Managing financial stress
These are some ways you can manage stress around money.
Focus on the things you can control
Money issues can be overwhelming. Try looking at the small things you can change or control instead of feeling paralysed by the overall picture. Break it down and look at the small wins. Find one thing you can control – such as finding a useful tool or calculator – focus on that, and then move to the next thing.
Talk about it
Sometimes it feels uncomfortable to talk about money, especially when it’s not going well. But talking about financial issues helps release stress around them.
Find someone you trust to talk to, like friends or family, or someone neutral like a business mentor or a health professional.
Remember to talk to yourself kindly and be encouraging, like you would to a friend.
Remember it will get better
Remind yourself that what you’re going through is part of a longer journey that won’t last forever.
Recognise your triggers and get help
If you're feeling stressed and anxious about your finances, it can have a big impact on other aspects of your life.
A Sorted survey of more than 2600 people found that only 8% said they tried to get help for their money-related stress. Others either:
- felt too embarrassed
- hid their money situation
- had relationship problems.
"When it starts affecting your sleeping and eating, or if the people around you keep asking if you're ok, then these are red flags and it's time to get help," says Hartmann.
Resources to manage financial stress
Find more resources and tips for small business owners to help you look after yourself and your team.
- Sorted has free finance tools, guides and resources on its website.
- If you want to talk to someone for support around debt or personal budget issues, you can ring the free Money Talks helpline on 0800 345 123.
- If you're suffering financial-related stress and anxiety, talk to your GP. They'll be able to assess where you're at and refer you to a specialist if necessary.
- You can access trained counsellors for free by texting or calling 1737.
- Other mental health and wellbeing support can be found at Depression.org.nz.
More to it than money
Transcript
(Soft instrumental piano music plays. The camera opens on a tight shot of a business owner sitting at an angle in the centre of the frame. He is shown from the shoulders up. He is looking to the left side of frame. Behind him is a plain dim pink wall. He is wearing a pale blue shirt).
Business owner: My idea of success has really changed.
(The camera pulls out wider to show the business owner sitting centre frame in a medium shot)
Business owner: I’ve been running a business now for about fifteen years
(The camera cuts back to a tighter shot. The business owner is positioned left of frame from the shoulders up and sits on a slight angle)
Business owner: and like a lot of owner operators, I started the business because, you know, I liked being on
(The camera moves to a tight shot of the business owners hands resting on his lap
He gestures as he speaks. He is wearing a brown and silver watch and beige trousers).
Business owner: the tools. There’s a lot of pressure to
(The camera pulls back to the wide shot. The business owner is now placed in the centre of the frame on a slight angle and shown from the waist up.
Business owner: succeed financially. Everywhere that you look, as a business owner, there are stories of people succeeding.
(The camera cuts back to a mid-shot. The business owner is sitting centre frame in a medium shot)
Business owner: People will constantly ask me – “Have I got much on? Am I busy?”
And I think for about ten years I really lived that idea of being busy.
You know, I would stay up. I felt like coffee was a cure, and the stress and the adrenalin would really get me through.
(Soft instrumental music continues. The camera moves to a tight shot of the business owner’s hands resting on his lap again. He gestures when he speaks).
Business owner: And when I did get stressed (sighs)
(The camera pulls back to the wide shot. The business owner is sitting in the centre of the frame at a slight angle).
Business owner: pride got in the way. I was probably too proud to really tell anybody how I was feeling. And I remember the moment really well. One morning I woke up
(The camera moves to a medium close-up. The business owner is now positioned on the left side of the frame)
Business owner: and I thought to myself,
(The business owner shakes his head)
Business owner: “I can’t do this anymore. I’m going to go crazy.”
(The business owner lowers his head down)
Business owner: I talked to my partner
(The business owner lifts his head)
Business owner: and she was really understanding. She got it.
(Soft instrumental music continues. The camera cuts back to the wide shot and the business owner is sitting in the centre of the frame from the waist up. He gestures with his hands as he speaks).
Business owner: That began a change in mindset for me.
(The camera moves back to a medium close-up. The business owner is centre frame from the shoulders up and is sitting on a slight angle)
Business owner: After some time, I went to work, and I got everybody together and I told them about what I had been going through. And
(The camera pulls back to the wide shot. The business owner is sitting centre frame waist up and on a slight angle)
Business owner: it actually ended up changing the way that we think about stress at work and how we communicate with each other. It’s really
(The camera moves to a mid shot. The business owner is sitting centre frame from the arms up and is on a slight angle)
Business owner: opened up new conversations at work and you know, we’re more of a whānau now.
(Soft instrumental continues. The business owner smiles and nods)
(The camera moves back to the medium close-up. The business owner is sitting centre frame from the shoulders up and is on a slight angle)
Business owner: My idea of success has fundamentally changed. The idea that I can leave work a little bit early and go for a walk, or a ride or a surf, or go and pick up the kids.
(The camera pulls back to the wide shot. The business owner is sitting centre frame from the waist up and is on a slight angle. The business owner smiles and nods)
Business owner: You know, I got my life back.
(The frame transitions into a white screen and reveals the words centred and in pink -
Helping businesses succeed with the business.govt.nz logo sitting directly underneath in blue.)
(The music fades.)
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