Work Stress
Jobs are often the main cause of stress and anxiety in workers, but that's not the case for everyone. The medical field has the highest stress levels, whereas the spa industry is rather low. Whether it's time to change career paths or prioritize your health, this list compares the most to the least stressful jobs there are today.
1. Emergency Dispatchers
It can often be a life or death situation as an emergency dispatcher. When you're the first person in charge of an emergency, it's ought to be stressful. You're receiving calls from distressed people in a panic, pleading for help in a dangerous situation. On top of that, you need to correspond with first responders and try to get as much information as you can from the victim on the phone.
2. Anesthesiologist
As an anesthesiologist, you're managing pain in patients about to undergo surgery. You're often in charge of prescribing the right amount of medication to people with severe health conditions or terminal illnesses. There's little room for mistakes as their life depends on you and you must go through intense training.
3. Social Worker
A social worker can be a very rewarding job but it can come at a cost. You're working daily with people who are in awful situations or they're relying on you for help with grief, anxiety, or trauma. You are constantly faced with intense emotions and negativity.
4. Firefighter
You witness intense loss as a firefighter. Houses burn down, forests blaze out of control, and lives are in great danger. You're often risking your life on the job and even when you're properly trained, you can't always beat the flames.
5. Lawyer
Spending long hours at court isn't very peaceful. As a lawyer, especially one dealing with tragedy or violence, you're under a lot of pressure to win cases and you're dealing with clients in difficult situations. You're often working overtime swimming in paperwork.
6. Surgeon
You must be highly skilled and focused to be a surgeon and you're often responsible for someone's life. The years of studying means you live at school for a very long time before you enter the field. There's no slacking off at the job when life is in your hands.
7. Registered Nurse
Nurses working in ER or war zones are under constant stress, dealing first-hand with injured and sick patients. You're often the punching bag and the one who has to do the messy work for the doctor. Every day you're witnessing suffering and you have to stay strong.
8. Politician
When all eyes are on you, there's nowhere to hide, you're in the public eye forever. It doesn't matter how "clean" you are, people will find something against you. You can't please everyone and you have to be able to handle people hating you and saying horrible things about you.
9. Live News Editors
It can be incredibly stressful when something goes wrong on live television and you're the one to blame. Even if it's completely out of your control, your stress levels will skyrocket. You need to be alert, detailed, and quick to show the news to the world without making a mistake.
10. War Correspondent
A war correspondent or journalist is usually in the heart of the combat zone and are risking their life for the job. People are relying on them to report stories that are typically tragic or frightening. Even when you're not working you have to watch your back for powerful people you may have angered.
Let's change the pace. If you want to de-stress, read on to learn more about the relaxing jobs out there:
1. Librarian
Unless telling people to "Shh" stresses you out, a librarian has a very cushy job. You can talk to people about books as you stock the shelves and you can read novels on your breaks. There's no life or death situation other than in the tragic tales you read about.
2. Massage Therapist
As a massage therapist, your office is typically a peaceful room full of soothing smells and calming music. Your job is to make people feel good and relaxed without much talking. It's a quiet environment that involves a lot of mindfulness.
3. Museum Curator
As a museum curator, there usually isn't much stress involved. When you're good at your job, you won't have many people giving you negative feedback. You get to arrange galleries and exhibitions behind the scenes before it's open to the public.
4. Travel Agent
As a travel agent, your clients are typically excited people who can't wait to go on vacation. Your job is to take various budgets and plan trips around the world. You're mastering travel at your desk and can use your expertise to your advantage when it's your turn to take time off.
5. Personal Trainer
Personal trainers are generally fit and healthy which is the foundation to a happy life. The job requires working with clients who want a healthier lifestyle and you get to help them succeed. Watching people hit their goals and change their lives is a very rewarding feeling.
6. Hair Stylist
There's not much stress as a hairstylist unless you dye someone's hair the wrong color. You're working in a creative industry and beautifying your clients. If you like to socialize, working at a salon might be your happy place.
7. Nutritionist
A nutritionist lives a healthy lifestyle and teaches their clients to do the same. Many nutritionists choose to work for themselves and set their own schedules. The job often requires you to help people who are ill but doesn't cause much anxiety.
8. Jeweler
When you master a craft like jewelry, it can be a creative career with a ton of reward. You're making people beautiful treasures and handling gorgeous materials. You spend a lot of time alone or with fellow artists so you can make your work space how you want it.
9. Gardener
Nature is therapeutic for most people and a job as a gardener means you're spending most of your time with plants. You're pleasantly forced to be mindful as you work away in the dirt. The job might get tiring but there's very little stress involved tending to a garden.
10. Statistician
If you're a mathematician who thrives alone in a peaceful atmosphere, a statistician job might be for you. Statisticians work closely with numbers and patterns to make informed decisions. You don't have to deal with angry people, just a lot of data and problem-solving challenges.
