When you think about what causes you the most stress in life, your job will undoubtedly be one of the top five things on your list. In fact, for most people, it will take the number one spot. You spend eight hours a day at work which equates to most of your life, so even when you're not at work, it can be hard to turn off the work stress you experience. It's no wonder that people want low-stress jobs.
After all, overbearing managers, office politics, low pay, pointless emails, endless meetings, high targets, and long hours contribute to making the majority of jobs highly stressful and vastly unenjoyable.
However, since you can't avoid work altogether, usually the only thing you can hope to do is change your career path and head in the direction of finding low-stress jobs instead. And jobs that don't cause stress really do exist.
So, if you're struggling to summon the mental energy to get ready for work in the mornings or you feel like you're on your way to walking out the door because the stress has become too much to bear, then maybe we can help. In this article, we'll be sharing a list of some of the top low-stress jobs available that might change your life for the better.
10 Low-Stress Jobs For People Who Hate Work Drama
1. Curator
A curator's position can come with a lot of responsibilities but not a lot of stress. As a curator, you will catalog, organize, and manage artifacts and exhibits within a museum - bonus points if you love history and art.
This low-stress job may also involve taking on aspects such as restoring older pieces or even interviewing for new staff. While a job with high responsibilities sounds like it should come with an element of stress, it doesn't.
As a curator, you get to spend most of your time alone, leading a quiet life and having control over whatever you are doing. Combine this with a six-figure salary, and you'll see a great reason why you might want to consider this option for your future. Those with social anxiety might love the introverted aspect of being a curator, causing them to feel less stress than being in an environment with fewer people.
2. Freelance Photographer
One of the main aspects that can immediately lower the stress of any job is the flexibility of working for yourself. Once you become your own boss and don't have to deal with middle managers, micromanagers, or bad bosses, you realize how much more enjoyable working life can become.
Of course, working for yourself isn't always a walk in the park; you have to deal with financial matters on your own and take on a certain amount of risk, but once you have enough success to have what you need, then there's no going back to working for a company again. Not having to compete for promotions and pay raises keeps you off the corporate ladder, and that's what makes this one of the best low-stress jobs.
As a freelance photographer, you can have the freedom and control over your work, and every day will bring you new joy as you watch people get married, kids have birthdays, and other beautiful celebrations. You get to meet lots of great people and be part of extraordinary memories, all while getting paid.
There's also a lot of flexibility in your working hours. Most freelance photographers can set their hours when they're not actively at a gig. Having the freedom to work the hours you want helps make this a low-stress job.
3. Occupational Therapist
As an occupational therapist, you'll spend every day making a difference helping people impacted by their age, illness, or disability. You'll get to help them overcome their limitations and adapt to their life so they can be as independent as possible.
There is a sincere joy that comes from helping other people, and since these people want your help, they are grateful for you as well. This type of low-stress job, on average, pays somewhere between $80,000 and $90,000, and you'll get to come home every day knowing you're making a difference in so many people's lives.
Those who help people every day find more meaning and purpose in their lives which helps keep their morale high. While it can be hard to see other people struggling in the early stages, your support can help them improve, which can be a wonderful experience.
4. Dental Hygienist
Dentists indeed have one of the most stressful jobs in the world. With no shows, a general anxiety people feel from visiting one, and a higher likelihood of burnout, being a dentist can be a stressful job.
Despite working in the same environment as a dentist, being a dental hygienist is a low-stress job and one with good pay. Your job will involve educating people on how to clean their teeth properly, keep their teeth in good condition, what best practices people can use for their dental situation, and so on.
As the dental hygienist, you get the "fun" part of the job that doesn't involve patients shouting at you about the cost, panicking about pain, or getting mad if their dental work goes wrong.
Instead, you get to dish out helpful dental advice and watch each person walk out feeling better about their smile and oral care.
5. Genetic Counselor
People often seek out the help of genetic counselors when they are worried about a particular 'risk' gene or disease being passed down through the family.
Perhaps a couple would like to have children but worry about their children inheriting a specific gene that could make them ill in the future. Maybe a family has discovered a genetic and hereditary condition on one side of the family and wants to know the risk level for their kids in the future.
It's an exciting job with great pay, and due to such huge advancements in technology in this field, finding those all-important answers isn't too tricky. This low-stress job is another example of a position where your work gets to help people. Your demeanor can help ease people's stress levels by sharing statistics and odds that work in their favor if it seems unlikely to affect them.
