Financial stresses not only affect your well being, they can negatively affect relationships, job performance and pretty much rule your life if you let them.

Take a breath, relax, and give yourself permission to focus on your well-being.

Take Care of Yourself

Here are 6 inexpensive ways you can take care of yourself when dealing with stressful finances:

1. Be Patient with Yourself
   Remember that all great achievements take time. You didn't dig yourself into this hole over night and most likely you wont get out of it over night. Patience is a virtue and not only should you practice it with others, but you should extend yourself a little compassion.

2. Return to Or Discover Inexpensive Hobbies
   Whether it's jogging, knitting, writing, or gardening—hobbies provide a mental escape from our worries. Allow yourself to be in a mental state that is free of worry. Just be careful not to take up an expensive hobby like shopping or one that requires you to buy a lot of costly equipment such as fishing or snowboarding.

3. Be Proud of Your Victories No Matter How Small
   Big victories are often just a sequence of small victories strung together. Don't downplay your awesomeness. Allow yourself to brag a bit an celebrate even the smallest of victories.

4. Have Friends over for a Potluck
   Socializing is good for the soul and enjoying the company of well meaning friends doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Consider having a night in or a viewing party at your place and invite everyone to bring a dish or beverage. You get to sample different dishes and the event cost is distributed so that one person doesn't end up spending a significant amount of money.

5. Get into a Fiction Book
   Did you know that the kindle app has free books daily? Whether you take a trip to the library, borrow a book from a friend, or download a free or inexpensive book to your kindle, reading is truly fundamental. Not only does it boost your memory, improve your analytical skills, and provide mental stimulation; reading is a source of entertainment that enables the reader to escape their reality. Stay away from finance related non-fiction and indulge yourself in an adventure.

6. Volunteer
   We all like to feel useful from time to time. What better way to satisfy this need than serving others who are less fortunate than you? Volunteering reminds you just how useful you are and depending on the volunteer position, it can provide insight into your situation. You can learn new skills, meet new people, and most likely realize that your situation could be worse.

So take a breath, relax, and give yourself permission to focus on your well-being. Inexpensively of course!