Times are tough and trying to guard your mental health is even more challenging.
The health crisis put the economy on a tailspin with a lot of people losing their jobs and even businesses closing down. There are those who were able to pivot around their operations and integrate a work-from-home set-up for their employees. Some of these employees survived the pandemic financially but it was a tough ordeal.
The past few years put a lot of focus on managing personal finance in the middle of a crisis. It made people realize the importance of having an emergency fund. The crisis also highlighted the fact that people need to take care of their health. The virus spread fast and wide and impacted millions of people not only in the country but around the world as well. According to the NYTimes, the cases totaled up to 84M.
This is why it is important to guard your mental health as well. As important as your personal finance is, you need to make sure that your mental health is prioritized as well. Managing and staying on top of your personal finance can be stressful as the economy recovers.
Too much work can be stressful
It is too common that when you start to cut down on expenses, fun is the first thing to go. You end up depriving yourself of much-needed happiness at this time. You do not have to take it out completely. The goal is to manage it down along with other areas in your finances. It is important that if you want to guard your mental health, you need to make sure that you set aside some funds to keep you happy.
If eating out every now and then gives you happiness, then set money aside for it. If you used to do it every week, you could reduce the frequency to once every 2 weeks. Does streaming movies help you relax? Then you do not have to cut your subscription. Explore other less expensive providers or downgrade your plan if possible.
You don’t have to cut fun items in your expenses at once. The goal is to be creative and find a way to spend less money on these activities without cutting them out. You need these creative or physical outlets to help you manage and take care of your mental health. This is important as the CDC reported that at least 1 in every 5 Americans goes through mental illness at any given year.
Love what you do
If you are looking to actively guard your mental health, it is a good idea to take a close and hard look at your current job. There are instances when you chose to take on a job out of sheer necessity. You may not like it at that point but you need it. Over the course of time, some people change and start to like what they do. But others don’t and start to feel sad about it.
But this does not mean that you can simply pack up and leave. Always have a backup plan. One thing you can do is start looking for a new job that you actually like. When you successfully qualify with an offer, then you can start working on your transition from one work to another. Just make sure that you don’t burn any bridges and that you get all your paperwork in order.
Find an outlet
If it is tough to look for a job that you love, why not consider an income-positive hobby. But even before you get there, remember that it is crucial that you have an outlet. It can be a creative outlet where you spend some time drawing, painting, singing, or playing a musical instrument. It can be something unique or an activity you can do with your friends.
One upside to spending time with an outlet is that it can become an income-positive hobby for you as well. Not only do you get to guard your mental health, but you also get the chance to earn some extra money on the side. This will definitely give you a much-needed shot in the arm when it comes to personal finance.
If you love to swim, why not explore teaching other people to swim? If you are into arts like painting or digital design, offer your services to businesses in and around your location. Build up your portfolio and send that out to prospective businesses in your area. You get the chance to do what you want but earn from it as well.
Happiness starts with you
To help you guard your mental health, you need to understand that your own happiness is your own responsibility. You need to understand that the moment you give other people the responsibility of making you happy, you lose. It is important that you are in control of your own happiness and your mental health will depend on it.
Remember that while it is important that you make a living, do not forget to live life along the way. Life is not just about earning money and paying off debt obligations. It is important to venture into activities that make you happy. Stick to your hobbies and allot time in your day or week for these activities. It will help you feel that there is more to life than just work.
Spend time with your hobbies or go out and see friends and family often. If you have a family of your own, plan activities with them as often as you can. Find your happiness and life will be a lot better. Strike a healthy balance with these activities and manage your finances so you do not end up in debt at the end of the day.
Learn to pause and pivot back
Part of what made some businesses thrive during and even after the pandemic restrictions were lifted is that they were able to reflect on the situation and make the necessary adjustments. Think about the companies who were able to shift quickly to a work-from-home set-up for their employees. Their business model certainly allowed this and they used this to the fullest.
You can use the same approach when you find yourself in a tough and difficult situation. Take a moment to sit back and understand where you are at that moment and what your options are. This helps you avoid knee-jerk reactions and getting into deeper trouble. It clears your mind and helps you see solutions rather than just the problem.
Taking a step back gives you the chance to see the bigger picture as well. Looking at it from outside the box provides a unique perspective on your situation. This allows you to look for extraordinary solutions or even simple ones you might overlook.
Guard your mental health by knowing what you can control
One of the reasons why you could be anxious all the time is that you worry too much about everything that is happening in your life. From the simplest problem to the most complex situations, you put in the same amount of worry. But did you know that it helps to understand that in these situations, figuring out what you can control can give you peace of mind?
When faced with a problem, distinguish areas you can control from those you cannot. If you were let go from your job, you cannot control your previous employer’s decision. But you do have direct control over what you do next. You can stay at home and sulk or focus your attention on applying and looking for a new job.
It is important that you guard your mental health while you manage your personal finance. At a time when the economy is just slowly picking up, it helps to stay on top of your finances.