Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Stress is inevitable. Every life situation — whether at work, school or on the subway — involves some type and level of stress. And it’s not always a bad thing. In fact, certain kinds of stress can have positive effects on our well-being — but only in the right doses, according to experts. As the trade journal Psychology Today explains, “A little bit of stress, known as ‘acute stress,’ can be exciting—it keeps us active and alert.”

When stress reaches an unmanageable level, however — that is, when it turns “chronic” — we become vulnerable to the damaging consequences of stress, such as health problems and loss of productivity. In the U.S., stress affects more than 100 million Americans, or nearly a third of the population, for whom the leading source of stress continues to be money, followed by work, family and relationships. By one estimate, workplace-related stress alone costs our society more than $300 billion per year.

But there’s good news: Stress is generally trending downward in the U.S., with average levels decreasing since 2007, according to the American Psychological Association. To identify the cities where Americans cope with their stress better than others, WalletHub’s analysts compared 150 cities across 27 key metrics. Our data set ranges from average work hours to debt load to divorce and suicide rates. Continue reading below for our findings, expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/22759/geochart.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2n3ufdW;  

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	‘Work-Related Stress’ Rank	‘Money-Related Stress’ Rank	‘Family-Related Stress’ Rank	‘Health- & Safety-Related Stress’ Rank	‘Coping with Stress’ Rank
1	Detroit, MI	68.27	10	14	1	7	2
2	Mobile, AL	61.68	4	37	18	1	17
3	Birmingham, AL	61.42	18	2	6	2	83
4	Memphis, TN	60.43	36	15	5	6	50
5	Cleveland, OH	60.15	57	19	2	24	23
6	Shreveport, LA	59.77	3	56	14	15	13
7	Columbus, GA	58.32	1	34	26	39	53
8	New Orleans, LA	57.70	23	18	20	35	14
9	Newark, NJ	57.46	6	3	3	127	37
10	Montgomery, AL	57.21	11	17	29	19	40
11	Augusta, GA	56.62	16	30	21	36	27
12	Louisville, KY	56.16	30	101	33	8	6
13	Baton Rouge, LA	55.47	121	39	11	38	5
14	Toledo, OH	55.41	126	77	7	26	7
15	St. Louis, MO	54.62	129	50	15	17	11
16	Cincinnati, OH	54.42	114	33	12	28	25
17	Baltimore, MD	54.06	13	44	8	92	55
18	Norfolk, VA	53.45	17	24	27	82	30
19	Philadelphia, PA	53.28	45	48	24	50	24
20	Miami, FL	53.22	42	16	40	34	47
21	Indianapolis, IN	52.88	130	64	22	14	22
22	Fayetteville, NC	52.74	2	99	28	70	57
23	Akron, OH	52.51	115	68	13	16	58
24	Knoxville, TN	52.38	127	12	35	4	73
25	Jackson, MS	52.32	144	36	4	27	86
26	Nashville, TN	51.98	109	20	68	18	16
27	Lexington-Fayette, KY	51.84	44	80	61	32	15
28	Chattanooga, TN	51.52	94	72	44	3	84
29	Orlando, FL	50.96	106	51	37	29	38
30	Milwaukee, WI	50.81	74	31	23	73	43
31	Atlanta, GA	50.80	46	4	47	59	70
32	North Las Vegas, NV	50.64	83	42	57	48	12
33	Chicago, IL	50.57	15	23	59	90	41
34	Tampa, FL	50.52	67	86	30	58	21
35	Las Vegas, NV	50.43	110	49	45	44	20
36	Hialeah, FL	50.36	70	25	62	43	35
37	Providence, RI	50.34	118	8	17	55	94
38	Bakersfield, CA	50.07	5	95	53	101	8
39	San Bernardino, CA	49.82	72	21	19	76	97
40	Tulsa, OK	49.51	134	128	38	9	29
41	Tucson, AZ	49.45	92	54	41	23	74
42	St. Petersburg, FL	49.44	101	117	32	25	49
43	Fort Wayne, IN	49.31	141	111	49	41	4
44	Fresno, CA	48.92	31	11	42	110	101
45	Buffalo, NY	48.60	79	129	10	79	52
46	Huntsville, AL	48.35	50	63	96	10	112
47	Newport News, VA	48.26	24	71	34	95	81
48	Long Beach, CA	48.16	7	7	84	94	104
49	Fort Lauderdale, FL	48.15	37	35	79	45	90
50	Tacoma, WA	48.01	47	85	50	22	124
51	Little Rock, AR	47.95	139	113	48	5	77
52	Rochester, NY	47.75	80	75	9	97	118
53	Jacksonville, FL	47.57	81	61	63	56	48
54	Columbus, OH	47.50	119	102	36	46	44
55	Laredo, TX	47.18	84	79	67	77	1
56	Oklahoma City, OK	47.16	132	139	66	12	26
