3 Ways to Stop Focusing on Money (2024)

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Co-authored byRachel Clissold

Last Updated: January 25, 2023References

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   Do work you believe in. If you are focused on money when looking for a job, you are unlikely to find work that really satisfies you. But the value of engaging in work that is mentally and spiritually rewarding goes beyond any kind of monetary value. For instance, if you are a lawyer, you might make a great deal of money. But if your real passion is fixing motorcycles, you might want to change careers to one more related to your love of motorcycles.^[1]

   • A job that provides meaning, enjoyment, and purpose is superior to a job that only provides a paycheck. Identify your passions and find ways to make money at them.
   • For instance, if you love painting, start painting pictures and sell them at local galleries, cafes, and online.
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   Change your attitude about your salary. Instead of viewing your salary as insufficient, view it as adequate. For instance, instead of saying, “I need more money to obtain a larger television,” say to yourself, “I’ve used my current television for a long while and there are no significant problems with it. I am thankful for the television my current salary has enabled me to buy.”^[2]

   • When you stop focusing on money you earn at work, you will begin feeling more appreciative of the money you already earn.
   • Focus instead on the quality of your work. Money comes from the perceived value you provide to your employer, so by focusing on the quality of the work you do, you are more likely to get others to notice you, leading to increased opportunities such as promotions.
   • Try thinking about what you want, rather than making money. When your attention is on money, it becomes heavy and removes the joy from your life.^[3]

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   Focus on the task at hand. Instead of focusing on the money you’re making every hour that goes by, you can focus on doing the task at hand to the best of your ability. Even if it’s not your dream job, you can still do good work and be proud of it. Focusing on money can lead directly to wasted time, stress, and anxiety at work. Plus, you might burn yourself out by working too long or too hard.^[4]

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   See Also

   Money Mindset and How to Start Building Wealth Today - PLACE9 Common Signs of Millionaires That Indicate You Are On Track to Becoming Wealthy | SoFiKnow thyself, know thy finances: which of the 5 money personalities are you?Money Values: Why Understanding Them Is Important for Business Owners - She Means Profit

   Do not compare yourself to coworkers. If you’re constantly focusing on money, you will view your coworkers as competition rather than teammates. This could hurt your work relationships and cause you to miss out on opportunities to make friends. For instance, you might be less inclined to share ideas or helpful information with your coworkers in an effort to make yourself appear as the best employee.^[5]

   • Paradoxically, focusing on money at work might hurt your chances of earning more money because you will be considered someone who does not work well with others.
   • Alternately, you might suffer financially if you are focused on money for yourself rather than on how to best empower your coworkers. After all, if your coworkers are not meeting their full potential, the whole business will suffer, and you might not earn bonuses or raises that you otherwise would.

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   Find ways to live in the moment. There are many living creatures in your life that can help you become more mindful. Children and pets, particularly, are often able to help people focus their thoughts, become more aware of themselves, and live in the moment.

   • For instance, you might nuzzle your cat. Feel its fur against your hand or face. Listen to its heartbeat or its gentle purring. Notice the way each strand of fur pushes against your hand as you stroke it.
   • Spending time with your child or pet can help you discover life’s simple joys and stop focusing on money.
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   Develop a positive attitude toward exercise. Exercise for at least 2.5 hours each week. When exercising, feel each movement of your body and lose yourself in the action of swimming, biking, or running. Exercising can help you reduce stress, help you have a more positive outlook, and remove or reduce your focus on money.

   • Be gentle with yourself. Do not push yourself beyond what you are capable of.
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   Spend time outdoors. Being outdoors, in general, can keep you from focusing on money. Instead, you’ll be focusing on the grandeur of the great outdoors. For instance, you might enjoy taking your dog to the park. Some people enjoy canoeing on lakes and rivers. Others enjoy hiking in the mountains. At the very least, visit your city park.

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   Try a walking meditation while outdoors. Spend time attuning each of your five senses as you walk. Start with your eyes. Look closely at each leaf, rock, and root, appreciating the complexity of their design. Then, feel the wind on your hair and face. If you brush branches aside to walk your path, gently rub them, enjoying the texture.^[6]

   • Feel the forward movement of your body as you set one foot in front of the other.
   • Listen to the sound of birds and other woodland creatures, as well as your own rhythmic inhalation and exhalation as you walk.

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   Listen to positive media. The wrong media can place greater emphasis on financial concerns, thereby causing you more stress. Cut out media that you find has a negative impact on you, and try listening to and watching more positively-focused, uplifting content.^[7]

   • Motivational and self-help style programs can help you refocus your thoughts, while biographies from people who have faced similar situations to those you face can help bolster your hope and may give new ideas.
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   Realize that money will not buy happiness. Studies show that materialistic people – that is, people focused on obtaining possessions and wealth – are less happy than others. That is because people who adopt a materialistic lifestyle are actually focused on raising their social status and impressing others. Instead of focusing on money and its effect on your social status, identify the things that make you feel happy and pursue them.^[8]

   • If, for example, people around you all drive a certain type of luxury car, do not feel the need to have the same vehicle simply to fit in. Choose a practical car that fits your needs and budget, and allow your happiness to come from the ways in which you use that car, not from the car, itself.
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   Enjoy your hobbies. Cultivate a variety of hobbies and interests. Enjoying your leisure time will help you stop focusing on money and make you feel happier. Many things can be done free or affordably that provide rewarding end results.

   • To cultivate hobbies and interests, make a list of things you enjoy. Focus on learning more about them or practicing them more often.
   • If you don’t have any activities or interests, visit your local library. Browse the books until you find one about a subject you are unfamiliar with. Read the book and decide if you are interested in learning more about it.
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   Feel thankful for other people. Instead of focusing on money, try thinking about your support structure and how happy you are to have these people in your life. If you find thoughts about money creeping into your mind, send a quick message to someone who matters to you like your mother or father expressing thanks.^[9]

   • For instance, you might send your mom a text that reads, “Thanks for taking me to all those museums when I was younger. I really learned to love art thanks to you!”
   • Try making a list of people you’re thankful for. Add one name to it each morning or each night. You could include teachers, family, and friends on the list.
   • You can also find a number of free gratitude apps for use on your smartphone that can help you take time daily to remember what you are grateful for.
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   Focus on your housing situation. Instead of focusing on money, try focusing on how thankful you are for a roof over your head. You might reflect on the millions around the globe who are homeless. To refocus your attention away from money, think about how good you really have it.^[10]

   • Focus on a few small, low-cost home improvement projects that may help you appreciate your home even more. For instance, you might consider painting your bedroom a different color, or changing the style of your curtains.
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   Enjoy being empathetic. If you’re focused on money, you are more likely to engage in unethical and selfish behavior. You might be more likely to, for instance, think of people who are not focused on money as lazy or dumb. You might put yourself before other people, which could lead to you look down on others instead of sympathizing with them.^[11]

   • To avoid or limit your likelihood of being consumed by these behaviors, try focusing on how great it feels to donate to charity.
   • Help others who are less fortunate than you by volunteering at your local soup kitchen or food bank.

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