{"id":31688,"date":"2025-12-03T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T15:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=31688"},"modified":"2025-12-03T17:13:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T20:13:48","slug":"most-relaxed-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/most-relaxed-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"America\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some cities help residents slow down with green space, low congestion, and supportive community amenities, which is so important, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>To help you find a little more calm, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/\">LawnStarter<\/a> ranked America\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities. We compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities across 7 categories, including mental health, sleep, commute times, finances, and access to outdoor and wellness amenities, among 42 metrics.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Curious if your city sets the pace for calm? Explore the full ranking below and unwind with our <a href=\"#methodology\">methodology<\/a> to see how this study story came together.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Why is LawnStarter ranking the Most Relaxed Cities? Our front yards welcome us home from stressful commutes and our backyards often are an oasis of calm amid everyday life.<\/p>    <p>A little later, you\u2019ll learn how some of our lawn mowing pros relax \u2013 proof that you can find your own calm wherever you live.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"#rankings\">Most Relaxed City Rankings<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#spotlight\">Spotlight: Most Relaxed Cities Close Up<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#key-insights\">Key Insights<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#off-the-clock\">Off the Clock With LawnStarter Pros<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#ask-the-experts\">Ask the Experts<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#methodology\">Methodology<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts: Everyday Calm Outdoors<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rankings\">Most Relaxed City Rankings<\/h2>    <p>Settle in and slow down. These cities rose to the top for low-stress living in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>    <p>Use the tabs above the table to switch between<strong> large, midsize, and small cities<\/strong> for fair comparisons.<\/p>    <p><strong>City Size Definitions:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Large<\/strong>: 250,000+ population<\/li>    <li><strong>Midsize<\/strong>: 100,000 to 249,000 population<\/li>    <li><strong>Small<\/strong>: Under 100,000 population<\/li>    <li><strong>Total cities ranked: <\/strong>Large (91), Midsize (236), Small (173)<\/li> <\/ul>   <div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0px; padding: 76.75% 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; will-change: transform;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/d00fcbc9-6567-46b8-a684-3eb79f56ed30?src=embed&amp;embed_type=responsive_iframe\" title=\"LS: Ranking Table - 2026s Most Relaxed Cities\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"fullscreen\" style=\"position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0px; left: 0px; border: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><\/iframe><\/div>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"656\" height=\"742\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02-656x742.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-143402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02-656x742.jpg 656w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02-265x300.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02-133x150.jpg 133w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02-768x869.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02-928x1050.jpg 928w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-Most-Relaxed-Cities-in-2026_update-02.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><\/figure>    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Illustration Credit: Aris Berroya<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spotlight\">Spotlight: Most Relaxed Cities Close Up<\/h2>    <p>Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our 3 most relaxed cities from each population group.<\/p>   <div style=\"min-height: 535px;; \" class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_80d16c0f-26bb-4f45-8fba-742bd8767745\" data-swiper-data='{\"speed\":300,\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": \".swiper-pagination\" , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true},\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true }, \"effect\": \"slide\",\"simulateTouch\":false}'>             <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/512px-Downtown_San_Jose_Intersection_San_Jose_California_45240384021_cropped.jpg\" alt=\"View of Downtown San Jose, California\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1 Large City Rank: <\/strong>San Jose, California<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>62.04 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~990,000<br><br>San Jose\u2019s rankings by category among large cities, 250,000+ population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 3rd<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>1st<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>6th<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>50th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>3rd<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>17th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>36th<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Downtown_San_Jose_Intersection,_San_Jose,_California_%2845240384021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg\">Will Buckner<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/san-francisco-skyline.jpg\" alt=\"View of the San Francisco skyline from the Golden Gate Bridge\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2 Large City Rank: <\/strong>San Francisco<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>61.15 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~836,500<br><br>San Francisco\u2019s rankings by category among large cities, 250,000+ population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 1st<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>22nd<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>11th<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>76th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>2nd<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>29th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>2nd<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/downtown-san-francisco-aerial-view-of-skyscrapers\/273498719\">Tierney<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Seattle-Washington-1.png\" alt=\"View of the Seattle Space Needle from a park\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3 Large City Rank: <\/strong>Seattle<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>60.67 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~741,500<br><br>Seattle\u2019s rankings by category among large cities, 250,000+ population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 11th<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>3rd<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>4th<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>35th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>65th<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>37th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>5th<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/seattle-skyline-at-sunset-with-space-needle\/132392106\">Tommy<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Adobe-Express-file.jpg\" alt=\"Train