Do you ever feel overwhelmed when your credit card statements arrive each month? Do you stress about being able to pay off your credit card debt or meet your minimum payments? Financial stress can lead to all-around tension in the rest of your life, but fortunately there are some simple things you can do to minimise it even if you can’t pay off all of your credit card debt immediately.

Follow these tips to help you stop stressing about credit card bills today:

1. Deal with financial matters early in the day.

If you pull out your credit card statements late in the evening before bed you’ll increase the chance that you’ll be kept awake at night worrying about your credit card bills. That can lead to a lack of sleep, which can lead to ongoing stress and tension the following day. Nip that nasty cycle by dealing with bill payments and other financial matters earlier in the day so you can put it out of mind when it’s time to wind down for the evening.

2. Talk about it.

Talk to your partner or family about your credit card bills if the stress becomes too much (within reason — don’t worry your children with family financial problems beyond their control for example). Bottling up your concerns and feeling like you have to shoulder the entire burden on your own will increase your stress. That could end up making you more irritable, increasing your family’s stress anyway (which you were trying to avoid). Even if they can’t help you solve your financial problems, sometimes letting those concerns out is enough to decrease as least some of your credit card-induced stress.

3. Call your credit card companies.

Even though they’re probably the last people you want to talk to when you’re stressing about credit card bills, they’re in the best position to help you. Remember, your credit card companies are in business to make money. It’s in their best interest to have you pay something rather than nothing. Call them. Ask to speak to a supervisor who is authorised to make offers and changes on your account. Discuss your current financial concerns with them (such as a sudden job loss due to medical problems) and when you expect to be able to resume regular credit card payments. Negotiate with the credit card company. Explain to them that you don’t intend to be a deadbeat debtor, and try to negotiate for an extended payment period, smaller payments temporarily, or some other arrangement to get you through the stressful period.

If you have one credit card company that is open to working with you and another that isn’t, see if the first company would allow you to transfer the other balance to their card. The less flexible company would be paid off. The other credit card company ultimately will earn more through interest and fees on the higher balance when you resume normal payments. You’ll eliminate some stress and be better able to focus on improving your financial circumstances overall. In the end, everyone wins.