Rising gas prices affects more than your bank account

I just saw a news headline saying that oil has gone above $120 a barrel.  That’s just unbelievable.  With that prices at the pump have sky rocketed to over $4 a gallon in some places.

So the rise in gas prices will not only affect your bank account, but also your health.

Most employers will not give you an increase in pay to compensate for the rise in gas prices.  So your disposable income starts to decrease.  This creates stress in your life (one of the major stressors – finances).

This stress increases your cortisol levels, which cause you to:

• Gain belly fat
• Lower your immune system
• Decrease your cognitive abilities

Now instead of buying foods that are “healthy” for you, you decide to get what’s on sale, which is not usually the healthiest choice.  These foods are probably devoid of any nutrition, so you develop slight nutrient deficiencies.  Lack of nutrients impairs your thinking ability, along with the stress which was already decreasing your cognitive ability.  Compound this downward spiral over the course of a few years and you’ve got a full blown disease process.

So here are some solutions:

• Make sure your car is well maintained to maximize gas mileage (a great place to start).  Things like tire pressure and wheel alignment.
• Prioritize your spending habits.  Remember, without your health, you really can’t do anything else.  So all your choices have to be with your health in mind.  Don’t sell your health to the lowest bidder.
• Take some time to meditate each day to relieve those stressors like rising gas prices.  In all honesty, you can’t control gas prices, so you need to learn to deal with the added financial stress it places upon you.
• Figure out a way to make more money.  You have talents that you could actually get paid for, yet you don’t.  Start a home-based business.  Start an e-bay business.  Learn how to monetize your blog.  There are tons of options out there.

Remember, happiness is a choice.  No one makes you feel stressed.  Choose to be happy and stress-free and that’s what you’ll be.