As much as we might not like to admit it, the fact is that money is crucial to everything in life. It factors into everything, from the way we have fun to the way we take care of our health. When we have enough money (or more than enough), we are happy, healthy, and can live our lives in the right way. When we don’t have enough, those money worries can harm your health, and it’s vital to put things right. Read on to find out how money can negatively affect your health and what you might be able to do to help yourself feel better.
Stress
One of the biggest and most concerning ways that money worries can harm your health is through stress. When we can’t pay the bills, or we worry about how much money we’ll have left for food or even fun, stress can quickly mount up.
Stress is extremely bad for our health. It can cause mental health issues include depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety (and stress itself is a mental health condition), and it can manifest physically, too, such as through migraines, high blood pressure, heart problems, and lack of sleep. When we’re worried about money, everything becomes stressful.
The best thing you can do if you feel like this is to reduce your debt, assuming debt is the main issue. Although this is not always easy, there is the possibility of a OneMain Financial loan for debt consolidation. This would mean you could cut your interest rates and be paying less per month. It’s certainly worth considering. If this sounds of interest, please bear in mind that debt consolidation may lower your interest rate or monthly payment, but be sure to consider origination fees and the length of repayment, which can offset the savings or even increase the total you pay over the life of the loan.
Bad Habits
It might be that you have developed some bad habits to cope with the problem of your money issues, and this is how money worries can harm your health too. Some habits are worse than others, but if you are self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, or if you have taken up smoking to ‘relax’ you, for example, these will all cause issues with your health, not to mention the fact that they are expensive habits, and won’t be helping your financial situation.
Why not think of healthier habits that will make you feel less stressed and give you a clearer mind to help you deal with your problems? One option is to take up more exercise. Of course, this is good for your health, but it is also good for your stress levels. When you exercise, you can focus on what you’re doing and stop thinking about debt for a moment. Plus, you’ll produce ‘happy hormones’ such as serotonin, which will make you feel good and give you a chance to think productively about how to handle your financial concerns.
No Fun
There must be a good balance in life. You need to work, of course, because you need to earn money (and because it keeps you occupied, which is important for your brain health), but you also need to find time for fun and relaxation. Without this balance, you might find you become unhealthy.
Money worries can harm your health because they mean you can’t have this downtime which is so crucial. When you have little money to spare, you won’t be able to go out and have fun or take up a hobby or course you’re interested in. You may even take on extra work to help you pay the debts back more quickly.
If you find that your life is not balanced, it’s a good idea to look into free ways to relax and unwind. Are there are groups you can join that don’t ask for fees? What about a walk in nature or perhaps you could start writing a book. As long as you’re not spending money, you’ll find there are plenty of options when you start looking.
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