For some of us, relaxation means not having to worry about our finances, our health, or our safety — although a piña colada on the beach helps, too.
But not every city is built for peace of mind. So where can Americans catch a break?
LawnStarter ranked the Most Relaxed Cities by comparing over 190 of the biggest U.S. cities across 57 key indicators of a zen atmosphere.
We looked at everything — well, almost everything — from depression rates to the share of adults with high blood pressure to the average length of a workday.
Check out our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, and expert insights.
(To set the mood right, play some Enya in the background.)
Table of Contents
City Rankings
See how each city fared in our ranking:
OVERALL RANK | City | Overall Score | Mental Health Rank | Physical Health Rank | Financial Health Rank | Work Environment Rank | Physical Environment Rank | Social Environment Rank | Entertainment Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sunnyvale, CA | 64.59 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 125 | 20 | 7 | 87 |
2 | Arlington, VA | 64.15 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 191 | 28 | 10 | 12 |
3 | San Francisco, CA | 63.95 | 16 | 21 | 32 | 173 | 1 | 101 | 3 |
4 | Bellevue, WA | 63.88 | 19 | 2 | 11 | 140 | 27 | 15 | 16 |
5 | Seattle, WA | 61.83 | 28 | 7 | 28 | 101 | 3 | 170 | 9 |
6 | Naperville, IL | 61.81 | 12 | 27 | 1 | 183 | 92 | 1 | 26 |
7 | Garden Grove, CA | 61.61 | 1 | 34 | 97 | 40 | 46 | 20 | 53 |
8 | Fort Collins, CO | 61.18 | 17 | 14 | 54 | 10 | 91 | 19 | 39 |
9 | Fullerton, CA | 60.82 | 9 | 15 | 59 | 72 | 55 | 17 | 54 |
10 | Honolulu, HI | 60.81 | 47 | 45 | 114 | 59 | 31 | 54 | 2 |
11 | Huntington Beach, CA | 60.7 | 8 | 9 | 35 | 131 | 36 | 49 | 55 |
12 | Scottsdale, AZ | 60.5 | 23 | 17 | 16 | 162 | 101 | 35 | 15 |
13 | Madison, WI | 60.44 | 59 | 43 | 25 | 11 | 104 | 29 | 8 |
14 | San Jose, CA | 60.38 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 114 | 82 | 34 | 97 |
15 | Torrance, CA | 60.37 | 14 | 5 | 39 | 110 | 57 | 13 | 84 |
16 | Portland, OR | 60.35 | 77 | 33 | 50 | 52 | 2 | 133 | 4 |
17 | Pasadena, CA | 59.57 | 4 | 12 | 104 | 117 | 48 | 47 | 71 |
18 | Orange, CA | 59.33 | 7 | 18 | 46 | 68 | 41 | 11 | 153 |
19 | Frisco, TX | 58.78 | 55 | 19 | 2 | 189 | 156 | 4 | 56 |
20 | Fremont, CA | 58.66 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 178 | 51 | 2 | 186 |
21 | Alexandria, VA | 58.42 | 34 | 16 | 26 | 190 | 108 | 40 | 24 |
22 | Minneapolis, MN | 58.39 | 44 | 50 | 37 | 24 | 9 | 139 | 46 |
23 | Hayward, CA | 58.2 | 2 | 24 | 38 | 134 | 21 | 51 | 171 |
24 | Cary, NC | 57.96 | 100 | 13 | 4 | 151 | 151 | 5 | 44 |
25 | Irvine, CA | 57.94 | 11 | 4 | 45 | 88 | 50 | 3 | 191 |
26 | Tempe, AZ | 57.67 | 53 | 49 | 101 | 12 | 35 | 71 | 32 |
27 | Boston, MA | 57.3 | 41 | 84 | 109 | 80 | 6 | 97 | 38 |
28 | Washington, DC | 57.1 | 21 | 100 | 48 | 163 | 12 | 174 | 13 |
