Really, it’s no surprise that your money has a huge impact on your self-care, good or bad. Primarily, having your finances in order equals the freedom and the means to even prioritize self-care in the first place, whatever that means for you, whether it’s collecting beautiful handmade creations or treating yourself and your friends to elaborate spa days.
So here are 3 tips for you.
Budgetary Boundaries
First, setting up budgetary boundaries is key if you want to take control of your finances and make headway on specific money goals—whether that’s saving up for a dream vacation or knocking out those student loans.
So, you want to get into the habit of using financial tracking tools, like budgeting apps or good old-fashioned spreadsheets. Then, be crystal clear about your financial goals—both short-term and long-term so that you can allocate your funds accordingly. Of course, you really want to set aside a chunk of your budget for your emergency fund; a safety net that means you’re covered for unexpected expenses, and that really takes the edge off when life throws you a curveball.
Say you’re gunning for a $5,000 vacation in a year. Break that down to a monthly savings target – say $430 after your must-haves, and maybe a bit of wiggle room for the nice-to-haves.
Emotional Boundaries
Constantly stressing about finances can seriously mess with your head. You want to set some emotional boundaries if you’re going to process things with a positive mindset and stop money-related stress from creeping into every single part of your life.
So, it’s a good idea to pick specific spots or times where worrying about money is off the table and clearly communicate this. Then, don’t be shy about reaching out to friends, family, or even a therapist to hash out your money worries. Really, having a support system is often the difference between peace of mind and crippling anxiety.
Also, when you hit a financial milestone – from paying off a credit card to resisting the urge to splurge at the ice cream aisle – celebrate!
Time Boundaries
Juggling finances is virtually inescapable, still, it really shouldn’t take over your life. Time boundaries mean tackling financial responsibilities without letting them hijack your entire schedule.
So, consistently block out specific times in your calendar for money stuff – budget reviews, bill payments, stock investments, etc – so that managing your money doesn’t become an all-the-time affair. In fact, you want to delegate and automate as much as you can to save yourself the time. Of course, you want to schedule regular check-ins, such as monthly or quarterly, and tweak things as needed.
You don’t want anything to seriously hamper your self-care efforts, including your finances. And so setting budgetary, emotional, and time boundaries is something to consider and prioritize.