As a doctor, you might be the reason why someone decides to start a family after all. You might also partner with experts who can help them find ways to have a genetically healthy family through fertility treatments.
6. Proofreader
Companies or individuals usually require proofreaders because they don't have enough time or want a fresh set of eyes. While you need to have excellent attention to detail and the patience to read and check every line of text, it certainly isn't a stressful job.
Proofreading is the kind of low-stress job you can do at your own pace sitting in a local cafe or even the bath. It's doesn't always come with a big salary just simply due to the simplicity of the job. Still, if you're happy to earn enough to live comfortably and wake up feeling refreshed rather than anxious, then this is a fantastic option for low-stress jobs.
The feedback you give others will improve their writing, which will help others succeed. As a proofreader, you're taking someone's thoughts, ideas, and words and enhancing them. Seeing the transformation of an unedited article or book transition to a well-read edited book can result in feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment.
7. Massage Therapist
Being a massage therapist isn't quite as relaxing as have a massage, but it's not far off. The kind of environment you work in will be serene and calm. You'll be working with relaxing music, lovely smells, candles, and pure comfort. It's not only the client that gets to enjoy these aspects; you'll be there as well.
Giving massages requires skills and knowledge to do it right and leave the client relaxed rather than in pain, but this is a skill anyone can acquire with the correct training.
The best part of this low-stress job is that you can rest assured every day at the end of work knowing that you left people off better than when they came in. You'll help people relax stiff muscles and calm the mind. You relax the mind and body of every client you massage. This improvement you bring to others can leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied at the end of the work day.
8. Technical Writer
Being a technical writer is a very straightforward, low-stress job. Unlike content writers or copywriters, a technical writer doesn't require any creativity or imagination, which is the most stressful and mentally exhausting part for other writers.
As a technical writer, you need to be methodical, straight to the point, and keep it simple. Being able to write in a field that you also enjoy is also a bonus. So long as you understand the intricacies and details of the product and subject you're writing about; your day should be a breeze compared to the 9-5 office life.
If you're a freelance technical writer, you can choose which projects you work on, giving you the flexibility to enjoy the work you do. Since technical writing requires less creativity than other writing jobs, you won't be in your head as you work. You can get into a flow state and enjoy the work you do.
9. Dietitian
Dietitians consistently have a high job satisfaction rating. This low-stress job allows you to work in a positive environment. It's all about helping people achieve their diet goals, become healthier, feel good about themselves, and be the best version of themselves they can be. And you get to be part of that.
Your job will improve people's lives, health, and futures. They may even love you for it. Food is such a big part of life, it can also be a negative aspect for many people or cripple people's lives, but you can help. People with body dysmorphia can improve their body image by learning how to nourish their bodies with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need to live a healthy lifestyle.
With a lot of knowledge and excellent communication skills, you can transform lives and go home every day knowing you made a difference. It can be rewarding to see that you helped teach people how to prepare a balanced meal so they can treat health conditions or even prevent them.
10. Bakery Worker
Despite there being a large number of low-stress jobs, some people still struggle because of the skills or degree these jobs need that they just don't have.
However, baking is one low-stress job that doesn't require anything more than a high school degree. Working in a bakery is steady, simple work. Being around the smell of freshly baked bread as you go about your day helps with the stress levels.
Handling simple machines, producing fresh goods that customers love, and seeing people's smiling faces as they walk off to work with their favorite breakfast is about as stress-free as it gets.
If you like the idea of working in a bakery but get stressed out at the thought of face-to-face interactions, then working in a bakery that only needs a bread maker is also an option.
Feeding people can be a rewarding experience. Seeing positive reviews about your baking can make you feel good. You also get to celebrate people's special occasions, such as weddings and birthdays, by baking a cake they remember for years to come.
Conclusion
The old adage of "find something you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life" doesn't have to be an impossible dream. Millions of people wake up for work every day and look forward to what the day brings, so why can't you? Working low-stress jobs doesn't have to be something that only happens to other people. Perhaps you'll have to shift your career path or even spend a couple of years beforehand learning a new skill to achieve this goal, but you'll no longer dread Monday mornings. And that's the greatest gift a low-stress job can offer.