29 | Sioux Falls, SD | 57.02 | 33 | 72 | 14 | 75 | 159 | 98 | 22 |
30 | Santa Clarita, CA | 57.01 | 31 | 11 | 24 | 175 | 165 | 6 | 105 |
31 | St. Paul, MN | 56.28 | 57 | 77 | 51 | 20 | 15 | 88 | 79 |
32 | Elk Grove, CA | 56.23 | 67 | 51 | 17 | 105 | 64 | 12 | 112 |
33 | Yonkers, NY | 56.2 | 43 | 54 | 85 | 116 | 59 | 25 | 78 |
34 | Oakland, CA | 56.18 | 35 | 35 | 99 | 123 | 18 | 167 | 31 |
35 | Colorado Springs, CO | 55.95 | 60 | 38 | 43 | 98 | 123 | 117 | 17 |
36 | McKinney, TX | 55.94 | 51 | 37 | 10 | 177 | 148 | 9 | 92 |
37 | Anaheim, CA | 55.93 | 15 | 29 | 121 | 79 | 66 | 48 | 120 |
38 | Denver, CO | 55.82 | 18 | 59 | 58 | 146 | 77 | 144 | 49 |
39 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 55.72 | 65 | 42 | 27 | 136 | 39 | 28 | 115 |
40 | Escondido, CA | 55.47 | 52 | 61 | 130 | 71 | 40 | 41 | 58 |
41 | Chandler, AZ | 55.39 | 49 | 28 | 18 | 150 | 84 | 59 | 95 |
42 | Jersey City, NJ | 55.35 | 36 | 91 | 120 | 182 | 22 | 46 | 63 |
43 | Los Angeles, CA | 55.34 | 26 | 36 | 166 | 95 | 75 | 78 | 75 |
44 | Olathe, KS | 55.25 | 72 | 22 | 5 | 129 | 115 | 50 | 94 |
45 | Aurora, IL | 55.2 | 29 | 93 | 21 | 149 | 81 | 22 | 140 |
46 | Santa Ana, CA | 55.19 | 20 | 66 | 144 | 43 | 30 | 27 | 181 |
47 | Plano, TX | 55.16 | 64 | 20 | 13 | 176 | 118 | 23 | 101 |
48 | Joliet, IL | 55.1 | 13 | 136 | 12 | 158 | 126 | 45 | 123 |
49 | Chula Vista, CA | 55.07 | 56 | 41 | 49 | 104 | 58 | 21 | 135 |
50 | Salt Lake City, UT | 55.07 | 111 | 26 | 68 | 41 | 102 | 151 | 6 |
51 | Overland Park, KS | 55.05 | 101 | 10 | 6 | 111 | 78 | 37 | 72 |
52 | Gilbert, AZ | 54.93 | 54 | 23 | 8 | 157 | 90 | 8 | 188 |
53 | Mesa, AZ | 54.81 | 66 | 68 | 78 | 87 | 7 | 62 | 138 |
54 | Austin, TX | 54.8 | 82 | 39 | 70 | 144 | 131 | 77 | 23 |
55 | Pomona, CA | 54.69 | 5 | 58 | 145 | 61 | 128 | 67 | 152 |
56 | San Diego, CA | 54.67 | 48 | 30 | 76 | 83 | 42 | 39 | 165 |
57 | Fontana, CA | 54.62 | 38 | 87 | 55 | 135 | 76 | 14 | 134 |
58 | Boise City, ID | 54.6 | 134 | 31 | 34 | 39 | 65 | 70 | 37 |
59 | Long Beach, CA | 54.38 | 32 | 32 | 128 | 96 | 47 | 72 | 161 |
60 | Las Vegas, NV | 54.23 | 95 | 110 | 110 | 94 | 45 | 134 | 5 |
61 | Lincoln, NE | 54.22 | 90 | 67 | 33 | 25 | 103 | 56 | 90 |
62 | Thornton, CO | 53.87 | 39 | 53 | 22 | 159 | 169 | 69 | 190 |
63 | Corona, CA | 53.83 | 80 | 40 | 47 | 181 | 38 | 16 | 116 |
65 | Chicago, IL | 53.74 | 27 | 114 | 87 | 148 | 14 | 89 | 146 |
66 | Eugene, OR | 53.71 | 143 | 52 | 141 | 3 | 8 | 145 | 51 |
67 | Providence, RI | 53.7 | 133 | 149 | 153 | 13 | 11 | 75 | 11 |
68 | Virginia Beach, VA | 53.61 | 84 | 57 | 19 | 166 | 136 | 32 | 86 |
69 | Vancouver, WA | 53.54 | 81 | 46 | 66 | 82 | 13 | 126 | 126 |
70 | Oceanside, CA | 53.42 | 46 | 44 | 94 | 115 | 79 | 68 | 145 |
71 | Peoria, AZ | 53.35 | 76 | 47 | 20 | 168 | 106 | 55 | 106 |
72 | Henderson, NV | 53.25 | 123 | 70 | 29 | 122 | 49 | 76 | 60 |
73 | Grand Rapids, MI | 53.24 | 107 | 97 | 80 | 14 | 69 | 87 | 47 |
74 | Aurora, CO | 53.01 | 22 | 48 | 56 | 160 | 125 | 107 | 162 |
