Stress Management for Today’s Economy Part 2
Look Around You
So what do we do with all this stress? It doesn’t look like the economy will recover any time soon, so we can’t remove the stressor. But there are other ways we can cope with it. Therapists say the best advice is to remove yourself from the situation a bit. This doesn’t mean you should bury your head in the sand and ignore what’s going on around you. It is important to stay connected to the outside world, but you don’t have to let the outside world dictate how you feel. If the economy is what’s troubling you the most, the answer to handling it may be right in front of you.
Research shows those who reach out to their loved ones have one of the most effective ways to handle their stress. Let’s face it. We’re all pretty much in the same boat right now as far as the economy goes. If you’re married, reach out to your spouse and let him or her support you, and you support your spouse also. The more you share with your situation together, the better picture you’ll get of exactly where you stand. People need people, and although stress tends to make us want to draw ourselves inward, turning to each other is truly the best way to handle the tough times.
Plan Ahead
As the economy continues to nosedive, it is possible to plan ahead for the stress you’ll feel in the future. Start by thinking about what the worst-case scenario is. Most of the time, this won’t happen, and you shouldn’t worry yourself to death by thinking that it will, but just consider about what the worst situation would be. If it’s losing your job, then you can plan ahead for that. The stress won’t seem as bad if you’ve planned for the worst-case scenario. Most of the time, stress is about feeling like your life is out of control, and you gain some of that control back by planning ahead.
Crunch the Numbers
Once you’ve turned to someone for support, then you can get together and start crunching the numbers. If you’ve lost your job recently you will feel a little bit more in control of your situation if you know exactly how much money you have, where you can turn to get more money, and what you need to do to stay on track. Make a list of all your bills. Figure out which ones you can easily drop without hurting your credit. If need be, you may need to really start making some tough choices. Now is the time to steady yourself. If it comes down to a choice between paying a credit card bill or buying food, obviously you want to buy food. Think of the basics first, and then see what else you can afford.
Completed in Part 3
