In a recent study, 72% of Americans said that they felt some form of financial stress. There are so many reasons for this, from dealing with creditors or mortgage brokers, to worrying about pensions and savings. It could be anxiety from working out a monthly budget or being able to cover the bills. Whatever the reason, there are many natural ways that can help you deal with this stress, giving you a better perspective to find solutions.

Taking herbal supplements

If you are under financial stress, it is extremely helpful to take an herbal supplement to help you sleep and calm the mind. It will help you to think calmly and logically about finding a solution for your worries. Valerian is a good ingredient to look for, as it has been scientifically proven to give you better quality sleep. In a study of over 1,000 patients, 95% of them found that they slept better after taking extracts of roots of Valerian. There were also a lack of side effects upon waking, such as sluggishness and the feeling of hangover. Chamomile is also naturally calming and can help relax your mind and body.

Practice daily meditation

Mindfulness meditation is an excellent way of dealing with anxiety, which can interfere with problem-solving thought. A study by researchers at John Hopkins University, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that meditation is a positive and effective way to also deal with depression and stress too. It helps to give you a sense of natural wellbeing. A couple of hours before you go to sleep is a good time to practice meditation--it lowers blood pressure and the heart rate. It can help to clear the mind, giving you a sense of calm and making it easier to sleep. You don’t have to go to a class, there are plenty of videos that you can follow on YouTube to guide you through a routine. There are also some excellent meditation apps you can download to your smartphone, such as Calm and Headspace.

Establish a good sleep routine

Your sleep health is important. If you get enough good quality sleep, you will feel more alert and mentally focused during the day. Your body has a natural circadian rhythm, which makes you feel sleepy in the evening, and wakes you up in the morning. Don’t fight this natural instinct to go to bed when you need to. Generally we need between 7-8 hours sleep a night, with good quality deep and REM sleep. Even at weekends, when you might be tempted to lay in, it will be more beneficial to you to get up at the same time every day. Research has shown that you will have better concentration, be more productive during the day and have better emotional stability. Without enough regular, good quality sleep, you will have feelings of fatigue and symptoms that are similar to jet lag.

Eat a balanced diet

Eating a balanced diet, complete with all the vitamins and minerals you need to help your body to function normally, is a necessity. You will be surprised at the positive effect that a good diet has on your levels of stress and wellbeing. For instance, if you consume too many foods that are high in fat, you are more prone to depression. Foods that are high in sugar should be avoided too, although they initially give you a boost in energy, your blood sugar levels will soon crash, making you feel irritable. What you eat and the relationship with emotional stress can be a vicious circle, as when we are stressed, you are more likely to reach for junk foods, making the situation worse. Instead keep plenty of healthy snacks in the house, and replace high fat foods with fresh fruit, nuts and seeds. Overall you should try and to put as little strain on your digestive system as possible.

If you are dealing with financial stress in your life, using a natural way to calm and relax you can help reduce worry and anxiety. You will then have a better sense of wellbeing and be able to cope better and find solutions to whatever life throws at you.