Is Seattle a Stressful City?
Hey, Seattleites! Let's talk about the elephant in the room: stress. As much as we love our beautiful Emerald City, it's pretty hard to deny that living here can get pretty darn stressful sometimes. But is Seattle really one of the most anxious cities in America? Let's dive in and find out!
The Numbers Don't Lie
Seattle is the most anxious major metro in the U.S.,' a recent census survey shows of adults, thus making them more anxious than ever. In fact, 54.5% of adults- that's a lot of stressed-out people! -in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties reported getting "nervous, anxious, or on edge" for at least several days during a two-week stretch.
But why are Seattleites so anxious? There are a number of reasons:
The High Cost of Living
Let's face it, Seattle is not an inexpensive town to live in. In fact, housing and rental costs have risen so high over the past few years that it is pretty much difficult to live here. As of September 2021, 60,000 people in the area cannot afford to pay rent. One of the most stress-inducing situations is financial inability, and it should surprise no one that Seattleites are a pretty anxious lot.
Rainy Day Blues
We all know Seattle weather can be kinda.dreary. The sky stays gray and the rain just keeps coming most of the year, and it starts to get us down. Literally. Seasonal affective disorder is a thing, guys, and in cloud-covered our city, it may be playing a role in those sky-high anxiety levels.
The Pandemic Effect
Last but not least, Seattle was one of the first places in the nation to get hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are still very much recovering from the strain of the last two years. That uncertainty, isolation, and the economic impact brilliantly brought out, in many people, anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Work-Related Stress
There are a number of big tech companies and other corporations that allow for some pretty amazing career opportunities. However, there's also plenty of room for stress. These are, by their very nature, competitive industries that can be highly demanding, even intense, and many find that such high-stress work environments can lend to anxiety issues, depression, and even burnout.
Coping with Stress in Seattle
What, then, can we do to handle stress and anxiety in our city? A few tips to consider include:
Practice good self-care: Make time for activities that help you relax and recharge, like exercise, meditation, or hobbies
Relaxation and energy-building activities: Take time to exercise, meditate or have hobbies.
Network of friends and family: It may be the Seattle Freeze, but friends and family can help in a big way. Reach out to them if you feel overwhelmed.
Professional help: If the anxiety happens to be one that is overwhelming and interferes with your ability to freely engage in daily activities, then you will want to look into working with a therapist so as to overcome your emotional obstacles. You may want to work with a therapist who specializes in stress management who can assist you with the development of coping skills.
Create a relaxing environment: Your living environment can play a big role in influencing your mind. You can seek the help of a Seattle residential cleaning service to help you keep your house clean and clutter-free. Believe it or not, a clean and neat room can make you feel significantly better and stress less.
The Bottom Line
While Seattle may be a stressful city-one is not alone in this feeling. Surely now, by pampering oneself when necessary, finding the strength to do so when needed, and simply developing stress-coping mechanisms - such as maintaining a clean and organized home - we can all live happier, healthier lives in the Emerald City.
Despite all this, we love Seattle so much. From nature's splendor to art and culture also, there is so much in our own city to be thankful for. Let's each focus on the good stuff and help each other through this so we all make it a little easier on everybody here in Seattle.
