Work is stressful enough without having to deal with the constant onslaught of noise and human interference. In fact, for a person who has an anxiety disorder, those things can be downright debilitating. If you feel that you could use some support to help you with your anxiety and overall mental health, reach out to BetterHelp today.
So I’ve decided to find out what the best jobs for people with anxiety are. Hopefully, by the end of this list, some of you will have found their true calling.
Top 25 Best Jobs for People With Anxiety
Before I explain why I chose each of the jobs I’ve listed below, I want to throw in a brief disclaimer. Obviously, almost any professional path can be anxiety-inducing for some people.
I’ll try to list any potentially triggering things you might have to go through if you hold these positions. Still, most of them should be relatively chill — provided that you have the skills necessary to perform the job.
1. Overnight Stocker
To begin with, let’s go through a few jobs you could do without having a formal education. Some of these would even be great options for high school or university students that haven’t yet decided on a career path.
Most people would tell you that finding retail jobs for people with anxiety is impossible. After all, they often include dealing with customers and money, which isn’t particularly relaxing.
However, there is one job that would allow you to take it easy, especially if you are able to do the night shift. As an overnight stocker, your main responsibility would be to restock the items that were sold during the day.
Working nights takes out most of the distractions and noise that usually go with a job in retail. Even better, this is a great way to avoid having to talk to customers.
2. Night Security Guard
Don’t let all the heist movies discourage you. In real life, being a night security guard is a
great job that doesn’t require much effort.
You may be asked to watch security camera footage in between on-foot patrols of the property you’re guarding. At most, your job description may also include answering calls and taking messages. But really, you shouldn’t see much action — unless you’re guarding a high-risk item.
3. Janitorial/Cleaning Services
Janitorial and cleaning jobs can also be done at night, which is a good option for people with anxiety. Once again, you don’t need any experience to apply since you can learn on the go.
Some companies have day and night shift janitorial employees, so you may be able to choose based on your preference. Since anxiety is often accompanied by insomnia, you may want to opt for the night shift.
However, even though these jobs are integral in our society, they are often underpaid. Unfortunately, that may be a source of stress in and of itself.
4. House-Sitter
If you’re young and looking to make some extra cash without having to talk to people or deal with employers, house-sitting may be a good option for you. Yes, you can get paid to look after someone’s house while they’re on vacation!
You basically move in and sit there — the idea being that your presence would serve as a deterrent to criminals and mischief-makers. Additionally, you may have to feed and exercise the homeowner’s pets.
5. Private Tutor
If you’re in high school or college, you can make a quick buck by tutoring less academically inclined peers. It’s certainly less stressful than the other jobs available to students. Unlike retail jobs, you’ll only have to talk to one person at a time.
Best of all, there aren’t many job requirements, apart from knowing the subject matter. You’ll have to prepare lessons ahead of time and be willing to meet your students at their homes. Other than that, it’s easy money.
6. Painter
If you’re less of an academic and more of a creator, there are a few artistic jobs for people with anxiety you can look into. Some of them aren’t worth mentioning because they’re full of stress-inducing deadlines. If you have anxiety, you might want to avoid becoming an illustrator or a graphic designer.
However, if you’re a painter or a freelance artist, you can take a different approach to art. The only thing you may have to worry about is money. But there are plenty of ways to sell your art to private patrons, galleries, and museums.
7. Artisan and Trade Jobs
Artisanry jobs cover a wide spectrum of craftwork, which is mostly comprised of creating objects by hand. As you can imagine, if you’re skilled enough, most of these kinds of jobs are low-stress and even relaxing.
Some of these can result in more artistic items than others. For example, pottery and jewelry makers, glass blowers, and even tailors may think of their jobs as creative outlets. However, artisanry can also include some trade jobs, like carpentry and welding.