station in Sunnyvale, California\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1 Midsize City Rank: <\/strong>Sunnyvale, California (Suburb of San Francisco)<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>64.64 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~153,500<br><br>Sunnyvale\u2019s rankings by category among midsize cities, 100,000 to 249,000 population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 1st<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>1st<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>17th<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>126th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>18th<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>38th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>73rd<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/train-station-in-sunnyvale-california\/132514293\">dragan1956<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/7963652414_ce055a7e36_h.jpg\" alt=\"The Riverwalk in Downtown Naperville, Illinois\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2 Midsize City Rank: <\/strong>Naperville, Illinois (Suburb of Chicago)<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>64.2 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~149,500<br><br>Naperville\u2019s rankings by category among midsize cities, 100,000 to 249,000 population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 4th<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>13th<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>2nd<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>224th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>210th<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>4th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>56th<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/jodotorg\/7963652414\/\">David Jakes<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2048px-The_Palladium-1.png\" alt=\"A decorative fountain sprays water into the air in front of The Palladium in Carmel, Indiana\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3 Midsize City Rank: <\/strong>Carmel, Indiana (Suburb of Indianapolis)<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>63.98 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~100,500<br><br>Carmel\u2019s rankings by category among midsize cities, 100,000 to 249,000 population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 12th<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>8th<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>2nd<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>93rd<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>164th<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>3rd<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>200th<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Palladium.jpg\">TheSongbook<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/City-Hall-in-Newton-Massachusetts-1.png\" alt=\"A stately brick building stands as the city hall for Newton, Massachusetts\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1 Small City Rank: <\/strong>Newton, Massachusetts (Suburb of Boston)<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>66.03 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~88,500<br><br>Newton\u2019s rankings by category among small cities, under 100,000 population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 8th<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>9th<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>1st<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>106th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>84th<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>1st<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>12th<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:City_Hall_in_Newton,_Massachusetts.jpg\">Kenneth C. Zirkel<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/deed.en\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Mountain-View-California-1.png\" alt=\"A sign for Pioneer Memorial Park in Mountain View, California\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2 Small City Rank: <\/strong>Mountain View, California<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>64.67 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~82,500<br><br>Mountain View\u2019s rankings by category among small cities, under 100,000 population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 2nd<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>3rd<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>22nd<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank: <\/strong>129th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>13th<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>77th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>6th<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pioneer_Memorial_Park,_Mountain_View,_California,_July_2019.jpg\">Steven Baltakatei Sandoval<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/deed.en\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Woodbury-Minnesota-1.png\" alt=\"Aerial view of Woodbury, Minnesota\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3 Small City Rank: <\/strong>Woodbury, Minnesota (Suburb of the Twin Cities)<br><strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>63.52 | <strong>Population: <\/strong>~77,000<br><br>Woodbury\u2019s rankings by category among small cities, under 100,000 population:<br><br><strong>Mental Well-Being Rank<\/strong>: 7th<br><strong>Physical Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>14th<br><strong>Financial Well-Being Rank: <\/strong>3rd<br><strong>Work Stressors Rank:<\/strong> 37th<br><strong>Environmental Stressors Rank: <\/strong>101st<br><strong>Social Stressors Rank: <\/strong>20th<br><strong>Recreation Options Rank: <\/strong>83rd<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/ph\/images\/aerial-view-of-the-twin-cities-suburb-of-woodbury-minnesota\/463507962?asset_id=463507962\">Jacob<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/ph\/license-terms\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>         <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-insights\">Key Insights<\/h2>    <!-- Author: Kimberly Magerl --> <div style=\"border-left:4px solid #0AB563; border-image:linear-gradient(to bottom, #0AB563, #FF9901) 1; padding-left:16px; margin:24px 0; font-family:Inter, sans-serif; color:#111827;\">    <p><strong>Higher income helps keep stress in check.<\/strong> Out of the <strong>top 10<\/strong> from each ranking (large, midsize, small), <strong>26<\/strong> of <strong>30<\/strong> earn a median income of $106,000 or more, well above the national median of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2025\/demo\/p60-286.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$84,000<\/a>. Only <strong>4 large cities<\/strong> landed at or below that income mark: <strong>Honolulu<\/strong> (No. 7 Large), <strong>Lincoln, Nebraska<\/strong> (No. 8 Large), <strong>Madison, Wisconsin<\/strong> (No. 9 Large), and <strong>Minneapolis<\/strong> (No. 10 Large).<\/p>    <p>For residents who find joy in the outdoors, several cities stand out:<\/p>    <ul>     <li><strong>Santa Barbara, California<\/strong> (No. 43 Small) leads with the most public gardens per capita.<\/li>     <li><strong>Anchorage, Alaska<\/strong> (No. 31 Large), <strong>West Palm Beach, Florida<\/strong> (No. 91 Midsize), and <strong>Fremont, California<\/strong> (No. 6 Midsize) dedicate more land to parks and recreation than most other cities.<\/li>     <li><strong>Colorado Springs<\/strong> (No. 38 Large) and <strong>Tucson, Arizona<\/strong> (No. 67 Large) provide extensive trail networks for those seeking to reset in nature.