Are You Losing Sleep Over the Economy?

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 8 out of 10 Americans are stressed by the current economic conditions.  The number one concern among U.S. citizens has become personal finances AND the economy. 

Should we be thinking of alternate ways to provide for our family?  It’s not likely that most of us will be able sustain our current lifestyles - something’s gotta give.  The workplace has actually become less productive, in large part due to employees’ growing anxiety about job stability, salary cuts, and workload increases.

Women are more worried about the economic crisis than men are, probably because women enjoy less financial security on the whole.  And older Americans are feeling a tighter squeeze than those who have decades of earning potential ahead of them.

As I chat with the owner of our company, he sits casually across from me, shooting the breeze with light conversation, I’m wondering if I should be boning up on my Bartender’s book of cocktails, in case I need a backup job.  Or maybe I should reach out to my old clients, for whom I used to pet-sit for extra cash. 

But Erik exudes confidence and stability.  He seems to have faith in our political administration and the country’s overall financial integrity.  This situation, which has been in a downward spiral for years — the shell game of corporate CEO’s and financial institutions, now exposed and spilling its guts all over the floor  - doesn’t seem to have him rattled, in the least.  I guess I’ll wait a little longer before I join the 80% of Americans who are losing sleep over our country’s economic debacle.  I may be sticking my head in the sand but, this afternoon, I’m thinking that I’ll wait just a little bit longer…and dust off that bartenders’ manual some other weekend.