75 | Glendale, AZ | 52.99 | 68 | 81 | 98 | 119 | 80 | 104 | 57 |
76 | Raleigh, NC | 52.97 | 109 | 56 | 42 | 112 | 152 | 64 | 43 |
77 | Spokane, WA | 52.96 | 71 | 71 | 64 | 22 | 60 | 175 | 73 |
78 | Bridgeport, CT | 52.92 | 86 | 98 | 174 | 26 | 34 | 90 | 118 |
79 | Phoenix, AZ | 52.82 | 70 | 78 | 106 | 118 | 100 | 137 | 36 |
80 | Santa Rosa, CA | 52.79 | 58 | 25 | 77 | 46 | 117 | 82 | 173 |
81 | Ontario, CA | 52.48 | 74 | 89 | 115 | 113 | 44 | 36 | 143 |
82 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 52.39 | 63 | 94 | 146 | 155 | 139 | 171 | 7 |
83 | Salinas, CA | 52.23 | 30 | 79 | 135 | 109 | 144 | 18 | 163 |
84 | Tucson, AZ | 52.18 | 125 | 95 | 150 | 18 | 73 | 135 | 20 |
85 | Worcester, MA | 51.81 | 79 | 132 | 103 | 31 | 121 | 83 | 85 |
86 | Lexington, KY | 51.78 | 156 | 145 | 53 | 54 | 5 | 84 | 62 |
87 | Anchorage, AK | 51.71 | 37 | 62 | 30 | 145 | 191 | 152 | 70 |
88 | Pittsburgh, PA | 51.63 | 124 | 139 | 74 | 34 | 56 | 43 | 40 |
89 | Palmdale, CA | 51.61 | 42 | 60 | 91 | 186 | 171 | 30 | 164 |
90 | Sacramento, CA | 51.58 | 69 | 88 | 89 | 62 | 37 | 111 | 166 |
91 | Oxnard, CA | 51.54 | 78 | 75 | 123 | 78 | 93 | 24 | 176 |
92 | Miramar, FL | 51.48 | 114 | 83 | 84 | 161 | 173 | 26 | 35 |
93 | Salem, OR | 51.47 | 129 | 63 | 71 | 44 | 26 | 106 | 111 |
94 | Tallahassee, FL | 51.21 | 119 | 96 | 161 | 4 | 140 | 115 | 30 |
95 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 51.01 | 105 | 65 | 72 | 179 | 155 | 52 | 50 |
96 | Charlotte, NC | 50.99 | 108 | 76 | 73 | 156 | 147 | 112 | 34 |
97 | Tacoma, WA | 50.92 | 85 | 73 | 62 | 100 | 62 | 162 | 99 |
98 | Des Moines, IA | 50.91 | 87 | 125 | 31 | 47 | 109 | 160 | 66 |
99 | Chesapeake, VA | 50.71 | 106 | 101 | 15 | 164 | 162 | 57 | 109 |
100 | Hollywood, FL | 50.6 | 103 | 90 | 149 | 139 | 111 | 142 | 19 |
101 | Lancaster, CA | 50.46 | 40 | 69 | 113 | 143 | 166 | 73 | 184 |
102 | Albuquerque, NM | 50.44 | 136 | 55 | 61 | 45 | 107 | 177 | 42 |
103 | Atlanta, GA | 50.4 | 73 | 104 | 116 | 153 | 63 | 113 | 82 |
104 | Reno, NV | 50.34 | 120 | 86 | 67 | 51 | 187 | 108 | 29 |
105 | Paterson, NJ | 50.33 | 25 | 167 | 187 | 21 | 67 | 81 | 142 |
106 | Omaha, NE | 50.24 | 115 | 119 | 41 | 57 | 19 | 94 | 179 |
107 | Miami, FL | 50.19 | 61 | 109 | 188 | 132 | 25 | 150 | 67 |
108 | Moreno Valley, CA | 50.12 | 92 | 80 | 100 | 142 | 98 | 44 | 167 |
109 | Durham, NC | 49.91 | 131 | 74 | 75 | 97 | 172 | 109 | 48 |
110 | Orlando, FL | 49.83 | 94 | 103 | 154 | 127 | 114 | 169 | 27 |
111 | Milwaukee, WI | 49.53 | 99 | 164 | 126 | 23 | 74 | 131 | 83 |
112 | Tampa, FL | 49.15 | 135 | 126 | 125 | 126 | 23 | 93 | 102 |
113 | San Bernardino, CA | 49.09 | 45 | 144 | 167 | 50 | 24 | 172 | 177 |
114 | Syracuse, NY | 48.91 | 141 | 154 | 136 | 2 | 68 | 114 | 93 |
115 | Fort Wayne, IN | 48.63 | 127 | 146 | 52 | 63 | 130 | 79 | 128 |
116 | North Las Vegas, NV | 48.3 | 140 | 129 | 105 | 103 | 52 | 116 | 100 |