57	Los Angeles, CA	47.08	8	6	109	86	114
58	El Paso, TX	46.92	53	130	90	72	3
59	Winston-Salem, NC	46.92	122	109	70	33	28
60	Glendale, AZ	46.72	103	57	74	37	66
61	Stockton, CA	46.65	69	10	46	98	105
62	Moreno Valley, CA	46.46	51	28	39	99	117
63	New York, NY	46.41	27	47	56	124	87
64	Kansas City, MO	46.37	142	93	51	31	56
65	Albuquerque, NM	46.29	56	89	52	13	140
66	Reno, NV	46.26	140	26	72	51	63
67	Modesto, CA	46.18	33	81	43	103	121
68	Houston, TX	46.17	21	120	92	66	51
69	Worcester, MA	46.06	87	88	16	109	109
70	Richmond, VA	45.66	128	66	25	116	64
71	Phoenix, AZ	45.64	104	59	77	40	88
72	Jersey City, NJ	45.18	19	73	65	136	80
73	Henderson, NV	45.14	93	82	86	80	34
74	Fort Worth, TX	45.13	34	140	88	105	18
75	Springfield, MO	44.86	150	55	31	11	149
76	Pittsburgh, PA	44.82	86	141	80	62	19
77	Greensboro, NC	44.69	125	112	58	69	36
78	Arlington, TX	44.61	43	132	103	119	9
79	Brownsville, TX	44.61	35	96	54	102	89
80	Ontario, CA	44.39	90	40	55	104	97
81	Wichita, KS	44.36	49	126	76	67	68
82	Tallahassee, FL	44.31	105	9	98	81	95
83	Oakland, CA	44.30	54	5	104	52	137
84	Portland, OR	43.97	133	38	106	20	126
85	Santa Ana, CA	43.90	65	1	107	108	123
86	Fontana, CA	43.77	48	65	75	107	97
87	Virginia Beach, VA	43.76	14	127	85	115	76
88	Riverside, CA	43.75	85	43	82	106	82
89	Chesapeake, VA	43.69	25	100	78	113	93
90	Oxnard, CA	43.64	26	45	123	65	128
91	Dallas, TX	43.53	88	98	69	93	65
92	Aurora, CO	43.26	55	87	94	74	96
93	Aurora, IL	43.20	32	74	110	123	67
94	Spokane, WA	43.19	123	107	89	30	106
95	Corpus Christi, TX	42.98	22	147	81	122	10
96	Vancouver, WA	42.95	76	103	71	47	134
97	San Antonio, TX	42.80	82	131	97	91	33
98	Mesa, AZ	42.78	120	91	112	53	60
99	Yonkers, NY	42.77	38	105	64	126	108
100	Boston, MA	42.58	63	52	73	129	102
101	Charlotte, NC	42.34	111	121	95	54	72
102	Pembroke Pines, FL	42.19	41	104	122	83	90
103	Seattle, WA	41.94	60	78	124	61	116
104	Denver, CO	41.90	71	84	114	96	79
105	Glendale, CA	41.60	20	13	141	114	129
106	Anaheim, CA	41.44	39	22	120	130	127
107	Washington, DC	41.27	28	110	83	134	122
108	Amarillo, TX	41.19	29	146	105	60	78
109	Des Moines, IA	41.12	77	142	87	112	46
110	Tempe, AZ	40.98	146	68	93	49	103
111	Sacramento, CA	40.93	100	67	60	117	133
112	Santa Clarita, CA	40.88	9	57	132	133	129
113	Durham, NC	40.76	102	119	111	71	92
114	Garland, TX	40.55	91	137	99	111	54
115	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	40.39	78	60	100	139	97
116	Omaha, NE	40.37	113	135	91	131	32
117	Salt Lake City, UT	40.24	145	32	116	21	146
118	Irving, TX	40.18	95	133	115	121	42
119	Grand Rapids, MI	39.17	149	83	102	63	69
120	Grand Prairie, TX	39.04	59	145	101	125	75
121	Chandler, AZ	39.03	112	138	128	75	62
122	Anchorage, AK	38.95	12	123	146	88	120
123	Lubbock, TX	38.94	135	134	108	89	31
124	Garden Grove, CA	38.75	52	27	119	141	143
125	Scottsdale, AZ	38.37	97	124	138	57	110
126	Port St. Lucie, FL	38.35	62	106	130	64	148
127	Chula Vista, CA	37.94	64	46	135	137	132
128	Peoria, AZ	37.90	89	136	125	68	125
129	Gilbert, AZ	37.83	98	144	140	87	59
130	Cape Coral, FL	37.63	138	122	134	42	71
131	Raleigh, NC	37.37	143	115	121	85	111
132	Lincoln, NE	37.11	116	143	133	143	39
133	Santa Rosa, CA	37.11	137	41	118	100	150
134	Oceanside, CA	36.67	58	29	142	128	145
135	Colorado Springs, CO	36.63	99	94	137	78	139
136	Boise, ID	36.51	148	118	113	84	113
137	Huntington Beach, CA	36.19	40	70	136	147	143
138	Austin, TX	36.10	117	125	131	120	107
139	Minneapolis, MN	35.85	124	108	126	140	115
140	St. Paul, MN	35.78	131	114	117	142	119
141	San Diego, CA	35.19	96	53	139	135	141
142	Sioux Falls, SD	33.95	136	148	143	145	45
143	Overland Park, KS	33.85	108	149	129	138	85
144	Plano, TX	33.72	75	150	144	146	61
145	San Francisco, CA	33.31	66	97	145	144	142
146	San Jose, CA	33.03	107	62	147	148	131
147	Madison, WI	32.70	147	92	127	118	138
148	Honolulu, HI	32.11	73	76	148	150	135
149	Irvine, CA	31.94	68	90	149	149	136
150	Fremont, CA	30.66	61	116	150	132	147

