Get Rid of Your Money Anxiety in 2021

Looking back, it's safe to say that 2020 humbled us all in ways we would not have ever imagined.

Never in my life did I think that one day the streets, malls, and restaurants would be packed, then be completely empty the next day, resembling a zombie apocalypse movie. I also didn't think we'd still be here dealing with this nearly a year later, but here we are.

See All of NFL Linebacker and Contributing Editor Brandon Copeland's Personal-Finance Plays on Kiplinger.com

Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Save up to 74%

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Sign up

Over these months of isolation and uncertainty, I've thought a lot about mental wellness and its connection to personal finance. Searching for more insights, I spoke recently with Joe Holder (see our full convo above), a leader in the health and wellness industry, founder of the Ocho System, and a Nike Master Trainer. Joe provided a thoughtful perspective about the relationship between money and stress and offered some great tips on how to manage your mental and financial wellness.

Holder spoke about money anxiety disorder, a concept that has stuck with me since our conversation. Anxiety around money can occur at any level of wealth or income. As Joe detailed throughout our talk, the hypersensitivity to money decisions can come in many forms. Whether you are frequently overspending on things trying to keep up with the Joneses, or you are so frugal that the stress of spending money supersedes enjoying experiences that life offers, an unhealthy relationship with money can lead to mental anguish.

Reflecting on my own personal finance journey, I realize that I fit the bill for the money anxiety disorder diagnosis. Even though I have worked hard to make, save, and invest my money while living below my means, the following thoughts constantly run through my mind:

Am I saving enough? Will my family and I have enough? Should I invest more or am I overexposed? What about when I am older? Will I have enough to retire comfortably? Can we afford this vacation?

One of my goals for 2021 is to cultivate a healthier, more balanced relationship between my personal finances and mental wellness. From a financial perspective, I plan to accomplish this by first redefining my "why."

Our personal "why" can serve as guardrails during the ebbs and flows that life presents. It can also be your "North Star" when adverse situations arise. It can be hard to find motivation, maintain your focus, and stay disciplined, day in and day out, without a purpose for what you are doing. In sports, most athletes can pinpoint their "why," which fuels them mentally through grueling workouts, practices, and even injuries to play in the next big game. Outside of sports, your "why" can help you stick to your financial goals.

Of course, life will inevitably throw you curveballs, but understanding the reason(s) why you work, save, and invest will help you stay on target throughout your mission.

The next financial steps are easier to tackle (see what I did there?). Calculate your recurring monthly expenses, then create a financial plan for yourself that marries your "why" to your budget. Perform your own financial audit to view your finances from a higher level. It's like watching a football game from the nosebleeds. Yes, every player may look smaller, but you can see the whole field from this view, as opposed to the first-row, corner-of-the-end-zone seat. You want to review your finances from the same vantage point.

From there, you can create a plan that is compatible with your "why." This is where critical thinking comes into play. There is not a book, a mentor, or financial advisor who can tell you what you truly value in the long run. Whether you want to save for your child's college education, or you want to bootstrap your first business venture, you will benefit from having a plan to help you achieve your financial goals.

The final step to help minimize the anxiety around your financial decisions is to automate your financial activities wherever possible. Automatic bill payments or deposits to your savings, brokerage, or retirement account will free up your mental bandwidth to focus on other things, cutting out wasted time on repetitive chores. There are tools available to help put your plan on autopilot this year. Do some digging, and make them work for you!

Gaining more control over your finances and your mental wellness starts with recognizing just how important this is to your overall well-being. Watch my full conversation with Joe, and make 2021 the year that you take care of YOU!

--Professor Cope

• See All of Brandon Copeland's Personal-Finance Plays on Kiplinger.com
• Follow Brandon Copeland on Instagram and Twitter
• Follow Kiplinger on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter