Financial Stress

What Is Financial Stress?

Financial stress is one of the leading causes of anxiety and sleeplessness worldwide. The worry isn't just about numbers — it's the stories we tell ourselves, the shame we carry, and the endless mental calculations that run in the background of daily life. This kind of stress is exhausting, and it's more common than you think.
 
Managing it begins not with a spreadsheet — but with your mind.

3 Exercises to Manage Financial Stress

1. The Worry Window 

Instead of letting financial anxiety run all day, assign it a 10-minute "worry window" — a set time to acknowledge your concerns, write them down, and then close the mental tab. This trains your brain to stop treating money worries as an all-day emergency.

2. Grounding Through the Senses (5-4-3-2-1)

When financial panic rises, bring yourself back to the present. Name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste. This interrupts the anxiety spiral and anchors you in what's real and manageable right now.

3. The "What I Can Control" List

Divide a page into two columns: What I can control and What I cannot. Financial stress is often amplified by focusing on the uncontrollable. Seeing your sphere of influence clearly — even if it's small — reduces overwhelm and restores a sense of agency.