<\/li>   <\/ul>    <p><strong>California<\/strong> cities like <strong>Sunnyvale<\/strong> (No. 1 Midsize) and <strong>Milpitas<\/strong> (No. 4 Small) are keeping things lighter with some of the <strong>lowest depression rates<\/strong> in the country. But the <strong>Pacific Northwest<\/strong> is not feeling as sunny, with <strong>Spokane, Washington<\/strong> (No. 152 Midsize) and <strong>Eugene, Oregon<\/strong> (No. 168 Midsize) landing on the opposite side of the rankings with some of the <strong>highest depression rates<\/strong>, a trend often associated with long, cloudy seasons and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/seasonal-affective-disorder\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20364651\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seasonal affective disorder<\/a>.<\/p>    <p><strong>Stressed to the Limit: Flint, Michigan<\/strong> (No. 173 Small), <strong>Dayton, Ohio<\/strong> (No. 236 Midsize), and <strong>Detroit<\/strong> (No. 91 Large) struggle to find their calm, landing in <strong>last place<\/strong> for their corresponding rankings with some of the <strong>highest rates<\/strong> of smokers, blood pressure levels, and inadequate sleep among adults.<\/p>    <ul>     <li><strong>Memphis, Tennessee<\/strong> (No. 90 Large) also sinks in the ranking with one of the <strong>highest traffic fatality rates<\/strong>, while <strong>Cleveland, Ohio<\/strong> (No. 88 Large) follows close behind.<\/li>   <\/ul>    <button onclick=\"const hidden=this.nextElementSibling; hidden.style.display=hidden.style.display==='none'?'block':'none'; this.textContent=hidden.style.display==='none'?'Show More':'Show Less';\" style=\"margin:16px 0; padding:10px 16px; border:1px solid #0AB563; background:#0AB563; color:#fff; border-radius:8px; cursor:pointer; font-weight:600;\">Show More<\/button>    <div style=\"display:none; margin-top:16px;\">      <p><strong>Running on Empty:<\/strong> Virginia cities <strong>Roanoke<\/strong> (No. 166 Small) and <strong>Portsmouth<\/strong> (No. 168 Small), alongside <strong>Baltimore<\/strong> (No. 87 Large) see <strong>high mental health strain<\/strong> with <strong>over 20 percent<\/strong> of adults reporting <strong>poor mental health<\/strong> and <strong>Baltimore<\/strong> averaging the <strong>most poor mental health days<\/strong> per month.<\/p>      <p><strong>Cambridge, Massachusetts<\/strong> (No. 12 Midsize) walks or rides to the top with the <strong>highest walk and bike scores<\/strong> and a large share of residents who can <strong>walk to a park in 10 minutes<\/strong> or less. <strong>San Francisco<\/strong> (No. 2 Large), <strong>New York<\/strong> (No. 15 Large), and <strong>Somerville, Massachusetts<\/strong> (No. 13 Small) show the same pattern across the rankings with <strong>walkable streets<\/strong>, great <strong>bike access<\/strong> and <strong>nearby parks<\/strong> within walking distance.<\/p>      <p><strong>Chicago<\/strong> (No. 12 Large) and its suburbs set a relaxed tone, with <strong>Naperville<\/strong> (No. 2 Midsize), <strong>Aurora<\/strong> (No. 38 Midsize), <strong>Arlington Heights<\/strong> (No. 25 Small), <strong>Evanston<\/strong> (No. 28 Small), <strong>Bolingbrook<\/strong> (No. 33 Small), and several neighboring cities landing in the <strong>top half<\/strong> of the rankings. <strong>Higher purchasing power<\/strong> and <strong>fewer poor mental days<\/strong> each month help these communities rise above the rest, while <strong>Peoria<\/strong> (No. 134 Midsize) and <strong>Rockford<\/strong> (No. 199 Midsize) slip to the bottom half.<\/p>          <p><strong>Spa Day, Every Day:<\/strong> Big cities like <strong>New York<\/strong> (No. 15 Large), <strong>Los Angeles<\/strong> (No. 28 Large), and <strong>Houston<\/strong> (No. 48 Large) dominate when it comes to <strong>beauty and spa businesses<\/strong>, offering endless options to recharge. But <strong>Fort Lauderdale, Florida<\/strong> (No. 74 Midsize) steals the spotlight in the midsize ranking, packing in more pampering per capita than some metros twice its size.<\/p>          <p><strong>Suffolk, Virginia<\/strong> (No. 108 Small) and <strong>Murfreesboro, Tennessee<\/strong> (No. 175 Midsize) give residents room to breathe with some of the <strong>biggest yards<\/strong> in the country. But in cities like <strong>San Francisco<\/strong> (No. 2 Large), <strong>Jersey City<\/strong> (No. 13 Large), and <strong>Philadelphia<\/strong> (No. 77 Large) there is barely enough space to stretch out in a lawn chair.<\/p>    <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"off-the-clock\">Off the Clock With LawnStarter Pros<\/h2>    <p>How do LawnStarter lawn mowing pros relax after a long day or week of mowing?&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>\u201cMost days, it\u2019s a hot shower and a giant iced sweet tea,\u201d says Justin Stultz of Wildflower Lawn Care in Hutto, Texas, an Austin suburb.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>\u201cI\u2019ve never been a huge reader, but my kids love reading,\u201d he adds. \u201cRecently, I started playing some mellow music and reading some books I\u2019ve been meaning to read after a decade. It\u2019s SUPER relaxing, and now I\u2019m hooked on sci-fi.\u201d<\/p>    <p>In Virginia Beach, Chelsea Morris, of High-Class Grass, says, \u201cMowing lawns is relaxing for me. I mean, I\u2019m out in the fresh air, sucking up all the vitamin D the sun can dish out on my skin. \u2026 There\u2019s always, and I mean ALWAYS a beautiful flower to stop and smell or cool-looking bugs doing weird bug stuff.<\/p>    <p>\u201cAnd, of course, it doesn\u2019t hurt that I live at the beach,\u201d she adds. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing like taking a moment when your face is red from busting ass in the heat of the day and your clothes are all sticking to the skin that\u2019s practically melting off of you. \u2026<br><br>\u201cI take a little 30-minute side quest and go jump in the ocean. One ride in on a wave will reset your whole mind for the rest of the day and relax your soul.\u201d<\/p>    <p>In Atlanta, Chuck Vogt of Metro Lawns, says, \u201cBecause of our line of work, lawn maintenance doesn\u2019t really tax the brain. For relaxation when I return home, I smoke a cigar and play a game of chess.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>\u201cPlaying chess activates those neural pathways that otherwise might go dormant,\u201d he adds. \u201cVery relaxing. Especially the cigar!\u201d<\/p>    <p id=\"ask-the-experts\"><\/p>   <div id=\"experts-block\" class=\"experts\">     <h2 class=\"text-2xl font-bold text-black mb-3\">Ask the Experts<\/h2>    <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Relaxation looks different for everyone. We asked a panel of experts to share practical ways to ease tension and stay grounded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unwind with their insights below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <ol> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are three key strategies for feeling less stressed on a daily basis?<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How do you personally decompress after a long day?<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When should a person turn to professional help, like a counselor or therapist, for coping with stress? What initial steps should you take to seek care?<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are three of the best ways people can help a stressed-out loved one feel better?<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are three ways that stress can impact health?<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How can stress \u2014 mental or financial \u2014 impact the economy, if at all?