21 Low-Stress Jobs For People With Anxiety [2022]

Zippia understands that the job search process itself can cause anxiety. But with this guide, you can navigate the job search much more easily.

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a job that won’t make you anxious:

• Look for jobs that are flexible, both in terms of workspace and of deadlines.

• Don’t toss job opportunities away just because they are not work-from-home.

• You don’t have to have a college degree to get an anxiety-friendly job. Look at technical and community colleges for certificate programs that may interest you.

Best Entry Level Low-Stress Jobs for People With Anxiety

1. Freelance writing, blogging, and editing. If you are word-savvy, give freelancing a try. You can work from home, set your own hours, and negotiate your own rates. These jobs give you practice working with clients and deadlines, but it is limited to how many gigs you want to take on.

2. Creative fields like social media manager. If you like social media and creating creative online spaces, search for social media or engagement manager positions. It would give you the chance to practice working with people, but most of the job is creative work on your own.

3. Bookkeeper and accountant. These jobs have many overlapping responsibilities but they both allow you to have some freedom from major anxiety triggers. But beware, some accountant and bookkeeping jobs can be incredibly stressful– try looking for a position in a smaller company or one that doesn’t require you to handle so many accounts by yourself.

4. Computer programmer and IT specialist. This job is great for someone with anxiety and can often be done from home. You don’t always need a degree to land this job either– try taking competency exams for coding languages and use that to prove skills in the job application process.

5. Librarian. If you are a bookworm and want to help improve literacy, this could be the job for you. Librarians work with people to help put on programs, but those are usually low-key events.

Best Low-Stress Jobs for People With Anxiety (No College Needed)

1. Pet jobs. If you love animals, there are many jobs that could be perfect for you. Some examples are dog trainer, pet groomer, kennel worker, and dog walker.

2. Landscaping. If you like to work outside, landscaping could be the perfect gig for you. You probably will be working in a team of landscapers but most of the workday will be working alone for each task.

3. Firefighter or forest ranger. If you want to be in public service but have social anxiety, working as a firefighter or forest ranger could be a great option.

4. School bus driver. If you love kids and want a job that doesn’t involve being with them one-on-one for nine hours a day, bring a school bus driver could be a great option.

5. Uber/Lyft/Taxi driver. Being a for-hire driver is a great way to work on your own hours and also have practice interacting with people for short periods of time.

6. Book store assistant. If you love books but cannot work as a librarian because you don’t have the degree, working as an assistant in a library or book store would be a great choice.

7. Graphic designer. If you are creative and are seeking a creative outlet for a job, try searching for graphic design jobs.

8. Court/Medical Proofreader/Transcriptionist. This job is another job that is typically work-from-home and has a lot of flexibility.

9. Stocking jobs. If you don’t mind lifting some heavier items, try stocking jobs. Most retail stores need third-shift workers to restock.

10. Cosmetologist. While cutting hair, taking care of nails, and perfecting makeup may seem challenging for someone with social anxiety, working as a cosmetologist could be a great option because it allows for multiple limited interactions with people.

Best Low Stress Work-From-Home Jobs for People With Anxiety

1. Transcriptionist. Being a transcriptionist involves listening to audio and typing out the words you hear. It’s in high demand in the fields of journalism, law, and medicine, as they often have a lot of recordings they need written down.

   It’s a low-stress job without a lot of social interaction, but you’ll need good typing and listening skills to be successful.

2. Data entry clerk. A data entry clerk manually inputs or updates company data. Almost every large business requires this kind of work, so there’s a lot of demand for workers with basic computer skills and a fast typing speed.

   It can boring, but it’s certainly not stressful.

3. English teacher. If you have anxiety but love working with kids, working as an online English teacher might be the perfect fit. Many of these remote teaching jobs involve teaching students in Asia, so you’ll have to wake up pretty early for work.

   However, it gives you some fun, low-pressure social interaction to start your day. Plus, you don’t have to worry as much about classroom management in an online setting.

4. Web developer. Web developers build websites for clients who contract them or work directly for a company. You’ll need some skills in HTML/CSS and JavaScript, but it’s a job you can do independently a lot of the time. Web development can be a very lucrative line of work without too much stress.

5. Video editor. Video marketing is becoming more popular each year. Video editors are unique in the film production process, being the only ones who can work from home and without much social interaction.

   You’ll still need to work with clients, but you’ll have a lot of freedom over how you do your job. You’ll need some skills with video editing software and creativity to get started.

6. Virtual assistant. This work-from-home job requires more social interaction than most of the others, but still less than your standard office assistant job.

   You’ll have to schedule appointments, file records, answer calls, compose emails, distribute documents, and respond to inquiries. But with the right organizational, written communication, and computer skills, you’ll succeed as a virtual assistant.

What to Look for in a Low-Stress Job

The best type of job to look for is one that can be flexible depending on your needs. The term flexibility is extremely broad and may mean different things to different people. Consider the things that make you the most nervous about landing a new job. Is it interacting with customers, keeping up with your to-do list, or managing finances?

Whatever is causing your anxiety, try your best to identify it and then consider jobs that do not require those skills. For example, if commuting makes you anxious, you may be better suited for a work-from-home job or one that offers remote work part-time.

If you’re worried about the number of responsibilities you need to manage, you may be better suited in a retail job that does not require after-hours responsibilities. If managing a team makes you nervous, you may be better working as a postal worker or delivery driver.

Whatever the case, you will want to look for a job that gives you personal space within the workday and a work-life balance so you can take time off to recharge your batteries.

Final Thoughts

If you thought that there are no jobs available for someone with anxiety, hopefully, this article helped put your mind at ease. There are many jobs that can be a great fit for someone with anxiety, especially social anxiety.

If you have anxiety, you may look for work-from-home jobs so that you can avoid hectic office life. But don’t overlook some jobs just because they are not work-from-home. Some jobs can be flexible or have space to create private spheres within the workspace.

If you are still feeling stressed and anxious after this article, take a moment to sit back and remember: There are many options out there and this article can help you find one that fits your needs perfectly. And if you need help relaxing before the interview, here are a few ways to conquer interview anxiety.

Author

Heidi Cope

Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.