9 Mindset Shifts to Help You Stress Less About Money
9 Mindset Shifts to Help You Stress Less About Money
Inspired by John Armstrong’s “How to Worry Less About Money”
For federal employees, financial anxiety doesn’t just come from numbers—it comes from uncertainty: Am I saving enough? Can I retire comfortably? Am I doing it right? John Armstrong’s How to Worry Less About Money offers a refreshing perspective that goes beyond budgeting or investing. His core message? Money is only part of the good life—not the whole story.
Here’s how federal employees can use Armstrong’s ideas to reframe their financial mindset and reduce money stress without needing a windfall or second career.
1. Recognize that money is an ingredient, not a goal
Armstrong reminds us that worrying less about money doesn’t necessarily mean having more of it. It means changing our relationship with it. While essential, it’s only one ingredient in a meaningful, secure, and fulfilling life—alongside purpose, relationships, health, and time. Federal employees, with stable benefits and pensions, are in a unique position to emphasize this balance.
Tip: Your work offers security, service, and purpose—forms of wealth that aren't reflected in your bank account.
2. Understand the law of diminishing returns
After a certain point, more money doesn’t bring more happiness. Once basic needs and reasonable comforts are met, the emotional payoff of each additional dollar decreases. Chasing “more” can lead to stress, not satisfaction.
Tip: Consider whether striving for more money is adding value or just adding stress.
3. Ask the most important question: “How much do I need?”
Rather than obsessing over growth, Armstrong recommends identifying your personal version of “enough.” This turns vague anxiety into specific, manageable planning.
Tip: Estimate your retirement income from FERS, TSP, and Social Security to determine if you’re already closer to “enough” than you think.
4. Practice financial mindfulness
Armstrong advocates aligning your spending with your values, not reacting emotionally or trying to impress others. True financial well-being comes from intentional choices.
Tip: Before spending, pause to ask whether the purchase supports your values or just temporarily eases stress.
5. Simplify to reduce stress
Too many accounts, choices, or strategies create confusion and anxiety. Simplification allows your financial life to support your well-being rather than overwhelm it.
Tip: Automate contributions and streamline investments to free up mental space and reduce decision fatigue.
6. Money worries often come from identity and self-worth
Many financial worries are less about money itself and more about what we believe it says about us. Armstrong emphasizes the need to decouple our self-worth from our net worth.
Tip: Let your identity be defined by purpose and impact—not titles or income comparisons.
7. Financial freedom is less about wealth, more about control
True freedom isn’t about being rich, it’s about having choices. Control over your time, health, and lifestyle is what makes money meaningful.
Tip: Use your benefits to create flexibility, not just accumulate savings.
8. Focus on security, not status
Armstrong reminds us that many people suffer not from lack, but from feeling like they should have more. In reality, few enjoy the long-term financial security that federal employees have.
Tip: Value the stability that your pension and health benefits offer—security most private workers don’t have.
9. Don’t let envy distort your financial lens
Envy is the “shadow emotion” of money. It clouds judgment, fuels insecurity, and leads us to chase someone else’s life instead of focusing on our own.
Tip: Anchor your goals to your values, not to others’ lifestyles or highlight reels.
Final Thought
John Armstrong teaches that when approached with clarity and intention, money becomes less of a burden and more of a tool. For federal employees, the systems for long-term success—pensions, benefits, stable income—are already in place. The real challenge is often emotional, not structural.
So instead of asking, Am I doing everything right?, ask:
✅ Do I know how much is enough?
✅ Does my money support the life I actually want?
✅ Am I spending and saving in line with my values—not someone else’s?
If the answer is yes—even imperfectly—you’re already well on your way to worrying less about money.
Neil Cain and Austin Costello are certified financial planners with Capital Financial Planners. If you have questions about how retirement impacts your Medicare payments, register for a complimentary checkup. For topics covered in even greater depth, see our YouTube page.
