Has your level of financial stress increased? Here are some ways to reduce it.

We all face our share of financial stress from time to time, like when we lose a job or are hit by an unexpected bill. But there is nothing like a global pandemic and an economic crisis to explode our stress levels.

If you’ve been through your share of financial stress during the pandemic, you’re far from alone – 63% of workers say their stress has increased since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a recent PwC investigation.

Interestingly, Millennials were the most likely to report increased stress, with 72% saying theirs got worse during the pandemic. In comparison, 68% of Gen Z, 62% of Gen X, and 46% of Baby Boomers said the same thing.

But regardless of your age, if your stress levels have skyrocketed in the past year, it’s important that you take steps to help reduce it. Here are some ideas to help you.

1. Boost your emergency fund

If you’re in a decent financial situation right now and have some money left over after paying your bills, building an emergency fund could really help ease financial stress. At a minimum, you should aim to keep three months of living expenses in your savings account. But if you can get closer to the six-month mark, you’ll give yourself a little more peace of mind at a time when the economy is still in a fragile state and the ongoing health crisis is far from over.

2. Create a debt repayment plan

Millions of Americans have faced a loss of income over the past year. If you are one of those people, you may have had no choice but to resort to credit cards or a loan to cover your expenses. If your debt is starting to pile up, it’s natural to be stressed out about it. But a good way to combat this is to come up with a plan to pay off that debt.

Maybe you will stick with a budgeting method that allows you to settle your credit card balances in order of the highest interest rate to the lowest. Or maybe you will consider debt consolidation to help you

Manage your finances. Just making a plan will help you feel empowered to manage your debt rather than getting sucked in mentally.

3. Forgive yourself for not having achieved your goals

Maybe you were hoping to buy a home this year, but your income took a hit and you didn’t save enough for a down payment. Don’t beat yourself up for falling behind on your goals. The past 13 months have been tough for a lot of people financially.

Instead, regroup. Assess your current financial situation and create a new roadmap. Going back to our example, it might be more reasonable now to plan to buy a home in 2022. It’s not something you should feel guilty about. Do your best to put those negative thoughts aside and focus on getting where you want to be instead.

The fact that most workers saw their financial stress increase during the pandemic is not surprising. But if you fall into this category, it is important to do something about it.

High levels of stress can cause physical damage to your body, and at a time like this, you no longer need mental anguish. So, while you are working on the above items, take some time to take care of yourself as well. Treat yourself to a bubble bath once a week. Take the time to take a few walks outside of your week – the fresh air will do you good. Or, treat yourself to something that helps you forget your worries, like a classic movie or a new series to binge-watch.

These are very difficult times for all of us. Be kind to yourself as you work with them.