 

Ask the Experts

Stress can be detrimental to various aspects of our lives: our jobs, finances, relationships. To help Americans find effective ways to manage their stress, we turned to a panel of health experts for advice. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. How can employers reduce work-related stress?
2. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful?
3. What tips do you have for a person who wishes to find relaxation on a budget?
4. What activities should families engage in together to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members?

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• Amanda E. Barnett Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Human Development & Family Studies Department at University of Wisconsin-Stout, College of Education, Hospitality, Health, and Human Sciences
• Ann Sanders Woodyard Assistant Professor in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics at University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
• Nisha Nair Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Katz Graduate School of Business at University of Pittsburgh
• Claire Kimberly Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at University of Southern Mississippi
• Joshua S. Meredith Assistant Dean for Masters of Professional Studies in Technology Management and Adjunct Lecturer in Human Resource Management at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
• Jeffery LePine Professor of Management in the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University
• Shaun Pichler Associate Professor of Management in the Mihaylo College of Business & Economics at California State University, Fullerton
• Jill Bradley-Geist Assistant Professor of Management in the College of Business at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
• Bruce L. Rubin Associate Professor of Finance in the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University
• Patty Dahm Assistant Professor of Management & HR in the Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University
• Jeffrey J. Bailey Professor of Management and HR in the College of Business and Economics at University of Idaho
• Maggie W. Dunn Professor of Leadership and Human Resource Management in the Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University, and Executive Coach at HR Leadership Solutions

Amanda E. Barnett Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Human Development & Family Studies Department at University of Wisconsin-Stout, College of Education, Hospitality, Health, and Human Sciences How can employers reduce work related stress? Employers can reduce work-related stress for their employees by having family-friendly policies. While work alone can be stressful, it is often the balance of professional and personal lives that causes the most stress. Think about managing care for dependent children or aging parents while working full-time. Negative experiences at work can impact our personal lives while negative experiences in our personal lives can impact our work lives. The same can be said for positive experiences. Flexible work times or the ability to work from home on a weekly or monthly basis can help individuals better meet their work and family responsibilities. In contrast, inflexible work schedules can result in employees being worried about home at work and work at home. Research shows us that flexible schedules allow employees to be more productive and less stressed, especially for employees who are caring for dependent children or aging parents. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? It can be helpful to start by creating a simple budget. Create one list of all your monthly costs followed by a second list of your monthly income sources. Compare the two lists. If your costs exceed your income, reduce costs where you can. Determine which items are needed to survive and which costs are wants or “extras.” Eliminate the wants until your income changes. For families on a limited budget, check on community resources in your area that may be able to assist with various costs ranging from utility bills to food pantries to discount clothing stores. If your income exceeds your costs, then make plans for your savings and/or investments. Another step that is helpful is to make a list of your overall financial goals and values. Compare your financial goals and values to your spending habits. Are they consistent or inconsistent? If inconsistent, your financial goals, spending habits, or income sources, may need to change. If you have children, consider ways to help them learn how to manage their finances. Children who learn this from an early age may find managing finances less stressful when they are older. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? Effective communication is key to helping families reduce stress and alleviate tensions. Here is a brief list of ways to practice effective communication:

• Truly listen: Don’t be thinking about that you are going to say next, but rather relax and simply listen to what your family member has to say.
• Put one’s self in another’s shoes: This is called empathy, seeing the world from your family member’s perspective, not your own worldview.
• Compromise: Be willing to meet in the middle and let go.
• Schedule a time to meet and discuss family issues at a time that works well for everyone. For example, don’t have a serious discussion when family members are hungry or tired.
• Use I-statements: Focus on how things make you feel, “When you do this, I feel hurt.” This puts the focus on you as a person and removes blame.
• If things get heated, pause and take a break. Plan another time to meet later that day or week when everyone has had time to cool down and reflect.

Family rituals can also help to alleviate stress. Rituals can be more or less time-consuming. For example, camping, bowling, cooking, reading, listening to music, playing games, road trips, or simple morning and evening routines can help families build solidarity, which can act as a buffer during the harder, more stressful times. Ann Sanders Woodyard Assistant Professor in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics at University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences How can employers reduce work related stress? Some jobs are just naturally stress-filled, like working in an emergency room or being an air-traffic controller. Understanding stress is key to dealing with it. Once the employer knows that the employee is stressed then they should work together to improve the situation. For example, an employee may feel that they have high demands placed on them but very little control over their situation. Giving an employee in this position some decision-making capability regarding their daily activities can create empowerment and reduce stress. Workplace communication is also critical when dealing with stress. If employees are stressed but feel that they have no place to turn, then the stress feeds on itself and multiplies, and possibly spreads to other employees. If workers do not feel that they can safely communicate with their bosses, it is helpful to have a human resources professional to speak with or some sort of ombudsman so that employees can work with someone to improve their situation. Outside factors may also contribute to work related stress. Employees have other things in their lives besides work – families, friends, physical activities, interests – and having time to engage in non-work activities is important to leading a balanced life. Especially in our techno-centric world it is important for people to be able to “unplug” and enjoy life. If a parent is unable to support a child by attending soccer games or if mealtimes are interrupted by calls from work, employees do not have space to live their lives. People need time to disengage with the workplace and engage with their personal environments. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Getting one’s finances in order isn’t something that can be accomplished in one evening and one or two easy steps. It is complex, but not overly so, and it is very personal. People fear making that one bad decision that will financially disable them for the rest of their lives when the reality is that everyone makes mistakes but when we learn from them, things can only get better. Finding a class or support group can be very beneficial. It lets the person know that they are not alone and that other people are making the same kinds of decisions all the time. It may also create a methodology for taking one step at a time and working from there. Start by looking at past spending patterns and creating a personal balance sheet. What do you own and what do you owe? These basic financial statements are so important in determining financial position and providing a map to financial independence. Talking with a personal financial planner may be helpful for many. This might be a higher-cost solution but there are an increasing number of planners who will work for $100-$120 per hour to put a financial plan into place. This helps the consumer by accessing expertise that they might not have otherwise. Check the website of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors to find a fee-only financial planner who works on an hourly basis. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? If you mean having a budget and then relaxing, then there are a couple of ways to go. First, make the budgeting activity part of your routine. Initially setting up a budget takes some concentrated effort but following up can be much simpler. Pick a day of the month, usually close to the beginning of the month so you can incorporate what happened last month, and check all of your income and expenses and compare the actual amount to the budget. Congratulate yourself on what you did well and educate yourself on what needs to improve. Then go to the kitchen and fix yourself a dish of ice cream or pour a glass of wine. Keep it simple and stress free and then reward yourself for your effort. Nisha Nair Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Katz Graduate School of Business at University of Pittsburgh How can employers reduce work related stress? Stress that emerges from some kind of disconnect with work (lack of engagement, work alienation and manifested cynicism and burnout, etc.) requires attention on multiple fronts. My research on work alienation suggests that employees who feel alienated do so because of various factors, chief among them being the lack of meaning and ability to express self in work, poor quality work relationships, lack of creativity and challenge in their work, and perceptions of inequity. Employers who want to avoid dysfunctional work behaviors connected to stress and alienation should focus on designing work that is meaningful (however small or large; sometimes it is the inability to see the end-to-end connection of what an employee does as part of his/her work and its end result or organizational and societal outcomes that creates the lack of meaning which results in disconnect), providing for opportunities that challenge and engage the creative potential of every employee, and ensuring that organizational systems and processes are deemed fair by all employees. It is worthwhile to remember that employees are not just concerned about rewards and outcomes such as pay, but equally, if not more, about organizational processes and systems that determine pay and other such outcomes that are deemed important for the self. The human