<\/span><\/li> <\/ol>    <div id=\"experts-container\" class=\"relative lg:mt-6\" x-data=\"experts()\" x-init=\"init()\">      <style>       .expert-avatars {         scrollbar-width: none;         -ms-overflow-style: none;          \/* momentum scroll on iOS *\/         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;          \/* disbable vertical scroll for touch *\/         touch-action: pan-x;       }        \/* hide scroll bar *\/       .expert-avatars::-webkit-scrollbar {         display: none;       }        .expert-avatars .item {         width: 125px;         flex-shrink: 0;       }        .expert-avatars .item:not(:last-child) {         margin-right: 10px;       }        \/* hacky fix for padding at the end of the.expert-avatars *\/       .expert-avatars .item:last-child {         position: relative;       }        .expert-avatars .item:last-child::after {         position: absolute;         left: 100%;         height: 1px;         width: 20px;         display: block;         content: \"\";       }        .trim-label {         max-height: 18px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials {         max-height: 18px;         width: 250px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials-small {         max-height: 18px;         width: 110px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        [x-cloak] {         display: none;       }     <\/style>      <div class=\"expert-avatars flex overflow-x-scroll overscroll-contain px-2 mb-10 lg:hidden\">                         <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Cindy-Frantz.png?wsr\" alt=\"Cindy Frantz\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Cindy McPherson Frantz, PhD <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies Chair<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('deborah-carr', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Deborah-Carr.png?wsr\" alt=\"Deborah Carr\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Deborah Carr <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">A&amp;S Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for Innovation in Social Science<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Ralph-McKinney.png?wsr\" alt=\"Ralph McKinney\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Ralph E. McKinney, Jr., DBA <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Associate Professor of Management<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('alicia-wiprovnick-phd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Alicia-Wiprovnick.png?wsr\" alt=\"Alicia Wiprovnick\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Alicia Wiprovnick, PhD <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Assistant Professor<\/div>           <\/div>                   <\/div>                     <div           id=\"expert-cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Cindy-Frantz.png?wsr\" alt=\"Cindy Frantz\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Cindy McPherson Frantz, PhD <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies Chair<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Oberlin College, Department of Psychology<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('cindy-mcpherson-frantz-phd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Cindy-Frantz.png?wsr\" alt=\"Cindy Frantz\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Cindy McPherson Frantz, PhD <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies Chair<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Oberlin College, Department of Psychology<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><b>What are three key strategies for feeling less stressed on a daily basis?<\/b><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Connect with something outside of yourself: a person, a pet, a tree, a pigeon. The connection doesn&#8217;t have to be elaborate or long to have benefits.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Put down your smartphone and have a &#8220;do nothing&#8221; snack \u2014 just be where you are.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Ask yourself, will this matter in 20 years? The answer is usually no. But if it&#8217;s yes, then that helps you focus on what&#8217;s really important.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b>How do you personally decompress after a long day?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I play with my puppies or work in the garden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><b>What are three of the best ways people can help a stressed-out loved one feel better?<\/b><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Listen.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Validate their feelings. Don&#8217;t try to talk them out of how they feel.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Gently help them reframe when they are ready.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b>What are three ways that stress can impact health?<\/b><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Interrupts sleep.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Elevants cortisol levels which has a range of negative impacts on health.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Interferes with our ability to connect with others and the world around us. Those connections have enormous benefits. <\/span><\/li> <\/ol>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-deborah-carr\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'deborah-carr', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'deborah-carr'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('deborah-carr', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'deborah-carr', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'deborah-carr'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('deborah-carr', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Deborah-Carr.png?wsr\" alt=\"Deborah Carr\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'deborah-carr'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Deborah Carr <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'deborah-carr'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">A&amp;S Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for Innovation in Social Science<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'deborah-carr'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Boston University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'deborah-carr'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('deborah-carr', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'deborah-carr'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('deborah-carr')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Deborah-Carr.png?wsr\" alt=\"Deborah Carr\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Deborah Carr <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">A&amp;S Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for Innovation in Social Science<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Boston University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><b> What are three key strategies for feeling less stressed on a daily basis?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are two main ways we can cope \u2013 we can either change the situation causing us stress (like leaving a bad job or abusive relationship) or sooth the stress we\u2019re feeling by doing things like turning to others for social support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sadly, though, most stressful circumstances like economic worries or the state of world events can\u2019t easily be changed. Public policies that provide income security, safe housing, good nutrition, health insurance, and family-friendly workplaces would go a very long way in reducing stress nationwide. However, that is a big wish list that is difficult to achieve.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As a result, most advice for managing stress focuses on the stressed-out person themself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A few strategies include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Turning to others for support, whether emotional, practical, or financial.