8. Cosmetologist, Makeup Artist, or Beautician
The next group of jobs I wanted to mention is related to cosmetology. Working at a beauty salon can involve:
- Washing, styling, coloring, and cutting hair
- Body hair removal
- Doing manicures and pedicures
- Facials and makeup application
None of these things are particularly stressful unless you really mess up. And even then, nothing you do is irreversible, so it should be fine.
9. Sound Designer or Music Producer
If you’re not into visual arts but still think of yourself as creative, you could take a more musical route. Many music career paths can be incredibly stressful, between performances, auditions, and unpredictable job security. However, some music careers can be both relaxing and lucrative, as is the case for sound designers and music producers.
As a music producer, you’ll spend most of your time alone in your recording studio or at your computer. Occasionally, you’ll also have to work with talent or management. But most of the time, you’ll be left to your own devices — and isn’t that what we all want?
10. Florist
If you’re more inclined to work with nature than sound mixing consoles, you may like being a florist. Your job would include arranging and selling flowers to customers, as well as obtaining them. How you do that may vary — you can either get them from wholesale suppliers or grow them yourself.
11. Gardener or Landscaper
Speaking of growing flowers, gardening is another great profession for people who are suffering from anxiety. It would put you outdoors for the duration of your workday, and you’d get to maintain the plants on the lot you’re in charge of.
In addition to watering and fertilizing the plants, you’ll also mow the lawn, trim the trees and shrubbery, and help the garden transition through the seasons. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?
12. Animal Caretaker
Alternatively, if you’re more into fauna than flora, there are plenty of animal-handling jobs for people with anxiety. The job of an animal caretaker is one that usually requires the least experience and education.
As an animal caretaker, you’ll probably work in a shelter, kennel, pet shop, zoo, or even a research lab. Your main responsibilities will include feeding, grooming, and exercising the animals in your care. You may also have to record their condition and let management know about any problems.
13. Animal Trainer
Animal trainers work with various kinds of animals and teach them to perform certain actions or control excitable behavior. Depending on your specialization, you may work with dogs, horses, or something else altogether. You do need a firm hand to do a good job, but if you’re someone who calms down in the presence of animals, this may be the perfect fit for you.
14. Zoologist
If you love animals but would also like to spend some of your time indoors, you can’t do better than becoming a zoologist.
As a zoologist, you’ll observe and record animal behavior and changes in their ecosystems. Then, you’ll analyze and interpret the data, as well as publish the results. This mix of outdoor and indoor activities makes being a zoologist one of the best jobs for people with anxiety.
15. Translator
If you have an ear for languages and the ability to naturally translate what you hear or read, you might want to consider becoming a translator.
There are a lot of ways you can use a skill set like that in various fields, such as education, healthcare, insurance, and even diplomacy. And if all else fails, you could translate books to different languages as well.
16. Transcriptionist
A transcriptionist’s main job is to listen to audio recordings and type them out, so it would help if you knew touch typing and had a general understanding of the subject.
Some transcriptionists even specialize in certain fields, like medical transcription, which means that they convert audio recordings of doctors’ notes to text.
If you already have a working knowledge of medical terms, that can be a great career path for you. Ultimately, this job is perfect for people with anxiety because it mostly requires you to listen and type — you can even work from home.
17. Library Technician or Librarian
There is a huge difference between being a library technician and an outright librarian, but both are exceedingly low-stress professions.
As a library technician, you’ll have to answer most questions that come your way, teach patrons about library resources, and plan programs. You’ll also answer telephones and file away books.
Conversely, librarians typically have more responsibilities — as well as a master’s degree in library studies. They issue resources, catalog books, and audit library collections.
18. Writer
If you’d rather have your work be represented in the library, you can also become a writer.
Now, even though most writers don’t have taxing day-to-day lives, they can still experience stress on the job. For example, television writers, columnists, and news reporters have strict deadlines, which can exacerbate anxiety.
However, bloggers and online reviewers have some leeway. Additionally, if you want to combine your writing skills with marketing, you can become a social media manager. Most of the time, the work is essentially paint-by-numbers, so you generally won’t have anything to stress about.