mind can rationalize less than satisfactory rewards if the overall processes that determine such organizational outcomes are perceived as fair. Another important stress buster and contributor to neutralizing any potential negative experience of work, is the nature and quality of work relationships, including those with peers, bosses and other colleagues at work. The importance of investing in nurturing and sustaining high quality work relationships cannot be underscored enough for the employer. The comraderies and satisfaction derived from relationships cultivated at work can go a long way to boost employee morale and keep at bay feelings of disenchantment and subsequent stress. Claire Kimberly Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at University of Southern Mississippi How can employers reduce work related stress? Pressures occurring at home can easily influence work-related stress. Research has shown that businesses that give increased vacation time for employees to spend with their family (especially during significant life changes like a death of a family member) significantly reduce their stress and — in many cases — increases overall productivity. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Recognizing your tendencies to spend/save money is the first step to reducing the stressors of managing finances. Usually impacted by the way we have been raised, how one spends their money can be a very personal subject that is difficult to share with spouses or financial advisors. Recognizing that one’s tendencies to overspend or oversave may not be the best tactic for long-term planning, would help reduce the challenges that arise later. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? Relaxing on a budget is almost like cheating on a diet; it is fine as long as you do not do it too often and does not cause any long-term damage. Ideally, though, you would make a section of your budget that allows for treats such as taking a vacation or going out to eat. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? Activities that involve any form of exercise are particularly successful in relieving stress due to the natural endorphins our bodies’ produce. If tensions are high within the family, I would also recommend looking for activities that involve mutual goals such as cheering for the same sports’ team or volunteering at a homeless shelter. The experience of working together is something that can be transferred into the home. Joshua S. Meredith Assistant Dean for Masters of Professional Studies in Technology Management and Adjunct Lecturer in Human Resource Management at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies How can employers reduce work related stress? A growing trend is allowing employees to take some quiet time for themselves. This can often manifest itself through mindfulness and meditation exercises. Allowing people to center themselves during the day can be helpful in finding perspective. Additionally, allowing flex days, where employees get an extra day off per month or allowing work-from home, which can allow employees time to de-stress. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Be organized! I personally use a live spreadsheet which I edit every other day with expenses. This allows you to keep a closer eye on your money. Knowledge often can help a person with stressful situations and allow for greater planning. Ignoring the problem will only lead to greater stress. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? People rant about the staycation but often if you explore your existing neighborhood you can find great relaxing activities. Starting new hobbies is also a great way to challenge yourself while relaxing. If the staycation doesn’t work, Airbnb can be a great way to spend a few days in a new place for cheaper than the traditional hotel. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? I have always been a fan of setting a time for everyone to air grievances for a defined period of time, and once the time is over, everyone lets the stress go and lets the grievance go. It leads to less resentment among family members and sets very clear parameters. Jeffery LePine Professor of Management in the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University How can employers reduce work related stress? The first step is acknowledging that stress is an issue. Employees can become acclimated to stressful demands and feeling drained, and rather than just ignoring it and thinking that “it’s just the way things are” it may help if they acknowledge how they feel and to understand that they may be able to change things for the better. And positive change also requires an active problem solving approach to things. How is this done? Come up with a strategy: maybe by writing down what’s causing the stress. Maybe it’s taking on too much responsibility — saying yes too often. Or maybe it’s distractions that create time pressure. Maybe it’s conflicting demands from a boss and the customer. Once you have a strategy, the key is to try to take actions that will change the situation. So rather than just ignoring the issues or trying to escape them, learn how to say no when a boss or colleague asks you to take on more… close your office door or make yourself unavailable during times of the day when you know you’re most productive… pointing out role conflicts to your boss. Of course, employees can’t manage all demands themselves, and when this happens, they can ask for help and support. Negative life events, financial uncertainties, work-family conflict… some of these things might require additional resources or accommodations from either the work side or the family side. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? The key is to cope in a very problem focused way… think of it like a challenging problem that needs to be solved to reach a desirable goal… think of the benefits of getting finances straighten out. Set financial goals related to these benefits and then strategize and take action to realize the strategy. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? Staycations are great. Look for fun things to do nearby and then actively separate yourself from the office and the normal routine. Shaun Pichler Associate Professor of Management in the Mihaylo College of Business & Economics at California State University, Fullerton How can employers reduce work related stress? A key way for employers to reduce stress is to help employees reduce their work-family conflict. My research and that of my colleagues consistently indicates that although formal policies and programs, such as flexible work arrangements, are important, they are not enough. Work-family policies do little in the way of work-family conflict and stress in organizations with managers who stymie employee requests to use these policies. The best evidence we have to do indicates that what's really important is that mangers are trained to demonstrate support, i.e., genuine care and concern for employee well-being, and support for employees' efforts to balance their work and family lives. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Most people have problems managing their money and find managing finances to be stressful -- and one quick way to reduce stress is to remember this fact. Another important way for individuals to manage finances, and the stress that comes with personal money management, is to set realistic goals that are specific and timely. It is important to re-evaluate one's goals across time, both in terms of whether or not they are in-line with one's ambitions, but also in terms of how realistic they are, given one's assets and investments. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? When we think of relaxation, what often comes to mind is an exotic vacation destination with white sandy beaches. In the United States, many workers have little paid time off, and many of those that do, don't take vacation time. It's important that we take time off when possible to recharge. But relaxation generally has little to do with money. Key ways to relax and to reduce stress include personal practices and habits, such as meditation, mindfulness and exercise -- all of which cost very little in the way of money or opportunity cost. Relaxation is more about the individual than it is about his or her money. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? For families to come together and reduce stress associated with a busy modern life, families don't need to even go outside of their homes. In fact, the evidence we have to date suggests that when families do the simple things, such as eating meals together, listening to each other and providing each other with support, families tend to eat better and have healthier lifestyles, children tend to perform better in school, and family members have higher quality relationships with each other. It might sound traditional, but really it's about families establishing what we call routines and rituals -- these are shown to improve family functioning and to reduce stress for family members. Jill Bradley-Geist Assistant Professor of Management in the College of Business at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs How can employers reduce work related stress? One obvious way employers can reduce stress is to remove big stressors from the work environment, a prime example being abusive supervisors. Beyond that, employers should actively work to foster a supportive, positive, and fair workplace climate; research consistently demonstrates the benefits of social support from coworkers and supervisors in terms of buffering employees from stress and strains. When possible, offering employees some flexibility in scheduling and work arrangements could alleviate stress, particularly in situations where employees are dealing with bad commutes. Numerous studies have found bad commutes and other “daily hassles” to be linked with stress; while employers tend to expect major life events (e.g., layoffs, divorce, serious illness) to impact employee stress, they might underestimate the negative impact of these daily hassles as they accumulate in workers’ lives. In some cases, employers may opt to offer their employees more targeted stress-reduction interventions; a 2008 article published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology reviewed 55 such interventions and found an overall positive effect, with cognitive-behavioral interventions tending to yield the biggest benefit. Cognitive-behavioral interventions focus on training people to recognize and address their own negative and sometimes irrational thoughts (e.g., “I’ll die if I don’t get this promotion!” or “I’m the dumbest person ever!”). These types of thoughts can create spirals of negative behaviors and more negative thoughts, so cognitive-behavioral interventions are designed to help people learn to identify and interrupt these negative thoughts and behaviors and to replace them with more positive alternatives. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Work to develop “S.M.A.R.T.” goals when it comes to your finances. Research consistently shows that vague goals such as “save more money” or “make better financial decisions” are less motivating and less effective than are “SMART” goals which are Specific, Measurable, Attainable (but still challenging), Relevant (i.e., important to the person setting the goal) and Time-Oriented. An example of transforming the vague “save more money” goal into a SMART goal would be “pay down $75 of credit card debt and put $25 into an emergency savings fund each paycheck.” When people are able to track their progress and successes on their SMART goals, they feel motivated and capable of continuing on their path towards their bigger financial agenda and overall financial well-being. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? Remember that you don’t have to spend big to relax and enjoy yourself. Here are a few research-supported tips on ways to maximize the happiness you get from your time and money. The first tip is to buy experiences, not stuff; for example, you get the most “bang-for-your-buck” with things like concert tickets, a trip to the museum, or a weekend ski trip as compared to material purchases like an expensive sofa or designer jeans. Second, research shows that for a given amount of money, people tend to be happier with smaller, more frequent pleasure-spending than a single, large purchase. For example, all things equal, a weekly $25 pedicure should have more benefit on someone’s well-being as compared to a $200 every-other-month spa day. Third, there are several research-supported “well-being freebies” such as exercising, being in the great outdoors, and volunteering or helping other people. Beyond costing little to no money, none of these things requires a major time investment. For example, people can experience improved well-being from activities like an after-dinner walk through the park, helping an elderly neighbor with errands, or watching a sunset from the backyard patio. Bruce L. Rubin Associate Professor of Finance in the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University How can employers reduce work related stress?

