{"id":3329,"date":"2022-09-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondfinance.com\/blog\/?p=3329"},"modified":"2026-05-08T16:48:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T16:48:16","slug":"financial-de-stress-week-7-what-is-your-body-telling-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beyondfinance.com\/blog\/financial-de-stress-week-7-what-is-your-body-telling-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial De-Stress \u2013 Week 7: What is Your Body Telling You?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2021, we sent out this collection of de-stressing exercises to a group of clients over the span of 10 weeks in hopes that they might help alleviate the anxiety of debt as our clients moved through their journeys. We received such amazing feedback that we wanted to make sure the rest of our clients had access to these 10 meditation, mindfulness, and awareness exercises as well! We\u2019ll be releasing a new one each Monday morning, so check in at the start of each week for a brand new exercise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This exercise is designed to help you better understand what your body is saying about financial stress. More importantly, you will learn how to use the information coming from your body to short-circuit the usual stress response when the bills arrive in the mail or the phone rings when you\u2019re about to eat. Your body is talking to you, but are you listening? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1 : Your Tracking Sheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To become skilled at listening to your body, you need to monitor your body sensations for at least a week. Make a Tracking Sheet and keep notes to learn the rhythm of what your body is telling you and record what is going on when your body starts talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The simplest way is to find a piece of paper or a journal and label three columns with Time, Sensation and Event. Something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time<\/strong><\/td>Sensation<\/strong><\/td>Event<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
10:00 a.m.<\/td>Heartburn<\/td>Mail hasn’t arrived yet, expecting bills<\/td><\/tr>
10:15 a.m.<\/td>same<\/td>same<\/td><\/tr>
10:30 a.m.<\/td>Heart Pounding<\/td>Going to pick up the mail<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s easier for you to set this up on a mobile device or tablet, do that as well. Whatever it takes for you to take accurate notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Keeping Score of Your Body<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, we need you to select two hours to engage in your normal daily activities. You can also comfortably jot down information about your internal sensations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you begin your session, check in with your body every 15 minutes. Pay attention to the significant sources of your internal sensations, such as your heart, digestive system, muscles and any areas that are the source of chronic pain for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If all systems are sound when you check in, note the time. But if you notice any sensation in those areas such as a knot in your stomach, difficulty breathing, or an increased heart rate, make a note of it. Jot down what you were doing or thinking about when it happened. Was there an upcoming event that might explain why your body is reacting? What\u2019s wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Pattern Recognition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The goal of mastering interoception<\/a> is to become fully aware of how your body warns you of a pending threat. Most of us try to avoid feeling our internal sensations, to the point where we take medications to cover any sensations we may feel. Tums anyone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all done it, which means we have all missed something our body was trying to tell us. Our body is a powerful signaling system if we take the time to listen and understand all it tells us. Look through the scorecard you have been keeping for any patterns that may be there. You\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: A Better Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we can feel and understand our internal sensations, we can determine how we respond to stress. We have discussed several exercises you can use to stop your body from going from an internal reaction to a full-blown stress response throughout these De-Stress exercises. Here\u2019s a list of all the tools you have at your disposal thus far:<\/p>\n\n\n\n