Alternatively, you can also be an essay writer. There are many college students finding the essay writing service online to help them do their paper. If you like writing, this can also be a good option for you.
19. Data Entry Operator and File Clerk
If your organizational skills are unparalleled, you may love working as a data entry operator or file clerk.
Most big companies need people who can organize their paper and electronic files, as well as input new data as needed. File clerks also do a lot of simple tasks like file copying, scanning, and retrieval upon request.
20. IT Technician
If you’re tech-savvy, I recommend getting a job as an IT technician. It’s an office job, but you can usually get by without talking to other people. Besides, between testing computer equipment, regular maintenance, and installing software, you’ll have your hands full with routine tasks that will go wrong just often enough to make it interesting.
21. Web or App Developer
To take it one step further, you can look into web and app development. Web developers have experience in various coding languages, as well as elements of graphic design.
In short, making websites and apps is definitely challenging, but it’s still one of the best jobs for people with anxiety. By focusing your attention on the problem-solving aspect of the job, you’re freeing your mind from other worries.
22. Video Game Tester
On the other hand, you could try being a software tester — more specifically, a video game tester.
If you have a degree in game or software design, you can help the development team behind a game figure out where the bugs are. You’ll spot them, and they’ll iron them out, resulting in a hopefully glitch-free experience for consumers upon the game launch.
23. Dental Nurse
Most jobs in the medical field are incredibly stressful. However, there are still a few ways to make use of your medical training — like being a dental nurse.
All dental nurses need to do is prepare instruments, record medical information, and communicate with patients. That seems as carefree as it can get — at least that’s how the nurses at my dentist’s office always make it seem.
24. Dietitian/Nutritionist
Another job in the medical field that could be pretty low-stress is that of a dietitian or nutritionist. Presumably, these people know exactly how important it is to lead a balanced life, so it’s no wonder they’re so relaxed!
They spend their workday assessing their patients’ health, establishing goals, and presenting them with their nutritional recommendations. They can even develop meal plans with their patients’ preferences and finances in mind. Afterward, they just track their progress according to the goal they have set.
25. Medical Lab Technician
As far as I can tell, being a medical lab technician in regular circumstances is one of the least stressful jobs you can have in the medical field. All you have to do is perform various laboratory tests for other doctors.
Once again, this is one of those professions that are just challenging enough to take your mind off your troubles. Still, lab technicians have to complete a variety of routine tasks anxious people tend to appreciate.
There are definitely some concerning factors to this job — namely, working with biohazardous materials — but if you abide by the protocols, you’ll be completely safe.
How to Find Jobs for People With Anxiety: My Main Requirements
So now that I’ve shared 25 of the best jobs for people with anxiety, I wanted to go through my selection process. What do most of these jobs have in common?
Clear Goals But Few Demands
To begin with, most of these jobs have very clear and simple goals. Whether you’re blowing glass or testing video games, you know exactly what you’re going to do every day.
Some of them are more challenging than others, but overall, they’re mostly routine jobs. And as we know, most people with anxiety find routine and habits comforting.
Low Noise Levels and Few Distractions in General
Anxious people also tend to be overly sensitive to different stimuli, like lights, noise, and smell. They usually find them incredibly distracting, to the point that a sensory overload may be unavoidable. To know more, check this sensory overload guide.
Fortunately, my list of the best jobs for people with anxiety should minimize those concerns. Most, if not all of them, can be quite soothing and easy on the senses.
One-on-One Interactions
The sensitivity to light and noise many anxious people have can also translate into being uncomfortable in crowds. After all, where there are crowds, there’s probably noise. That’s why people with anxiety shouldn’t be cashiers — but they make great overnight stockers!
Find Something You’re Good At and Do It Well!
If you’re searching for a low-stress career path, this list of jobs for people with anxiety is a good jumping-off point. Many of these professions are rather sought-after, and some don’t even require any special skills or certificates!