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Engaging in healthy practices like exercise, deep breathing, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep so that one is healthy enough to manage the stress.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Changing our thought processes. Some people have a tendency to catastrophize (let their thoughts spiral out of control, thinking of the worst-case scenario and making themselves more stressed), or ruminate (replaying events over and over in their head, and criticizing themselves for things like \u201cwhy did I say that?\u201d \u201cwhy did I do that?\u201d). When we recognize our thoughts spiraling out of control and making us more stressed, we need to take a beat, ask ourselves how realistic those worries really are, and try to develop a rational plan forward.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b> How do you personally decompress after a long day?<\/b><\/p> <ul> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I love to take long walks to clear out my mind (or do some other form of exercise).\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I have a nice casual dinner at home with my partner, followed by Jeopardy (we love trivia).\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We play with our adorable beagle (pets are a great source of stress relief!).\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Listening to soothing classical music (or playing the piano myself) also helps to decompress.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <p><b> When should a person turn to professional help, like a counselor or therapist, for coping with stress? What initial steps should they take to seek care?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If someone notices that they are feeling sad or anxious every day, if they have difficulty getting out of bed, and are struggling with basic tasks like grooming or eating three square meals, that\u2019s a sign it\u2019s time for professional help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Of course, if someone is having suicidal thoughts, thoughts of hurting themselves, or hurting someone else, they absolutely should seek care. But symptoms don\u2019t need to be that severe to seek help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If someone feels deeply unhappy and seeks a change in their life, professional help can be pivotal. I would suggest first checking with their insurance provider to see which therapists are included in their network. They can also check with friends to see if they have a therapist they like. Some may find community mental health centers helpful, especially if they don\u2019t have insurance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There\u2019s no shame in seeking care for mental health. We don\u2019t feel embarrassed about going to the doctor when we have a cold, or the dentist when we have a toothache. Mental health care is health care.<\/span><\/p> <p><b> What are three of the best ways people can help a stressed-out loved one feel better?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It depends on precisely why the loved one is stressed out. In general, support is key. Support takes different forms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, emotional support involves things like listening and serving as a sounding board. That can help people feel calmer and more loved, and guide them toward making necessary changes to manage the stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Second, instrumental support involves practical forms of help. If work-family overload is stressing out a person, offer to assist with child or elder care, or prepare meals for them. Knowing precisely what kind of help they would find most helpful should be your cue.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Third, economic support can be critical. Money is one of the leading causes of stress in the U.S., whether debt, inability to pay bills, or concerns about putting enough food on the table. To the extent possible, we can help our friends by providing them food or making a small loan. Importantly, we need to do this delicately and only if our loved one is willing to accept. No one wants to feel patronized or infantilized.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b> What are three ways that stress can impact health?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress has direct physiological effects on the body.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It can threaten our immune systems making us more vulnerable to colds, infections, and slower healing from wounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Stress also triggers unhealthy behaviors that undermine health. Smokers may find that nicotine soothes their nerves, while others may find solace in high-fat, high-salt comfort foods. Some have a few beers to take the edge off. However, these behaviors \u2014 if done too often \u2014 lead to a range of diseases including obesity, diabetes, liver disease and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Finally, stress can lead to depression and anxiety. When people are depressed, they may be less vigilant about seeking health care, exercising, going out with friends and other behaviors that can enhance health.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><b> How can stress \u2014 mental or financial \u2014 impact the economy, if at all?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress can impact the economy in several ways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, workplace productivity can diminish when people are stressed out. Stress can trigger physical and mental health problems that make people call in sick for work. Those who are at work may not be able to focus and work productively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The second is that people may have higher health care expenditures. Some people may take medication for stress, while others may find that persistent stress elevates their risk of heart disease. Others still may rely on maladaptive coping behaviors. Behaviors like smoking or drinking might make a stressed-out person feel better in the short term, yet these two behaviors are linked with a range of harmful health outcomes that can increase both one\u2019s health care costs and diminish their workplace productivity.<\/span><\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Ralph-McKinney.png?wsr\" alt=\"Ralph McKinney\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Ralph E. McKinney, Jr., DBA <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Professor of Management<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Marshall University, Brad D. Smith Schools of Business at the Lewis College of Business<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('ralph-e-mckinney-jr-dba')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Ralph-McKinney.png?wsr\" alt=\"Ralph McKinney\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Ralph E. McKinney, Jr., DBA <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Professor of Management<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Marshall University, Brad D. Smith Schools of Business at the Lewis College of Business<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><b>Note: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As I am not a counselor or therapist, I am providing answers based upon my experience and opinions.<\/span><\/p> <p><b> What are three key strategies for feeling less stressed on a daily basis?<\/b><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Planning in the morning can help prioritize tasks that need to be completed. If possible, complete those tasks you are not enthusiastic about as this can mitigate stress associated with some assignments.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is important to set aside protected time for reflection, relaxation, and re-energization. This will help maintain a more holistic work-life balance as sometimes you need to dedicate more time for work and other times you might need more time for life.