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What makes a job stressful? -

There are a number of things that can make a job pretty stressful. These include factors like deadlines, competitiveness, and management style.

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High stakes -

A job that is physically and/or emotionally demanding can trigger higher levels of stress. This may include jobs where you deal with lives at risk, including your own. 

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Danger -

Other factors that may make a job stressful include exposure to hazardous work conditions and working in the public eye.

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Micromanagement -

Micromanagement is another common job stressor. If an employee feels like he/she is not trusted and does not have the autonomy to manage their workload, then this may translate into high levels of stress.

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Working conditions -

Workplace distractions, lack of communication and feedback, as well as low salaries and/or lack of opportunities for advancement, are among some of the most common stressors.

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Most stressful jobs -

Now, let’s take a look at some of the most stressful jobs.

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Most stressful: ER nurse -

Working in an emergency room is not for the faint-hearted. The job requires a lot of stress resistance because it is in itself a stressful job set in a stressful environment. Decisions must be made all the time, under pressure, and can have disastrous consequences if they’re the wrong ones.

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Most stressful: Anesthesiologist -

An anesthesiologist essentially puts patients in a controlled state of unconsciousness and brings them back to “life” when the procedure is finished. In a worst-case scenario, an anesthesiologist can deal with adverse reactions to the drugs administered for the purpose, which can lead to death.

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Most stressful: Mental health counselor -

The emotional availability required to be a mental health counselor can be really draining. Plus, they have to deal with sensitive situations, where their words can actually make things worse for patients in some cases.

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Most stressful: Emergency dispatcher -

Emergency dispatchers must make quick decisions that can literally have an impact on whether or not someone lives or dies. Their communication skills must also be well developed so they can speak calmly to people in very stressful situations.

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Most stressful: Newspaper reporter -

Forget about the glamorous image you may have of journalism. Newspaper reporters work long hours, must meet tight deadlines, are not very well paid, and sometimes put their lives at risk.

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Most stressful: Broadcaster -

Being under public scrutiny at such a high level constantly is not for everyone. Broadcasters also share news that can have a great impact on other people’s lives, increasing the pressure to deliver the messages in the right manner (not to mention its often live). 

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Most stressful: Social worker -

Social workers can deal with the darkest aspects of human nature. They are exposed to neglect, violence, and many other sad and outrageous situations. It’s easy to see how being a social worker can be stressful.

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Most stressful: Firefighter - Firefighters are emergency workers, and as such, are under a great deal of stress to perform their jobs as quickly and efficiently as possible. Add the risk to their own lives and the impact that their job may have on the lives of other people, and you have a recipe for high stress.

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Most stressful: Police officer -

Being a police officer is one of the most stressful jobs, for very obvious reasons. This is a high-risk job that doesn’t pay particularly well. Still, the stakes are always high for a police officer on duty.

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Most stressful: Military personnel -

No other job has the physical and psychological demand the military has. This is especially true when there is a conflict. They are put through grueling training to prepare themselves for the worst-case scenario. 

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Least stressful jobs -

Are you stressed yet? Now it's time to decompress. Check out our list of the least stressful jobs.

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Least stressful: Web developer -

Writing code and creating websites and apps often comes with deadlines. It turns out these don’t seem to have a big enough impact on occupational stress levels in web developers.

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Least stressful: Data entry specialist -

Sure it can be boring for some people, but (hopefully) no one is going to die if a small mistake is made. A data entry specialist can enjoy a peaceful day entering data while listening to music, for example.

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Least stressful: Medical records technician -

Not all healthcare jobs are stressful. Medical records technicians focus on the administrative tasks of maintaining patient records, rather than trying to save their lives.

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Least stressful: Occupational therapist -

These professionals find ways to facilitate the lives of people with illnesses or disabilities. The role involves dealing with people, but it remains one of the least stressful jobs available.

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Least stressful: Art director -

Being involved in the curation, creation, and supervision of visual aspects of a project often involves deadlines. Perhaps it’s the creative element that makes it a relatively stress-free job.

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Least stressful: Orthodontist -

Orthodontists are all about correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. Their job can’t really be rushed, and they are often well paid, making them a good option for those looking for a more relaxed dentistry specialty.

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Least stressful: Landscaper -

Landscaping is undoubtedly one of the most relaxing activities you can do. Being surrounded by nature really helps!

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Least stressful: Librarian -

If you love reading, then maybe working surrounded by books sounds rather appealing. A librarian does a lot more than just organizing shelves and archives, of course. But overall, it’s one of the least stressful jobs you can do.

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Least stressful: Hairstylist -

If being social all day is your thing, then becoming a hairstylist may be a great option. You’ll get to be creative, talk to clients, and definitely won’t be taking work home after your shift ends.

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Least stressful: Massage therapist -

Getting a massage can be very relaxing, so it makes sense that the person giving the massage is also relaxed, right? Sure, there is the physical element to it, which can leave you pretty tired by the end of the day, but not because you were too stressed out with work.

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How to manage stress at work? -

Stress is inevitable in any job, even in the less stressful ones. So, how do you cope? While the answer will largely depend on the cause of your stress, one thing that is always good to have is good time management.

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Time management -

Feeling like we don’t have time to perform our tasks can really make us feel stressed out. Good time management may help. And this includes setting boundaries and priorities. E.g. maybe you don’t always have to reply immediately to an email.

Sources: (Business News Daily) (American Psychological Association)

See also: Essential blue-collar jobs that keep society running

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