117 | Cape Coral, FL | 48.21 | 155 | 92 | 93 | 121 | 164 | 38 | 96 |
118 | Modesto, CA | 48.14 | 104 | 85 | 69 | 89 | 153 | 129 | 156 |
119 | Irving, TX | 48.12 | 110 | 106 | 129 | 164 | 119 | 61 | 119 |
120 | Columbus, OH | 47.86 | 144 | 135 | 81 | 56 | 88 | 125 | 103 |
121 | Garland, TX | 47.74 | 91 | 107 | 151 | 167 | 145 | 58 | 175 |
122 | Rochester, NY | 47.73 | 137 | 163 | 157 | 7 | 53 | 146 | 88 |
123 | Bakersfield, CA | 47.64 | 121 | 122 | 88 | 84 | 170 | 99 | 130 |
124 | Springfield, MO | 47.64 | 138 | 140 | 163 | 5 | 87 | 186 | 41 |
125 | Springfield, MA | 47.6 | 98 | 172 | 147 | 6 | 99 | 123 | 159 |
126 | New Orleans, LA | 47.47 | 150 | 173 | 182 | 69 | 32 | 179 | 10 |
127 | McAllen, TX | 47.46 | 132 | 82 | 184 | 81 | 86 | 63 | 136 |
128 | New York, NY | 53.78 | 62 | 64 | 164 | 170 | 16 | 42 | 91 |
128 | Buffalo, NY | 47.35 | 149 | 165 | 127 | 8 | 10 | 120 | 168 |
129 | Metairie, LA | 47.32 | 148 | 133 | 60 | 74 | 110 | 140 | 33 |
130 | San Antonio, TX | 47.16 | 113 | 118 | 140 | 106 | 113 | 136 | 133 |
131 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 47.13 | 175 | 99 | 118 | 133 | 135 | 31 | 81 |
132 | Richmond, VA | 47.11 | 88 | 158 | 172 | 19 | 142 | 180 | 64 |
133 | El Paso, TX | 47.09 | 152 | 105 | 159 | 93 | 89 | 60 | 158 |
134 | Fort Worth, TX | 47.06 | 112 | 124 | 102 | 180 | 167 | 85 | 124 |
135 | Louisville, KY | 47.05 | 172 | 181 | 44 | 76 | 4 | 153 | 77 |
135 | Newark, NJ | 47.05 | 75 | 182 | 190 | 58 | 29 | 74 | 178 |
137 | St. Petersburg, FL | 47.02 | 151 | 123 | 92 | 99 | 43 | 154 | 89 |
138 | Houston, TX | 46.98 | 83 | 108 | 179 | 169 | 133 | 148 | 132 |
139 | Rockford, IL | 46.95 | 93 | 168 | 83 | 16 | 96 | 178 | 131 |
140 | Grand Prairie, TX | 46.79 | 118 | 113 | 90 | 154 | 160 | 53 | 160 |
141 | Cincinnati, OH | 46.74 | 142 | 175 | 132 | 30 | 157 | 163 | 21 |
142 | Newport News, VA | 46.65 | 117 | 147 | 119 | 120 | 161 | 110 | 121 |
143 | Nashville, TN | 46.56 | 177 | 155 | 82 | 141 | 17 | 147 | 45 |
144 | Arlington, TX | 46.49 | 116 | 102 | 117 | 184 | 158 | 91 | 150 |
145 | Kansas City, MO | 46.49 | 154 | 128 | 86 | 107 | 154 | 176 | 28 |
146 | Fresno, CA | 46.34 | 122 | 115 | 143 | 36 | 122 | 96 | 170 |
147 | Huntsville, AL | 46.25 | 182 | 138 | 57 | 55 | 149 | 92 | 18 |
148 | Dallas, TX | 46.22 | 97 | 127 | 180 | 172 | 143 | 121 | 129 |
149 | Norfolk, VA | 46.17 | 126 | 160 | 142 | 152 | 120 | 102 | 114 |
150 | Pasadena, TX | 46.03 | 50 | 121 | 169 | 185 | 137 | 86 | 183 |
151 | Greensboro, NC | 45.97 | 161 | 120 | 111 | 28 | 178 | 127 | 69 |
152 | Hialeah, FL | 45.69 | 96 | 116 | 189 | 90 | 70 | 105 | 180 |
153 | Stockton, CA | 45.6 | 102 | 111 | 107 | 124 | 134 | 157 | 189 |
154 | Lubbock, TX | 45.6 | 157 | 131 | 137 | 37 | 127 | 143 | 137 |
155 | Amarillo, TX | 44.79 | 153 | 141 | 95 | 77 | 141 | 122 | 174 |
156 | Indianapolis, IN | 44.44 | 139 | 166 | 124 | 102 | 116 | 100 | 122 |
157 | Laredo, TX | 44.34 | 158 | 153 | 185 | 48 | 97 | 33 | 185 |