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Finally, as we can be overconfident in our abilities, it is important to critically consider what you can do and what you cannot. It is OK to say no. Realizing that you only have so much time and energy, make your contributions on projects that are important.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b> How do you personally decompress after a long day?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Decompression starts with disconnecting from technology. Setting aside the mobile device and electronics allows me to self-reflect through meditation and release the negative. This process reduces stress and provides a venue for me to recognize accomplishments and to prioritize tasks and projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Self-reflection is a holistic process that considers work and personal life. By realizing that work and life are connected and influence each other, I can plan more effectively to mitigate the stress. Sometimes you have to determine what is important and what can be sacrificed. You can\u2019t do everything for everybody.<\/span><\/p> <p><b> When should a person turn to professional help, like a counselor or therapist, for coping with stress? What initial steps should they take to seek care?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you think you need help, seek help. Find a qualified licensed counselor or therapist to help. These individuals have undergone rigorous training to provide specialized services. They have experience in understanding and providing the appropriate assistance.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If this is an issue, consider speaking to a trusted friend, mentor, or religious leader for support. They cannot replace professional help, but they can provide a supportive network until you can get the help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If it is an emergency, call a crisis line.<\/span><\/p> <p><b> What are three of the best ways people can help a stressed-out loved one feel better?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For this question, let\u2019s consider three steps to approach the situation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> First, offer support. Start a conversation that identifies the behavior or action and how it appears to impact the performance (i.e. especially in a work setting) or routine. Let the person know that this is a safe space to share.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Step two is to offer to share the burden. This needs to be a genuine effort as deception can be detected. In some cases, the person may decline to share.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Step three is to be respectful. As a safe space, don\u2019t press or demand answers from the individual. This can create additional stress and it is possible that the individual may lie to avoid sharing. Being supportive means being available when (s)he needs to talk. Being supportive means offering to find appropriate help and take on some of the stressors.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b>What are three ways that stress can impact health?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Individuals may experience stress differently.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <ul> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For some individuals, stress may cause anxiety and difficulty sleeping.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In others, stress can impact healthy relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In most everyone, stress has an influence on mental health.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <p><b> How can stress \u2014 mental or financial \u2014 impact the economy, if at all?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In general, stress can contribute to individual burnout and individual burnout can lead to other concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the workplace, burnout contributes to turnover, low productivity, and loss of innovation and creativity. These losses are normally attributed as problems for the employer. However, stress also impacts an individual\u2019s quality of life and often that individual\u2019s finances.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-alicia-wiprovnick-phd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('alicia-wiprovnick-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('alicia-wiprovnick-phd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Alicia-Wiprovnick.png?wsr\" alt=\"Alicia Wiprovnick\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Alicia Wiprovnick, PhD <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('alicia-wiprovnick-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'alicia-wiprovnick-phd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('alicia-wiprovnick-phd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Alicia-Wiprovnick.png?wsr\" alt=\"Alicia Wiprovnick\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Alicia Wiprovnick, PhD <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><b> What are three key strategies for feeling less stressed on a daily basis?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s easy to get sucked into the stress of our daily lives, and oftentimes we can be so focused on the stressors that we lose sight of the things that bring us joy and happiness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> One strategy is to intentionally tune into and appreciate the little moments each day that bring you joy. These moments can be things like enjoying a cup of coffee, noticing some pretty flowers on your way to work, playing with your pet or child, or receiving positive feedback from others.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Another strategy is to notice the times when your thoughts are racing and you are getting hooked by your thoughts about the things you are stressed about.<\/span><\/p> <p>When you notice this, you can redirect your attention to your body and\/or your five senses to help you tune back into the present moment.<\/p> <p>You can achieve this by:<\/p> <ul> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking a few deep breaths.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pushing your feet into the floor or your fingertips against each other.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having a stretch.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Noticing, in detail, the sights and the sounds in your environment.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <p>Taking these actions can help to ground you into the present moment and to get you out of your head.<\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A third strategy is to accept and acknowledge all the emotions that we experience, including the negative ones, rather than trying to push them away. This can sound counter-intuitive, but when we try to suppress or push away our feelings it can be exhausting and they always come back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Think of it like playing an endless game of tug of war with your emotions; that\u2019s a lot of work! Instead of continuing to tug on the rope, we can drop it. The feelings are still there, but it\u2019s a lot easier if we aren\u2019t struggling with them. It can be helpful to give yourself compassion when you are allowing yourself to feel negative emotions. You can do this by telling yourself, \u201cIt\u2019s OK to feel this way,\u201d or by putting a hand over your heart or wherever it feels comforting on your body.<\/span><\/p> <p><b> How do you personally decompress after a long day?