Tips for Coping With Economic Turmoil

As talk of falling housing prices, rising consumer debt and declining retail sales bring up worries about the nation’s economic health, more Americans feel additional stress and anxiety about their financial future .

Here are some helpful tips :

1. Take action now. Make a family budget, meet with an accountant, trade in a vehicle for a more fuel-efficient model, carpool - do things to help reduce your stress..List and Track your monthly expenses and "trim" the unnecessary. Have your kids help find ways to save more money and make it last longer,keep a log of spending...have a garage sale to gain some extra cash....CASH MEANS EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW !!!!

Identify your financial stress areas and make a plan. Take stock of your particular financial situation and what causes you stress. Write down specific ways you and your family can reduce expenses or manage your finances more efficiently. Then commit to a specific plan and review it regularly. Although this can be anxiety-provoking in the short term, putting things down on paper and committing to a plan can reduce stress. If you are having trouble paying bills or staying on top of debt, reach out for help by calling your bank, utilities or credit card company.

2. Take a step back. Don't saturate yourself with stressful information. Stay informed, but take a news break. Most people don't need to track the markets minute by minute. YOU WILL FALL INTO NEGATIVE THINKING, STAY FOCUSED AS TO WHAT PERTAINS TO YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

3. Stay connected. Don't let the rest of your life dwindle away. Make sure you are paying attention to daily activities: family, friends, social occasions and recreation.. LIVE for today, Life goes on ....make the most of day to remain on track.

4. Pay attention to yourself. "Remember that stress takes a physical toll. Learn meditation and do muscle relaxation. More simply, pay attention to your stress level throughout the day and occasionally breathe slowly and deeply,".

Of 13 occupational industries examined, the highest percentage of employees reporting feeling depressed for two weeks or more in the past year were those in the arts-entertainment-recreation, retail trade and utilities industries.

Learning to reduce your stress is to distinguish between "productive worry" and "unproductive worry."

Productive worry is thinking on situations you can control, and you should use productive worry to take actions that reduce stress and relieve anxiety. Unproductive worry is thinking about things you cannot control .



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