158 | Corpus Christi, TX | 44.3 | 145 | 148 | 133 | 137 | 112 | 128 | 172 |
159 | Midland, TX | 44.13 | 146 | 112 | 36 | 188 | 124 | 141 | 147 |
160 | Akron, OH | 44.07 | 167 | 169 | 134 | 33 | 129 | 168 | 65 |
161 | Murfreesboro, TN | 44 | 186 | 134 | 40 | 91 | 183 | 65 | 74 |
162 | Jacksonville, FL | 43.99 | 159 | 157 | 108 | 147 | 163 | 119 | 110 |
163 | Savannah, GA | 43.95 | 128 | 156 | 181 | 17 | 175 | 161 | 76 |
164 | Birmingham, AL | 43.9 | 181 | 184 | 176 | 70 | 181 | 166 | 1 |
165 | Baton Rouge, LA | 43.82 | 163 | 180 | 156 | 9 | 185 | 164 | 25 |
166 | Mesquite, TX | 43.71 | 89 | 190 | 155 | 171 | 132 | 103 | 169 |
167 | Wichita, KS | 43.56 | 169 | 117 | 63 | 66 | 138 | 173 | 154 |
168 | Oklahoma City, OK | 43.15 | 170 | 143 | 79 | 138 | 168 | 130 | 139 |
169 | Tulsa, OK | 43.09 | 171 | 137 | 138 | 86 | 85 | 165 | 157 |
170 | Brownsville, TX | 42.53 | 160 | 150 | 191 | 29 | 71 | 66 | 187 |
171 | Winston-Salem, NC | 42.26 | 165 | 130 | 131 | 53 | 182 | 118 | 108 |
172 | Killeen, TX | 42 | 166 | 142 | 122 | 174 | 174 | 95 | 151 |
173 | Philadelphia, PA | 41.7 | 179 | 174 | 170 | 108 | 33 | 80 | 141 |
174 | Baltimore, MD | 41.56 | 147 | 186 | 152 | 130 | 54 | 182 | 155 |
175 | Columbus, GA | 41.47 | 173 | 162 | 162 | 64 | 146 | 124 | 127 |
176 | Dayton, OH | 41.21 | 180 | 189 | 178 | 1 | 61 | 181 | 104 |
177 | Jackson, MS | 41.08 | 130 | 179 | 177 | 60 | 189 | 185 | 59 |
178 | Toledo, OH | 41.06 | 184 | 183 | 148 | 15 | 83 | 156 | 148 |
179 | Fayetteville, NC | 40.86 | 178 | 152 | 158 | 128 | 176 | 149 | 113 |
180 | Mobile, AL | 40.56 | 187 | 170 | 165 | 49 | 190 | 138 | 14 |
181 | Knoxville, TN | 40.5 | 191 | 171 | 139 | 27 | 150 | 155 | 61 |
182 | Augusta, GA | 40.1 | 164 | 177 | 175 | 67 | 94 | 159 | 149 |
183 | St. Louis, MO | 39.89 | 162 | 188 | 160 | 73 | 95 | 191 | 52 |
184 | Little Rock, AR | 39.68 | 168 | 151 | 96 | 92 | 188 | 190 | 98 |
185 | Cleveland, OH | 39.16 | 176 | 187 | 183 | 32 | 72 | 188 | 125 |
186 | Chattanooga, TN | 39.09 | 189 | 161 | 112 | 65 | 177 | 183 | 68 |
187 | Clarksville, TN | 38.53 | 190 | 159 | 65 | 187 | 184 | 132 | 107 |
188 | Shreveport, LA | 38.52 | 183 | 178 | 168 | 35 | 186 | 184 | 80 |
189 | Detroit, MI | 37.69 | 174 | 191 | 186 | 38 | 105 | 187 | 117 |
190 | Memphis, TN | 35.31 | 188 | 185 | 171 | 42 | 179 | 189 | 144 |
191 | Kansas City, KS | 35.11 | 185 | 176 | 173 | 85 | 180 | 158 | 182 |
Highlights and Lowlights
California: the State of Calm
California dominates the top of our Most Relaxed Cities ranking. Our No. 1 overall is Sunnyvale, claiming the top spot in the physical health category and No. 3 in mental health. But beyond Sunnyvale, California has four cities in the top 10 and a whopping 12 cities in the top 25.
Why is life so calm in the Golden State? It may have to do with their plentiful pot. Fullerton is No. 1 for marijuana dispensaries per 100,000 residents, with many other California cities not far behind.
R&R Cities: Rest & … Riches?