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I will usually spend some time with my son and my husband and watch a TV show that I enjoy. I typically go to exercise classes a few times a week and I also usually socialize with friends that are in those classes with me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Physical activity and positive social interaction (even if you are an introvert like me) can be key in reducing stress and promoting mental health. It is also important to engage in activities that are in line with your values and for me, these activities are related to my values concerning parenting, relationships with friends and family, physical health, and leisure.<\/span><\/p> <p><b> When should a person turn to professional help, like a counselor or therapist, for coping with stress? What initial steps should they take to seek care?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A person should turn to professional help when they notice that stress or feelings of anxiety or depression are interfering with their everyday functioning (i.e. difficulty focusing and performing well at work, affecting relationships with family, etc.).\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s also important to seek help if these feelings get in the way of living a life in line with your values or doing the things that are important to you, such as taking care of your health, advancing your career or education, or engaging with your family and friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, you should seek help if you find yourself relying on substances (including alcohol and marijuana) or other addictive behaviors (i.e. gambling, shopping, video games) as the main way that you cope with stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some easy ways to go about finding a therapist is to check on your insurance company\u2019s website or look at the listings on Psychology Today\u2019s website. You could also use the resource provided by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/findtreatment.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">findtreatment.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to find a therapist or program in the community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><b> What are three of the best ways people can help a stressed-out loved one feel better?<\/b><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is very important as a first step to actively listen to a loved one, without giving advice or suggestions. Sometimes suggestions can be helpful, but often people just want to be heard.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The next step is to validate their feelings. Examples of validating statements are \u201cI understand, that must be really difficult for you,\u201d or \u201cI would feel angry and hurt too if that happened to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Lastly, ask your loved one what they need or how you can support them. This can greatly vary from person to person and by situation. For example, one person might just want you to listen, in another case, a loved one may ask for help with household tasks, and in another case, a person may ask for time to do self-care.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b> What are three ways that stress can impact health?<\/b><\/p> <ol> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> There is a great deal of evidence that shows that stress is linked to increased inflammation. This can lead to the development of several health issues including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Stress can also lead people to engage in unhealthy behaviors that are linked to health problems such as smoking, substance use, alcohol use, unhealthy eating, and lack of physical activity.<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Lastly, stress can interfere with sleep which has a large impact on our physical health. Poor sleep is linked to cardiovascular issues and obesity.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol> <p><b> How can stress \u2014 mental or financial \u2014 impact the economy, if at all?<\/b><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress, especially financial stress, can lead people to make unwise financial decisions because they are often beneficial in the short-term. These decisions tend to keep people stuck in debt and\/or poverty, thus impacting the economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not coping well with stress or having a very stressful job where you feel unsupported or not valued by your employer can also affect work productivity and increase turnover, which has a negative impact on businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>              <\/div> <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"methodology\">Methodology<\/h2>    <p>To rank 2026\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities, we compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities across 42 metrics, covering 7 themes.&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Mental Well-Being<\/strong> <strong>(14%)<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Physical Well-Being (19%)<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Financial Well-Being (12%)<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Work Stressors&nbsp;(12%)<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Environmental Stressors&nbsp;(14%)<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Social Stressors&nbsp;(6%)<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Recreation Options (23%)<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>    <p>We assigned each metric a weight based on its impact. The categories, metrics, and weights are listed in the table below.<\/p>    <p>To ensure fair comparisons, we divided the cities into 3 ranking groups \u2014 large, midsize, and small \u2014 based on the <a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\/surveys\/annualreports\/topical-studies\/locale\/definitions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Center for Education Statistics<\/a> Locale Classifications and Criteria. Cities were categorized according to population size, allowing similar-sized cities to be evaluated against each other.<\/p>    <p>Each city earned a score out of 100 for every metric, category, and overall. A city\u2019s <strong>Overall Score<\/strong> is the average of its score across all metrics. The city with the highest Overall Score ranked \u201cMost Relaxed\u201d (No. 1) and the lowest \u201cLeast Relaxed\u201d in each ranking group: <strong>Large Cities <\/strong>(1-91), <strong>Midsize Cities<\/strong> (1-236), and <strong>Small Cities<\/strong> (1-173).<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-2f2ee0a9-e755-4616-84d6-11452a8689d1\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f4f4f4; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-2f2ee0a9-e755-4616-84d6-11452a8689d1\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-2f2ee0a9-e755-4616-84d6-11452a8689d1\" style=\"color: #000000; \">Notes:<\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-2f2ee0a9-e755-4616-84d6-11452a8689d1\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Large Cities:<\/strong> The \u201cLeast Relaxed\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 91 due to ties.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Midsize Cities: <\/strong>The \u201cLeast Relaxed\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 236 due to ties.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Small Cities: <\/strong>The \u201cLeast Relaxed\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 173 due to ties.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wric.com\/news\/taking-action\/virginia-sex-offender-registry-displaying-inaccurate-data-for-months\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inaccuracies<\/a> in the Virginia State Police\u2019s sex offender registry, we assigned Virginia an N\/A for this metric (Sex Offenders per 100,000 Residents). Our findings will be updated once corrected data is released.