Everyone has important tasks they avoid or postpone on a regular basis. It might be because the task at hand just isn’t that fun, or because it’s physically challenging, or because it’s downright terrifying.
Some common things that people procrastinate on are organising their living spaces, cleaning tasks, studying, and having emotional conversations with loved ones. But everyone’s got their thing; for the author of this article, it’s pruning back shrubs in the garden (hey, hedge trimmers are not to be messed with…).
Try this exercise: grab a piece of paper and draw lines to divide it in to three columns. At the top of the left column, write ‘always stressful’. Then in the middle column, write ‘sometimes stressful’, and on the right, write ‘never stressful’. Try to think of at least five different things that fit in each column for you.
Having instinctive reactions and trying to avoid stressors is pretty normal. But have you ever asked yourself why you think that way? And have you considered how your life might be different if you could see things differently and change the way you think?
What’s in the left column for your audience?
There’s a strong chance that one of your audience’s top stressors is their personal financial situation. Australian Psychological Society survey results say that financial issues have been a top cause of stress for at least the last five years running.
Another report released in late 2016 revealed that around two million Aussies experience severe or high financial stress, while an extra 53.2% of the population experience low (but consistent) financial stress. All in all, fewer than 4 in 10 Australians are financially secure. They’re the ones who’d put ‘finances’ in the middle or right column.
Money doesn’t have to be stressful
One of Money101’s core principles is that money doesn’t have to be stressful. And it certainly doesn’t have to be something that’s on your mind every day, multiple times a day. The key is having the background knowledge and skills to pre-empt financial issues, or deal with them as they come up. Even something as simple as having the right vocab to discuss your financial needs with a professional or trusted friend can really help. That’s why we’re committed to being jargon-busters too.
You don’t need to feel powerless when it comes to all your audience’s stressors. While you can’t do it all for them, you are in a position to give them some fresh perspective and empower them with the tools to start taking action. That’s where Money101 comes in.
Our financial education units are delivered exclusively online. They use instructional design principles to explain important principles in a slow and logical manner, so it’s entertaining and engaging, but never overwhelming. The units can be housed on microsites that are responsive and easy to use, or hosted on your own existing website/intranet portal. Explore the options here today.