Tranquility follows the money: Half of the cities in our top 10 are also among the 10 cities with the highest median household income in the U.S. They include Sunnyvale, California; Naperville, Illinois; Bellevue, Washington; and Arlington, Virginia — some of the wealthiest suburbs in America — plus San Francisco.
It’s safe to say that the rich rest easiest among us.
Less Traffic, More Relaxed in Texas
Traffic fuels anxiety, so for a more relaxed lifestyle, move to where the traffic is lighter. The best city for a smooth daily drive might not be where you expect: Lubbock, Texas, is the No. 1 city when it comes to average commute time.
Lubbock isn’t all wonderful, though. Overall, the city struggled on a number of other metrics, especially in the mental health and social environment categories. But if easy, breezy roadways are your idea of paradise, then Lubbock is the place for you.
Health and Money Stress in Detroit
Detroit performed especially poorly on physical health metrics, coming in last place with the highest share of adults with high blood pressure, adult smokers, and stroke victims.
The financial health category also demonstrates some of Detroit’s struggles, with the city showing the lowest median household income and the highest poverty rate of any other major city.
Stress from health and financial issues likely are what drove the Motor City to near the bottom of our Most Relaxed Cities ranking.
Ask The Experts
With anxiety levels through the roof during the pandemic, we reached out to a panel of experts for advice on the best ways to chill. See what they had to say below.
- What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?
- What are the three best ways to relax while working from home, where boundaries between personal and professional life often can blur?
- What are your top three relaxation strategies for people with the most stressful jobs — ER doctors, firefighters, and therapists, for example — to help them reset?
- “During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. How can relaxation help ease those symptoms?
- What makes for a “Most Relaxed City” in your book? Less traffic or work stress? More parks? A wellness/fitness culture? Lots of dogs, cats, and other pets?
- As an expert on relaxation, how do you personally decompress, destress, and ease your mind?
What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?
Despite the pandemic, there are many things that one can do to relax and unwind.
Getting adequate sunlight exposure, especially early in the day, is important to maintain the sleep-wake cycle. Take a walk around the block, ride your bike, or sit and enjoy the weather.
Most importantly, remain present in the moment and take everything in. The effects of meditation, yoga, tai chi, and other activities that promote mindfulness and being present, on the brain and body, simply cannot be understated.
What are the three best ways to relax while working from home, where boundaries between personal and professional life often can blur?
Even when busy with work, and perhaps children at home, a window of time each day to sit and reflect is critical.
1. It boils down to mindfulness and being present in the moment. Research shows chronic stress and depressed mood are associated with reduced volume of hippocampus in the brain — a structure associated with mood, learning, and memory.
2. Exercise (even if only brief) increases blood flow to the brain and releases endorphins in the body (like runner’s high). This may be something you do in your house or even working in the yard.
3. Maintain a work-life balance. Working from home tends to encourage on-demand access to the employee, but it doesn’t have to. Set firm limits, spend time with your family, and take time for yourself when you can reflect and process the day, even if briefly.
What are your top three relaxation strategies for people with the most stressful jobs — ER doctors, firefighters, and therapists, for example — to help them reset?
Mindfulness techniques such as those mentioned above are critical, but it also needs to be something that fits the individual’s lifestyle.
Being able to process a hectic workday is important.
Make time for yourself, even if for 15 minutes, where it is only you.
Clear your mind and process the happenings of the day.
Finally, connect with others whom you enjoy. Hear about their day and give them the opportunity to process, just as they can do for you.
Chronic daily stress activates the body’s immune system at a high rate, which leads to over-release of negative stress hormones and puts the individual at risk for illness when the body’s defenses become exhausted.
Unfortunately, over time, it also puts the individual at significant cardiovascular health risks and increases risk for the development of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
“During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. How can relaxation help ease those symptoms?
In my opinion, it was a mistake for the term “social distancing” to ever be used.
Certainly, physical distancing was necessary, but find ways to connect with others to prevent social isolation. Zoom calls, family TV watch parties, and appropriately distanced outdoor activities are all possible and should be encouraged.
Moreover, the CDC acknowledges that individuals who have been vaccinated can safely congregate indoors in small groups.
What makes for a “Most Relaxed City” in your book? Less traffic or work stress? More parks? A wellness/fitness culture? Lots of dogs, cats, and other pets?
In my book, open spaces with lots of sunlight, minimal stressors, relatively clean air, and little noise allow the individual to reflect, exercise, and enjoy being with themselves and others without the insults of the 9-to-5 world. The ability to enjoy a meal or drink outside, perhaps with one’s children or pet, or even alone, is important.
As an expert on relaxation, how do you personally decompress, destress, and ease your mind?
