Are You a Financial Ostrich?

Do you avoid checking your bank account? Feel a pang of anxiety when you think about money? You’re engaging in "financial ostriching"—burying your head to avoid problems. It’s a common stress response, but it makes things worse. Here’s why we do it and how to stop, fast.

Why We Avoid Our Finances

• Overwhelm: It feels too complex to tackle.

• Fear & Shame: We worry about what we’ll find and judge ourselves for past mistakes.

• "What-If" Spiral: We fear uncovering a problem that leads to catastrophic thoughts.

  
  

The High Cost of Avoidance Ignoring your finances doesn't make them better. It allows:

• Small problems to grow with interest and fees.

• Background anxiety to drain your mental energy.

• You to lose control and react to emergencies instead of planning your future.

  
  

The 5-Step Plan to Stop Avoiding & Start Controlling

1. The Data Download: Block 15 minutes. Gather your statements and note your balances (debt, savings, income) without judgment. You’re just collecting facts.

2. Find Your "Why": Connect a financial goal to a personal dream (e.g., "less daily stress," "a vacation"). This is your motivation.

3. Schedule a Money Date: A recurring 15-minute weekly meeting to check in. This contains money stress to a defined time.

4. Automate: Set up auto-pay and auto-transfers to savings. Make good habits effortless.

5. Get a Second Opinion: Stuck? Talk to a savvy friend, a financial planner, or an online community. Fresh eyes create clarity.

The single most powerful thing you can do is look. Clarity, even about bad news, is always better than fear and the unknown. Lift your head out of the sand; your future self will thank you for it.