1. By allowing employees to make suggestions regarding processes and change in a non-judgmental environment. Before making a decision, ask what they think. 
2. Being flexible regarding workplace and environment. The workplace is changing; the future workplace is going to be very different from that in which I grew up.
3. An interesting phenom is the use of contract employees for specific tasks.

What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful?

1. A good motto is "Want Less". This goes back to identifying basic needs and realizing we don't need the latest version of a smart phone or the latest fashion item. Prioritize possible purchases. Learn to postpone gratification.
2. Richard Thaler, the behavioral economist, has a program in which employees select an initial saving/retirement amount. After there that as raises are awarded employees, a portion of each raise is added to the savings/retirement savings each pay period.

What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? Include the entire adult family unit in the budget discussion. Identify cash in and a menu of cash out items in priority order. Kids can be included in parts of the conversation, which, depends on their ages. You don't want to traumatize them. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? Have everyone share thoughts about how to spend the budgeted amount. Participation hopefully leads to buy-in. Patty Dahm Assistant Professor of Management & HR in the Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University How can employers reduce work related stress? Recognize that employees have other important identities outside of work. Many employees have family responsibilities. Respect boundaries between work and home. Give employees the chance to build positive family experiences and fulfill their other important life identities. The positive energy and experiences employees build outside of work will help make work less stressful and more productive. Break projects into smaller tasks. Celebrate success along the way. People are happier when they feel like they are making progress. Allow employees some autonomy at work. Let them decide how, when, or where works get done. Having some control over work helps eliminate stress. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Not managing finances will likely be more stressful in the long run. Budgeting and tracking spending gives people a sense of control. Being in control should reduce stress. Being more thoughtful about finances can allow people to better align their spending with their goals and values, build positive experiences, and ultimately reduce stress. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? It shouldn’t take a lot of money to relax. Socializing with close friends and family doesn’t cost anything. Neither does enjoying nature. In your time off, focus on building positive moods and energy that will help carry you through work. Rather than focusing on not working and relaxing, focus on creating meaningful experiences like socializing with close friends or family. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? Busy people can create family rituals that help family members anticipate and remember shared experiences with an anticipated frequency. Family rituals can be as simple as Friday night pizza night. It doesn’t matter as much what you do, but that you schedule it and follow through the same way you would with a business appointment. Jeffrey J. Bailey Professor of Management and HR in the College of Business and Economics at University of Idaho How can employers reduce work related stress? Employers can be very clear about what goals and outcomes are expected and by when and at what level of quality, etc. Much stress for employees comes from the lack of clear goals and clear purpose. Employers can figure out how to reduce the fear that many employees have related to job continuity. Employers can recognize that employees are “people first” and everything else second. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Understand very well where you are in your financial condition. Don’t think about finances all the time. Don’t spend any money during Monday through Thursday and also don’t even think about money during those days. If possible, set up for your bank to push payments to the recurring bills you have so you don’t have to think about them too much. Most of financial stress comes from trying to make ends meet financially – so try to not get into a position where you have too much to pay for. Don’t become house poor (don’t over indulge in a big house – which in addition to a big mortgage will typically have larger expense for all sort of other things – painting, cleaning, insuring, taxes, all types of maintenance, etc.). Don’t worry at all about what other people appear to have – it is not a comparison game or contest. Take out cash and use that as spending money and don’t go over budget (which is easier to do with debit cards). Other tips: Early in adulthood, leverage your earning capacity by getting a good education in a field that has good job prospects. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? It is easy to relax on a budget. Identify as many things as possible that you enjoy doing. Most of those will probably be very little money required. Example: throwing and catching an Aerobie Superdisc on a warm day with someone you like. Continue to make your list as you consciously consider what activities you enjoy. Be specific on these activities (describe them well). Usually they involve certain environmental conditions – such as throwing the disc while in a big park, on a beach, at rest areas during long drives, etc. Even the goal-oriented effort of making this list can be enjoyable. Many of the relaxing fun activities do not have to be expensive. If you have a bicycle, and you enjoy riding it around the neighborhood in the evenings, then make note of that and do it more often. Also, make note of the activities you do that really turn out to be not relaxing and that actually cost a lot of money – then stop doing those things, at least not as a way to “relax on a budget.” Many traditional vacations are expensive and not relaxing. However, traveling can be done on a budget and can be relaxing – it is just that it often is not for many families for a variety of reasons. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? Parents should be very thoughtful about what activities each of their children and that they themselves enjoy. Make and continue to add to the list. Have K-12 aged children make a list of 100 things they like to do. It is a great little challenge (could involve some incentives from parents) and it gets kids thinking about what they like to do. Then figure out how to get a lot of those things into the daily lives of your family members. Together activities require activities that allow for varying skill levels. Certainly something like going to a good viewing spot to watch an amazing sunset can be done by a family (depending on the age of children, of course). Remember that the activities that are relaxing and fun and also don’t cost much are not the activities advertised on TV or other advertisements. Families have to take responsibility for identifying these fun and relaxing activities and work at getting them into their days. Creating “family traditions” of fun things to do can be helpful. Humor that the family members have amongst themselves seems to be a wonderful way to connect and alleviate tensions among family members. Memories of good times and planning for future good times is another method. Maggie W. Dunn Professor of Leadership and Human Resource Management in the Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University, and Executive Coach at HR Leadership Solutions How can employers reduce work related stress? Two important steps for employers who are committed to reducing work related stress are to invest in developing effective leaders and to provide workplace flexibility. Well-designed leadership development programs help leaders better understand their own impact on others, acknowledge and show appreciation for other’s needs and concerns, adapt their leadership behaviors to meet the needs of the situation, recognize and remove barriers to effective teamwork and create a climate of trust, support and engagement. When employers provide schedule and workplace flexibility, employees and the organization benefit. For employees, flexibility helps with efficiently managing time, proactively addressing schedule conflicts and reduces distractions while at work and at home – resulting in peace of mind and reduced stress. Benefits for employers include increased ability to attract and retain talent, reduced absenteeism, and higher productivity. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful? Start by setting a goal. Goals are motivating and help us focus. Using the SMART formula for goal setting is helpful. The most powerful goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented and Time-bound. Put together a plan for managing your finances in a way that works for you. This may include taking a class or getting some expert guidance to deepen your knowledge or “outsourcing” some of the process to a trusted financial manager. What tips do you have for a person that wishes to relax on a budget? Plan ahead and network. Planning ahead provides time to take advantage of sales, discounts and promotions. Networking is an enjoyable way to learn about great places and deals. What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members? Make the planning a fun part of the process. Involve everyone, get creative and aim for activities that everyone will enjoy. Anticipate and talk through any conflicts early, listen with curiosity to those with different points of view. Think ahead about how to manage technology so everyone can be present and not distracted or stressed.

