Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2026 ‘Crash Diet’ Could Help Your Finances: Here’s How
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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At 78 years old, Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to be nowhere near retirement. The Austrian-American actor, businessman, former professional bodybuilder and political figure (he was the 38th governor of California, serving from 2003 to 2011) is still starring in TV shows and movies. And he’s still passionately sharing fitness tips with the world.
To kick off the new year, Schwarzenegger penned, in an Arnold’s Pump Club newsletter, a proposed “crash diet.” And it has nothing to do with calorie counting or fat burning. In fact, it’s not a matter of body at all, but one of mind. And it could help your finances this year. Here’s how.
Also see seven ways to set yourself up for financial success in 2026.
The ‘Zero Negativity’ Diet
“I’m asking you to go on an all-out, no-holds-barred, Zero Negativity Diet for one week,” Schwarzenegger wrote. “I want you to get a taste of what life can be when you don’t allow pessimism, cynicism, outrage, and all of those other mood-killers in.”
Schwarzenegger considers the negativity that we encounter so incessantly in modern society to be lethal, saying these mood-killers are “literally killing you.” He pointed to findings from research showing that cynicism may make you more prone to cardiovascular disease and that optimism can help you live longer.
So how can you follow Schwarzenegger’s “Zero Negativity Diet,” and, more importantly, how can it help your financial life?
Limit Social Media Usage
First on the list of toxins to avoid: social media — to a reasonable extent.
“I want you to pull way back on your social media scrolling. I won’t ask you to eliminate it,” Schwarzenegger wrote. “I want you to give yourselves a morning, afternoon, and evening block of 10 minutes each to check your social media feeds. Be strict with yourself. Cut it off after ten minutes. You can do this for 7 days. Trust me.”
Social media usage and consumer spending go hand in hand. Not only are we constantly engaging with ads for things or experiences to buy when on social media, but we may also find our judgment clouded. Per Hartford Funds, social media can contribute to money dysmorphia and may make us feel we have more to spend than we actually do (or the reverse). It may also make us feel like we’re financially behind our peers, giving us that edgy urge to play catch up, even if it means accruing credit card debt.
Be a Survivor, Not a Victim
Schwarzenegger acknowledged that we all have crummy days and sometimes we really have been dealt an objectively bad hand. The worst way to handle major crises or even minor setbacks is to wallow in a victim mentality. Instead, think like a survivor. Be confident that there’s a way to get through this. Take action.
“All I want you to do is to actively look for what you can do instead of passively being pi**ed off,” Schwarzenegger said. “Just switching from passive to active makes you more positive.”
A solution-focused attitude will help you with financial goals and challenges. For example, rather than surrendering to the high-interest credit card debt you amassed over the holidays, commit to eliminating the debt. If you want to retire soon but think there’s no way you can, book a free consultation with a retirement planner to hash out the details.
Don’t ever think of yourself as trapped or doomed. Think of yourself as successfully working your way out of a tough situation.
Practice Gratitude Daily
Schwarzenegger recommended doing daily gratitude “reps” to cancel out negativity.
“Even when it feels like there is nothing you can do, I want you to do one thing: write down one thing you are grateful for,” he wrote.
Wahei Takeda, a legendary Japanese investor who was sometimes called the “Warren Buffett of Japan,” swore by gratitude as key to wealth building, believing that you attract what you project and that abundance welcomes more abundance.
Now, Schwarzenegger’s 2026 crash diet for your brain may not solve your financial problems, but it certainly shouldn’t cause further damage, and worst-case scenario, you can wrap up your day feeling a little bit better than you did when you got out of bed.
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