Stress is a common and unavoidable aspect of life, and certain places appear to experience more of it than others. According to a recent report from Zippia, a career website, San Luis, a border town in Arizona with a population exceeding 30,000, emerges as the most stressed city in the state.
What Contributes to San Luis’ Stress?
The report assessed cities based on six criteria representing primary stressors for most individuals: unemployment, working hours, commute duration, income-to-home-price ratio, and the percentage of the uninsured population. The data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Service 2013-2017 and BLS.
San Luis ranked high across all these factors, earning it the title of the most stressed city in Arizona and the fourth most stressed city nationwide. San Luis maintained an average 51-hour work week with a 14-minute commute, coupled with a 13.58% income-to-home-price ratio. The unemployment rate stood at 12.4%, and 29.2% of the population lacked health insurance.
How Does San Luis Compare to other Arizona Cities?
San Luis isn’t the sole Arizona city grappling with heightened stress levels. In fact, three other Arizona cities secured spots within the top 100 most stressed cities in the United States. These cities include Tucson at number 41, Phoenix at number 62, and Glendale at number 81.
Tucson, the second-largest city in Arizona, logged a 49-hour work week with a 22-minute commute, a 10.9% income-to-home-price ratio, a 7.8% unemployment rate, and a 16.9% uninsured population.
Phoenix, the state capital and Arizona’s largest city, reported a 48-hour work week with a 26-minute commute, a 9.6% income-to-home-price ratio, a 6.7% unemployment rate, and an 18.8% uninsured population.
Glendale, a Phoenix suburb, registered a 47-hour work week with a 29-minute commute, an 8.9% income-to-home-price ratio, a 7.5% unemployment rate, and a 17.6% uninsured population.
How Can San Luis and other Stressed Cities Cope?
Given that stress can adversely affect physical and mental well-being, productivity, and happiness, it is crucial for San Luis residents and those in similarly stressed cities to adopt strategies to cope and diminish stress levels.
Potential strategies include:
- Seeking professional help or counseling when necessary
- Employing relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises
- Engaging in regular physical activity or exercise
- Maintaining a healthy diet while limiting alcohol or caffeine intake
- Ensuring adequate sleep and rest
- Striking a balance between work and personal life
- Seeking social support from friends, family, or community groups
- Pursuing hobbies or interests that bring joy and satisfaction
- Limiting exposure to stressful news or media
- Seeking financial assistance or advice when needed
While stress is inevitable, managing and reducing it is achievable. By following these suggestions, the residents of San Luis and other stressed cities in Arizona can enhance their overall well-being and quality of life.
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