The surprising factor that could be undermining your well-being

You may be trying to eat healthily, stress less, or finally get back to the gym. But if you’re feeling anxious, exhausted, and emotionally overwhelmed, there could be a less obvious factor impacting your wellness — financial stress.

Well-being isn’t just about eating kale or doing yoga. It’s about your ability to thrive across every area of your life. Think of it like an account, filled with physical energy, emotional resilience, mental clarity — and yes, financial confidence — things that you draw from every day to manage work, relationships, parenting, and life in general.

When your finances feel uncertain, that account may drain faster. Money stress can make it difficult to get through the day and make contemplating the future even tougher. You might lie awake worrying about bills, emergencies, or retirement. Studies suggest that people experiencing financial hardship are almost twice as likely to have insomnia than those not undergoing money trouble.¹ You might skip a doctor’s appointment or delay important decisions because of cost — 1 in 4 US adults reported skipping or postponing needed health care due to cost.² You might feel stuck, even when you’re doing everything right in other areas of your life.

Why money matters more than you think

Finances touch nearly every part of life. From paying for health care to planning for retirement to simply affording groceries, money concerns are woven into daily decisions — and daily stress. According to Guardian's Mind, Body, and Wallet® report, a majority of Americans say money is a top source of stress.³

Almost 75% of Americans say they think about their debt several times a month to multiple times a day. And 4 in 10 report that their debt makes them feel anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated, ashamed, angry, scared, embarrassed, and hopeless.⁴

Money isn’t just about math. It’s deeply tied to safety, autonomy, and confidence. In fact, research suggests that financial struggles can increase stress and decrease resilience against mental health challenges.⁵

And here’s the kicker: Financial stress doesn’t only affect people with low incomes. Even those earning above-average salaries are feeling the squeeze that rising housing costs, inflation, debt, caregiving responsibilities, and retirement worries all pile on.

What you can do to improve your financial health

Many react to money trouble with fear — or bury their heads in the sand, not wanting to deal with the issue, whether it’s managing credit card debt or figuring out how to pay for their child’s education. Wishing it away doesn’t relieve the stress. Instead, face your situation head-on. After all, financial wellness isn’t about being rich, it’s about having enough control and confidence to meet your needs and goals. And reaching that doesn’t require a huge overhaul.

Here are a few simple but meaningful steps that can help rebuild your sense of control — and wellness. 

• Take inventory. Understanding your current financial picture — even if it’s messy — is the first step toward reducing fear. Make a list of your debts, income, bills, and savings goals. Working with a financial professional can help you be more confident in making decisions about your money. Sixty-nine percent of people who work with a financial professional report having high financial wellness.⁶  

• Think strategically. People who rate their financial wellness highly tend to take the long view when it comes to managing their finances. That means working with a financial professional to set priorities, whether it’s setting up an education fund for their children, saving for retirement (86% of Americans who have a retirement savings plan rate their financial wellness as high), or protecting their financial future with products like life and disability insurance.⁷  

• Talk about it. Sharing your financial worries with loved ones and trusted friends can help off-load stress and reduce shame. Normalizing conversations around savings tips, budgeting, and your financial boundaries may help you increase your financial knowledge and confidence.⁸ 

• Prioritize well-being as a whole. Yes, finances matter — but so does your ability to rest, connect, and care for yourself. Don’t put yourself on the back burner. 

• Ask for help. Whether it’s workplace benefits, community resources, or expert advice, support is out there. 

Your well-being isn’t just about willpower or workouts. It’s about creating a life where your mental, emotional, physical, and financial needs are acknowledged and supported. Rebuilding your financial confidence won’t happen overnight — but it can happen.