BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The alarm goes off. You’re late! HONK! HONK! Gah, traffic jam! RING! RING! RING! The phone is already ringing off the hook. Your boss wants to know where that report is. Whoa, it’s 2pm? What happened to lunch? Doh! You missed a meeting. Can we reschedule?
AP
If you feel overwhelmed by your job — you’re not alone. Job pressure and fears are the No. 1 source of stress, according to the American Institute of Stress.
CareerCast.com just came out with its list of most stressful jobstoday. But, to offer the stressed out some relief and something to daydream about, they also offered up a list of the least stressful jobs.
Wow. Wouldn’t it have been nice if your career counselor in high school or college had mentioned that list? Things could’ve turned out so differently.
So what makes a job qualify as one of the least stressful? They are jobs that involve little danger and minimal physical demands. Plus, they have shorter work weeks, low pressure and little competition, according to CareerCast.
More than half of the 10 least stressful jobs are in the health-care industry, which, as it turns out, is also one of the industries with the most job opportunities, given the aging Boomer population. Hello, winning!
Here are the 10 least stressful jobs, according to CareerCast:
1. Audiologist. These are doctors who treat people with hearing disorders. They tend to work in clean and quiet environments. They are among the only professions where, when you ask, “Can you hear me now?” someone may answer you in a polite tone.
2. Dietitian. With this profession, talking about dinner and wanting to shed those extra five pounds before bikini season is no longer an extracurricular activity, it’s a full-time job.
3. Software engineer. These are the guys who create the computer software that causes stress to the rest of us. Ah ha! Beat stress by being the source of stress. Outstanding.
4. Computer programmer. You know that incompetent guy you work with who drives you nuts? Yeah, if you’re a computer programmer, you never need to know his name.
5. Dental hygienist. You've gotta love a job where your biggest source of stress is people who don’t floss.
6. Speech pathologist. These are therapists, not doctors, who treat people with speech disorders. Typically requires a master’s degree. And, of course, with “The King’s Speech,” you will forever be likened to a national hero.
7. Philosopher. Imagine if someone paid you for your opinions and theories instead of acting like they are a public nuisance. Most of the jobs here would be in teaching, though there are also opportunities at nonprofit organizations and in the health and legal fields. So, what do you think?
8. Mathematician. Numbers are so much easier than people! They don’t give you lip, for one. Two, they give you results. Add that together and I believe you have pi. Mmm … pie. Job opportunities here include academia, of course, plus industrial research, computer science and statistical analysis.
9. Occupational therapist. In this profession, you work with patients who may suffer from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or another condition to help them emotionally and physically get back to their normal life. They will appreciate you in a way that your ungrateful, disrespectful co-workers never will.
10. Chiropractor. Chiropractors relieve back and other pain, resulting in a tremendous amount of gratitude. Your biggest stress here is the occasional you’re-not-a-real-doctor joke. So, you buy yourself something expensive and forget all about it.
And that, stressed-out workers of America, is your daydream list. I would also add to the list: lazy-river raft tester, relaxing-music maker, sleep analyst, lollipop tester, and kitten photographer.
The next time one of your co-workers ticks you off, close your eyes and ride a magical unicorn to your special unicorn parking spot in Happyville and imagine your life in one of these least-stressful professions.
Ahhhhhhh….. that’s more like it.
More Dreamy Stuff:
- Every Kid's Dream Job: Superhero for a Day
- The Young Millionaires Club
- World's Coolest Jobs: Race Cars and Ice Cream
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