I stood in the Save-On-Foods produce section last night, holding a head of iceberg lettuce, and couldn’t believe my eyes.
$5.49. For lettuce. $5.49! It used to cost a loonie!
Like a basketball player overhandling the rock, I turned the lettuce over and over in my hands. It’s lettuce. Am I really going to pay five and a half bucks for lettuce?
In the end, I shelled out the $5.49. And then made a mental note to not waste a single leaf.
But I’m lucky to be in a position where I can afford to make that choice right now. A lot of people put that lettuce back – and as inflation continues to devour our purchasing power, the anxiety and mental strain is harming our mental health.
That’s why this month’s Fiscal Fitness work in our ICBA Wellness program has been so welcome. There is a relief that comes with knowing we are not alone in our mental health struggles over money. In fact, half of Canadians are losing sleep over finances.
Hang in there. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask experts or others for help. Almost everyone is feeling these pressures and we need to be honest about it. You’re definitely not alone in this.
Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 80 companies and 8,000+ construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.