I want to talk about emotional spending, and no, I am not talking about the “add to cart” emotional spending that I am sure we all indulge at some point! I am talking about viewing your emotional well-being/mental health like currency in a bank! Hear me out.
How many times do you open up your banking app to see how much money you have? To make sure you have enough to cover the bills that are coming in? To see what you are spending your money on? To create a budget? What if we looked at our emotional capacity the same way?
Would you continuously use your debit card to make purchases despite not having the funds to do so? Are you okay with racking up overdraft fees and paying extra for shit that didn’t serve you to begin in? I am hoping you answer is no! So, let’s break this down.
If I start my day with “x amount” of emotional capacity, I need to figure out what I am allotting myself to “spend” each and every day. Do I want to drain my account every day down to zero? ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT! I want to budget what I spend. So, if I start with $100, I know that each of my sessions will “cost me” $10, say I have 6 sessions that day, I’m down to $40 when I leave. I still need to “emotionally spend” when I get home as I am a mom. So, let’s give my son $20, now I am down to $20. Am I going to want to spend that $20 on mindlessly scrolling an app that irritates me? Or do I want to “save” that $20 for ME, to recharge, to rest, and reset so I am ready to take on the next day?
We are emotional spending each and every day that we are mindlessly scrolling on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or fill in the blank for your vice. We are emotionally spending when we allow the people in our life to dump on us in the name of being “a good friend” (or fill the blank with whatever fits). Saving money feels pretty dope as you watch that total rise and rise. Think of your emotional capacity in the same way. The more I budget what I am “spending” the more I have for me! I know this will resonate with all of you and I can’t wait to hear what you think! Remember, you fucking got this! ~Stef
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