Exercise and responsible socialization are my go-to ways of relaxing and, if it can be done outside, that’s my preference. Even if I’m working at home, I enjoy taking my work on the porch or my deck to enjoy the sun and the warmth, weather permitting.
What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?
I would chime in to say that the “relaxation response” is the antithesis of the body’s fight or flight/stress response. For example, meditation seems to be a relatively successful way of managing stress (for those experienced with it), specifically its effects on our physiology.
Research is indicating that meditation’s effects are related to lowered activity of the sympathetic nervous system, the system that readies us for fight or flight. The SNS leads to the common physical symptoms of stress that we often experience, such as increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
In addition, meditative techniques also seem to promote feelings of well-being by allowing people to be distracted from stressful thoughts. It is believed that the relaxation response is the core of meditation.
What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?
Lawns are great for relaxation and meaningful experiences.
Research on two kinds of purchases might be of interest to you: experiential purchases (like going for a hike or to a ballgame or movie) versus material purchases (like shoes or cars).
Study after study shows that experiential purchases yield greater and more enduring happiness than do material purchases.
When it comes to lawn care, one can think of one’s investment in a lawn as having elements of both kinds of purchases.
As a material purchase, people put money into their yards to impress their neighbors with how beautiful their yard is. That kind of happiness is more fragile and needs perpetual little injections of self-affirming comments (like thinking “other people like my yard,” “I’ve got the nicest yard on the street,” etc.).
But as an experiential purchase, people can put money into their yards for the purpose of simply enjoying the yard as a respite for themselves or as pleasant space to share with family or friends. That’s the more meaningful kind of thing that yields lasting memories of happiness — and a deeper happiness in the moment.
Having a little space to clear one’s head, relax the body, and generally rejuvenate is a great way to deal with COVID or any other kind of stress. It’s outdoors and green, which our bodies and minds need.
What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?
I think the answer may depend on job type.
For those who still work regularly and need to interact with others (e.g., first responders), relaxation means finish the work, go home, and feel healthy.
On the other hand, for those who can work from home and may stay at home for a long period, relaxation means interacting with relatives and friends and going outside for a while (e.g., shopping).
With vaccination in progress and summer is coming, vacation is another attractive way for relaxation, particularly for those who have not had any travel for more than a year.
One big point I want to make is that for parents, relaxation means school can safely open and they can send their kids to school. With kids staying at home all day long, it is really difficult for parents to focus on work and personal issues.
What are the three best ways to relax while working from home, where boundaries between personal and professional life often can blur?
My experience is to stick to the regular work schedule, like 9-5, with one hour in the middle for lunch.
Play the music you like, and you don’t need to worry about interrupting your colleagues.
If possible, like the weather is good, go outside for a while after work.
What are your top three relaxation strategies for people with the most stressful jobs — ER doctors, firefighters, and therapists, for example — to help them reset?
The employer should provide active counseling services and let the employees know the support is readily available.
Take a break during the shift. Ideally, the employer provides enough time for the break.
Spend time outdoors.
“During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. How can relaxation help ease those symptoms?
Social interaction is a basic human need. With social isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic, it is not surprising that some people feel anxiety and depression.
While people are supposed to learn the situation of the pandemic, my suggestion is don’t read too much about the negative news as some pieces of the news are really scary.
Taking preventative measures and spending time outside, ideally with family members and friends.
What makes for a “Most Relaxed City” in your book? Less traffic or work stress? More parks? A wellness/fitness culture? Lots of dogs, cats, and other pets?
All the elements you mentioned in the question are relevant. From my perspective, the most important component is reasonable workload and people do not suffer from work stress.
Without much work stress, people can have adequate energy and time to enjoy beautiful sceneries, outdoor activities, pets, working out, etc.
As an expert on relaxation, how do you personally decompress, destress, and ease your mind?
First, set up a reasonable expectation for work and career. When I am doing difficult work, I like listening to classical music. After work, enjoy a good meal. During the weekend, if the weather allows (I live in Iowa), go outside with family members and friends
Methodology
We ranked over 190 of the most populated U.S. cities in descending order — from most to least relaxed — based on their overall scores, averaged across all the metrics listed below.
The city that earned the highest overall score — out of a possible 100 points — ranked No. 1, or “most relaxed.”