Methodology

In order to identify the most and least stressed cities in America, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 most populated cities across five key dimensions: 1) Work-Related Stress, 2) Money-Related Stress, 3) Family-Related Stress, 4) Health- & Safety-Related Stress and 5) Coping with Stress.

We evaluated these categories using 27 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the least stressful conditions. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only.

We then calculated overall scores for each city using the weighted average across all metrics, which we then used to construct our overall rankings.

With regard to our sample, please note that “city” refers to city proper and excludes surrounding metro areas.

Work-Related Stress – Total Points: 20

• Average Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
• Job Security: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
• Commuter Stress Index: Half Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
• Average Commute Time: Half Weight (~2.50 Points)

Money-Related Stress – Total Points: 20

• Personal-Bankruptcy Rate: Full* Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Debt per Median Earnings: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Income Growth (2014 vs. 2013): Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)

Family-Related Stress – Total Points: 20

• Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Percentage of Single Parents: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)

Health- & Safety-Related Stress – Total Points: 20

• Percentage of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Percentage of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full* Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Mental Health: Full* Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Percentage of Residents with Health-Insurance Coverage: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Crime Rate per Capita: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Coping with Stress – Total Points: 20

• Number of Psychologists per Capita: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Prevalence of Binge Drinking: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults having four or more drinks on one occasion
• Percentage of Adults Who Are Current Smokers: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Physical-Activity Rate: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Average Hours of Sleep per Night: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Parkland as Percentage of City Area: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create these rankings were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, TransUnion, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Healthways, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jawbone and The Trust for Public Land.

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