  Yet there is a simple approach to avoiding, or freeing ourselves from, this compromised condition.

Our bodies feed off emotions.  Negative emotions can manifest as headaches, high blood pressure, ulcers, over or under eating, insomnia, excessive sleeping, and so on.  Positive feelings release endorphins (chemicals in the brain that transmit signals throughout the nervous system) that result in feelings of euphoria, a strengthened immune system, and less susceptibility to stress.

Hauling a load of financial distress swings the emotional pendulum to the negative extreme.  As a result, the body is prone to break down and feel sluggish, weak and sick.  To cope with tension, some people return to smoking or begin drinking heavily, further exacerbating the problem.

When cutting back on expenditures two of the first things to go are the grocery budget and health club memberships.  It seems logical, but in truth this will hinder your condition rather than help.  You can’t take charge of your life and your finances if you feel rundown and drained.

By keeping the mind and body healthy, you can view your financial issues clearly and lay out practical solutions.  It is possible to eat well and exercise even on a tight budget.

Keep your diet pure by eating fresh or frozen produce and lean meats.  Don’t waste money on fatty, chemically processed foods at fast-food restaurants – spend it wisely on groceries.  Shop at farmers’ markets and roadside stands.  Read labels – some generic brands have fewer and healthier ingredients than brand names.  Instead of soda, make homemade iced tea or lemonade.  Go to the supermarket frequently and buy only what you will eat.

Exercise is a primary way to release endorphins.  If you’re forced to give up your gym or exercise classes, check your local recreation department for low cost fitness rooms and programs.  Buy exercise DVDs and shop for used equipment at sports stores or online.  Create a gym in your home with free weights, hand weights, an exercise ball, a mini-trampoline and resistance bands.  Go outside – run, rollerblade, bicycle or hike.

Climbing out of the black cave of financial worry requires vigilant resolve, and the first step towards relief is swapping optimism in place of pessimism.  Lift yourself out of your worry and take care of your body and mind.  Feeling healthy will allow you to look at your situation logically and determine a course of action.  There are always options: a second job, debt consolidation, utilizing your talents for additional income, etc.

By keeping a healthy state of mind and body, there is hope, and you will have the wherewithal to bring about constructive solutions to plaguing concerns.
About the Author:

Kelly Kinnard of Online MBA Rankings, writes on the topics of natural health, healthcare, online nursing, education, etc. Outside of writing, she enjoys an organic lifestyle, yoga, aerobics, weight-lifting and running.