We are in the second year of the pandemic and if you are like me, it’s been a struggle to keep my mental health in check. From worrying about health, finances, loved ones and a million more things. I thought this would be a few months thing then life goes back to normal but here we are still holding on and trying to adjust to the new normal.
With all these things going on, it’s very easy for someone to get down in the dumps with depression or anxiety. Here is where the money comes in. After calling myself for a ‘kasmall meeting’ I realized my coping mechanism in moments of stress is eating out or going out for drinks with friends. I am great at self-motivation during these moments with phrases like “napatia mwili pole”, “tomorrow will worry over itself”, “I was broke before, but did I die?” and many other self-sabotaging phrases that I tell myself before making terrible decisions.
After my ka-meeting I realized this is like a dog chasing its tail. Why am I spending more money eating and drinking because I am stressed because I am broke? Yes friends, that’s how mental health and money relate. I had to take action to get myself out of this cycle and it had to start with getting to the root of it, which was taking care of my mental health. Times will be tough, which is a part of life, but how can I develop healthier (and cheaper) coping mechanisms?
Well, here are my go to activities for keeping my sanity that don’t have to cost me an arm and leg.
1. Meditation. Starting the day with gratitude journaling and introspection helps me stay grounded.
2. Exercise. Especially if you are working from home, it’s important to keep your body active by going for walks or doing home work outs. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body.
3. Having a support system. Having family and friends that you keep in touch with will help make your days brighter and your burdens less heavy.
4. Hobbies. Remember all those skills you kept saying you want to learn but you don’t have time? Well, now you have all the time with lockdown and curfew to start learning an instrument or take an online course.
5. Self-care. Do activities that bring you joy, whether it’s taking a walk in nature, listening to music, baking or whatever else brings a smile to your face.
Remember, the greatest wealth you can have is your health, not just your physical health but your mental health too.
Speaking of wealth, a good way to make sure you are not worrying about your finances and what the future holds is having an emergency fund. Start saving today with the ABC Pure Savers Account to have peace of mind tomorrow.
To learn more click here or contact us via talk2us@abcthebank.com or 0701 700 700