This all being said, all good comes in moderation. We are by no means expecting you to start ruminating over your bank account. Chances are, you might already be doing that: A survey showed that Americans say money is the thing they think about most daily. But here’s the thing: Part of having a good relationship with money is not thinking about it all the time. (If you just started a new romantic relationship, any good friend would tell you to cool it if you only thought about, interacted with, and talked about your partner. Same goes with money.) So here are some easy ways to get your mind off money But what’s equally important about this time is it sets boundaries about when you are thinking about your money decisions. If you decide that you are cutting back on shopping by a certain amount of money, let’s say, then you’ve already set those boundaries for yourself so you don’t have to address your spending habits in the moment. An example: You’re not stuck in a store debating whether you think you have the money this month to spend on a pair of new sneakers (we’ve all been there); you’ve already budgeted for this and established your priorities. This can also help you stay accountable to any goals you have set. “Say you’ve told a friend that you’re trying to organize your finances and that means you can only budget one dinner out a week, they’ll know those are your priorities and know to respect your boundaries because you’ve spoken with them about it,” says Clayman. Maybe this means your taxes: If each year, like clockwork, getting them done causes anxiety, maybe it’s time to outsource them. Or, if you’re really struggling to stick to a budget, maybe it’s time to talk to a financial expert who can help you identify ways to make budgeting easier for you. For many of us, these just aren’t things we weren’t taught in school, or maybe even at home, so it’s OK to ask for help when you are learning now. You don’t have to do this alone, and professional help will ease some of the learning curve.