Metrics | Weighting | Min. Value | Max. Value |
---|---|---|---|
Frequent Mental Distress | 3 | 0.1 | 0.18 |
Average Number of Poor Mental Health Days per Month | 3 | 2.92 | 5.61 |
Depression Rate | 3 | 12.5 | 31.9 |
Suicide Rate | 3 | 5.36 | 29.47 |
Adequate-Sleep Rate | 3 | 48.6 | 72.8 |
Mental Health Providers per 100,000 Residents | 3 | 21.34 | 298.1 |
Spas and Wellness Centers per 100,000 Residents | 3 | 0.32 | 54.16 |
Legality of Marijuana Use | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Marijuana Dispensaries per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 0 | 73.78 |
"Mental Health" Category Total | 25 | ||
Life Expectancy | 2 | 72.85 | 85.92 |
Leisure Physical Activity Rate | 3 | 49.7 | 87.8 |
Drug Overdose Deaths per Capita | 1 | 3.81 | 106.38 |
Share of Adults with High Blood Pressure | 2 | 22 | 46.7 |
Stroke Among Adults | 1 | 2 | 6.1 |
Share of Adult Binge Drinkers | 1 | 11.7 | 24.9 |
Share of Adult Smokers | 1 | 8.1 | 29.3 |
"Physical Health" Category Total | 11 | ||
Median Household Income | 3 | 30894 | 140631 |
Cost of Living | 2 | 74 | 206 |
Housing Affordability | 2 | 30.13 | 89.13 |
Health Insurance Coverage | 2 | 68.9 | 98.1 |
Poverty Rate | 1 | 3.6 | 35 |
Food Insecurity | 1 | 0.06 | 0.18 |
"Financial Health" Category Total | 11 | ||
Length of Average Workday | 3 | 35.1 | 42.6 |
Average Commute Time | 2 | 16.6 | 43.7 |
Transit Score | 1 | 0.3 | 84.3 |
"Work Environment" Category Total | 6 | ||
Natural Hazard Index Score | 3 | 9 | 20 |
Number of Very Cold Days | 2 | 0 | 192 |
Number of Very Hot Days | 2 | 2 | 169 |
Average Amount of Sunshine | 1 | 0 | 85 |
Air Quality | 2 | 19 | 77 |
Share of Roads in Poor Condition | 1 | 4% | 71% |
Traffic Fatalities per Capita | 1 | 0.5 | 23.47 |
Walk Score | 2 | 13 | 98 |
Bike Score | 2 | 24 | 97 |
"Physical Environment" Category Total | 16 | ||
Violent Crime Rate | 2 | 64.24 | 1965.33 |
Property Crime Rate | 2 | 850.41 | 7792.71 |
Sex Offenders per 100,000 Residents | 2 | 7.03 | 2866.89 |
Hate Crimes per Capita | 2 | 0.2 | 39.81 |
Gun Violence | 2 | 0 | 18.5 |
Separation and Divorce Rate | 2 | 6.61% | 19.33% |
"Social Environment" Category Total | 12 | ||
Average Leisure Time Spent per Day | 3 | 311 | 418 |
Number of Country Clubs | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Number of Golf Courses per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 1.1 | 67.8 |
Number of Trails | 3 | 1 | 235 |
Yard Size | 1 | 2744 | 23951 |
Lounges per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 0 | 19.67 |
Cocktail Bars per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 0 | 28.14 |
Dance Clubs per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 0 | 14.86 |
Music Venues per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 0 | 14.58 |
Public Gardens per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 0 | 2.69 |
Share of Adults Who Dine Out | 1 | 33 | 64.3 |
Share of Population Who Visited an Art Gallery Last Year | 1 | 2.3 | 14.8 |
Share of Population Who Attended Live Theater Last Year | 1 | 5.4 | 19.4 |
Share of Population Who Went to a Zoo Last Year | 1 | 7 | 16.7 |
Share of Population Who Attended a Sporting Event Last Year | 1 | 8.6 | 24.6 |
"Entertainment" Category Total | 19 | ||
Overall Total | 100 |
Sources: AllTrails, America’s Health Rankings, American Public Gardens Association, AreaVibes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, City-Data.com, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, DISA Global Solutions, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Feeding America, GolfLink, Gun Violence Archive, IPUMS Time Use, Livability, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, TRIP, TripAdvisor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Walk Score, and Yelp
Why This Study Matters
Living through a pandemic has redefined what it means to relax.
Before COVID, our ideas of relaxation might have included pampering ourselves with a spa treatment, traveling to a new place, or even just dining out without a mask.
Now we might find serenity in just being able to video-chat with friends and family, keep our jobs or businesses intact, or find our own little corner of privacy in our shared spaces.
Spring opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
While travel still is discouraged, outdoor spaces — our yards, gardens, parks, trails, and golf courses — offer alternative and healthy ways to get some R&R while being socially distanced from others. (If you need a hand turning your yard into a private oasis, LawnStarter can help.)
Spending time in nature is one of the best stress relievers. (Bonus points if you live in one of the country’s Best Cities for Hiking or Best Cities for Spring.)
Main Photo Credit: Water Alternatives Photos / Flickr / Public Domain