<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>  <div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0px; padding: 73.75% 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; will-change: transform;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/eb15c60f-b22a-4c6f-9a43-3dacd5a00744?src=embed&amp;embed_type=responsive_iframe\" title=\"Copy: LS: Methodology - 2026's Most Relaxed Cities\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"fullscreen\" style=\"position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0px; left: 0px; border: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><\/iframe><\/div>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong><em>Sources:<\/em><\/strong><em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>AllTrails<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicgardens.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>American Public Gardens Association<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/chronicdata.cdc.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>CDC<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/city-data.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>City-Data.com<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countyhealthrankings.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>County Health Rankings &amp; Roadmaps<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>EPA<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhfa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Federal Housing Finance Agency,<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/hazards.fema.gov\/nri\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>FEMA<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipums.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>IPUMS<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>National Centers for Environmental Information<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighborhoodscout.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Neighborhood Scout<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>NHTSA<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Psychology Today<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/realtor.com\"><em>realtor.<\/em><\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/realtor.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">c<\/a><\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/realtor.com\"><em>om<\/em><\/a><em>. <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tpl.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Trust for Public Land<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>U.S. Census Bureau<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkscore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Walk Score<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/worlddata.info\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>WorldData.info<\/em><\/a><em>, and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Yelp<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts: Everyday Calm Outdoors<\/h2>    <p>Spending time in nature has been shown to improve sleep, reduce negative thinking, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/article\/7-health-benefits-spending-time-nature\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lower stress<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Gardening brings many of the same rewards. <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.psu.edu\/programs\/master-gardener\/counties\/adams\/news\/the-many-mental-health-benefits-of-gardening\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research<\/a> highlights that tending to plants can increase self-esteem and ease anxiety while encouraging mindfulness through small, rewarding tasks.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Creating a personal retreat in your own yard doesn\u2019t require much. Start with a few easy upgrades that invite you to step outside more often:&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Install <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/best-grasses-walk-on-barefoot\/\">soft grass<\/a> to feel the stress-relieving benefits of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/health-benefits-walking-barefoot-on-grass\/\">walking barefoot on grass<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>Add color with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/flowering-perennials-for-your-gardens\/\">blooming perennials<\/a> that return each season.<\/li>    <li>Install a gentle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/water-feature-ideas\/\">water feature<\/a> like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/how-to-build-pond\/\">small pond<\/a> or bird bath.<\/li>    <li>Attract <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/butterfly-garden-how-to-design-one\/\">butterflies<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/how-to-attract-birds-to-your-yard\/\">birds<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/gardening-2\/how-to-attract-hummingbirds-to-your-garden\/\">hummingbirds<\/a>, and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/turn-your-yard-certified-wildlife-habitat\/\">wildlife<\/a> to your backyard.<\/li>    <li>Set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/how-to-landscape-around-trees\/#7-7-create-a-quiet-spot-:~:text=company%20is%20over%3F-,7.%20Create%20a%20Quiet%20Spot,-Photo%20Credit%3A\">hammock<\/a> to lounge in or enjoy a backyard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-picnic-lovers\/\">picnic<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p>Even a few minutes outside can shift your mood and slow your pace.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Keep it simple. Step outside, take a breath, and let a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/\"><em>local LawnStarter pro<\/em><\/a><em> handle the rest.<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"media-resources\">Media Resources<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1DAez0eoaXqlbpkyhL553MwV4C0eEHQeRndj6mexkXWs\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution images of cities<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/ls-ranking-table-2024s-most-relaxed-cities-1hnq41o9ol5zk23\">2024\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities ranking results<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/ls-ranking-table-2023s-most-relaxed-cities-1h8n6m3xgz85j4x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities ranking results<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1esFreBTMXvmWFhguJOAyyZANUJXp_Vv8\/edit?gid=799427693#gid=799427693\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities ranking results<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Main Photo Credit:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/man-lying-on-blue-and-white-textile-3997989\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover America\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities in 2026: San Jose, CA; San Francisco; Seattle; Irvine, CA; San Diego<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":96850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[853],"tags":[1472],"class_list":["post-31688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studies","tag-studies"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pexels-cottonbro-studio-3997989new.jpg?wsr","author_info":{"display_name":"Kimberly Magerl","author_link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/kimberly-magerl\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>America\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities in 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/most-relaxed-cities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"America\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities in 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover America\u2019s Most Relaxed Cities in 2026: San Jose, CA; 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