Are Your Finances Making You Sick?

Not having enough money can be a pain in the arse.

But did you know financial stress can literally manifest as physical pain in your body?  According to Louise Hay, author and healer, money worries are often felt in the form of lower back pain specifically. I was reminded of this yesterday whilst trying to work out my renovation budget. Whilst my heart was saying Architectural Digest, my wallet was nudging me to consider a more Nordic direction (I-k-e-a). And my back – right on cue – began to spasm quietly in agreement.

Yup – if you listen hard enough, your body will talk to you. It’s an actual scientific thing.

In fact, six studies from researchers at University of Virginia and Columbia University found that financial woes don’t only produce physical pain, they can also reduce our tolerance to pain and can even predict over-the-counter pain killer consumption, (the unemployed couples in the study necked 20% more painkillers than the rest of them) .The research in the journal Psychological Science found the link between physical pain and finances may be driven by the lack of financial control over your life. Which kinda makes sense – because when it comes to money and finances, you are either in control of them – or they are in control of YOU.

And I know – money is hard, bills are annoying, new shoes are awesome and f*ck it, isn’t that what credit is for?

Problem is, that living on credit, or from paycheck to paycheck is like spending your life sitting at that crappy table in your local cafe. The one with the wobbly leg. Sure – you can wedge a folded coaster under it  – but you know, and I know, that no amount of temporary adjustment is going to change the fact that its still a crappy table. It’s the same thing with your finances – without a solid foundation you are going to wobble through life, temporarily propping yourself up and becoming undone at the first unexpected bill or parking ticket that comes your way.

And I am pretty confident that you are better than that.

The first step is taking a good, hard look at what you earn, where (the hell) it all goes, how you might be able to save some of it and making a 3,6,12 month plan based on your particular set of circumstances. For some of you this may be just to stop drowning in debt, for others it’s finding a way to actually save and for you sensible Sally’s out there it may be getting on top of the long term stuff. “Many doctor’s visits are because of stress, and money is the number one cause of stress,” says Leanne Jacobs, a holistic wealth expert and host of the Beautiful Money podcast.  Creating a written plan helps release stress, produces optimism and makes people feel empowered, explains Jacobs. As dull, tedious and downright scary as it might be, it will not only benefit you mentally but might physically get you in much better shape too.

At the times in my life when I have been financially unstable, consistent back pain has been there to remind me to stop putting so much pressure on myself.

You don’t have to buy everything.

You don’t have to buy a new outfit, or upgrade your car or say ‘Yes’ to every overpriced birthday dinner and bridal shower you get asked to.

Look around at all the crap in your house – that used to be money.

Ironically, the sooner you start taking control of your money, the sooner you will be able to start doing all the things you actually want to do.

With nay a back spasm in sight.

This Get Richer post is brought to you by someone who is not too proud to shop at IKEA. But who has been reduced to tears trying to build that Sh*t.