My Favorite Slow Paced Jobs: Where & How To Get Them
Slow-paced jobs could be how you unlock a life of relaxation while still getting paid. We'll look at some jobs that let you take it at your own pace.
- Slow-paced jobs improve health, reduce stress, and enhance job satisfaction.
- Examples of slow-paced jobs include data entry, librarian, dog walker, and florist.
- Benefits include flexible schedules, a relaxed pace, and working in calm environments.
- Downsides include lower pay, repetitive tasks, or limited career advancement opportunities.
The workplace is a major contributor to stress, with 94 percent of employees reporting job strain.
While controlling stress is key to a healthier life, perhaps it's time to look for another job where you can work at a slower pace.
This guide will outline the best slow-paced jobs so you can leave your days of stress in the rearview.
The Best Slow-Paced Jobs (Overview)
- Data Entry
- Librarian
- Dog Walker
- Masseuse
- Florist
Why You Should Consider a Slow-Paced Job
As you contemplate whether to leave your fast-paced life behind, here are some advantages of choosing a slower, more relaxed gig:
Work according to your own schedule
Slow-paced work doesn't require constant rushing. You can take your time, achieving your assignments and objectives for the day on a schedule that suits you.
Improve your health
Chronic stress increases weight gain, sleep issues, heart attack and heart disease risk, muscle pain and tension, depression, and anxiety.
Switching to a low-stress job will improve your physical and mental health.
Enjoy your work
Many people don't like their jobs, with dissatisfaction levels on the rise. Slow-paced workers can derive a lot of enjoyment out of work because it's not so mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing.
Top 5 Slow-Paced Gigs
Low-stress jobs are a better choice for our health, so let's explore the career paths and side hustles you should consider as you ditch the stress and prioritize yourself.
1. Data Entry
A great role to pursue to reduce your stress is data entry. In this clerical job, you will input data for companies.
The type of data your job requires varies. For example, you could work with medical data or raw sales figures for a company.
The payment rate depends on the company hiring you for the work. Some clerks receive hourly pay, while others are paid by keystrokes per word/hour/minute. In the latter pay structure, it benefits you to type quickly.
Seek roles where you're paid by the hour to keep this a low-stress job. The average salary is $25,000 to $38,000 per year working in this role full-time.
What You Need to Do Data Entry
- Good keyboard skills
- Database and word-processing software experience
- Spreadsheet and database experience
Pros
- You can work uninterrupted in this slow-paced job.
- You will stay busy all day but not feel stressed.
- You don't need a specialized degree or much experience.
Cons
- The job is repetitive.
- You must type quickly to complete projects expediently.
Platforms to Find Data Entry Jobs
2. Librarian
Working as a librarian is one of the least stressful jobs you can pursue.
You'll help guests check out books to read, provide information to visitors, and assist them in research. Your job allows you to work with a diverse group of people and foster a love for knowledge.
When you're not working directly with customers, you'll be busily arranging bookshelves, archiving material, cataloging resources, keeping library records current, and auditing your inventory.
You can expect an average salary of $51,244 to $89,351 annually as a librarian, with a median salary of $69,550.
What You Need to Become a Librarian
- Bachelor's or master's degree in library science, or
- Accreditation from a program under the American Library Association
- Job experience
Pros
- You will work in a quiet environment with low stress levels.
- You'll help people learn, a rewarding feeling that doesn't get old.
- There's always something to do, keeping your days from feeling similar.
Cons
- It's not a high-paying gig for most librarians.
- Visitors will leave the areas you organized a mess.
Platforms to Find Librarian Jobs
3. Dog Walker
A perfect slow-paced job for those who like to stay active is working as a dog walker.
You'll minimize face-to-face interaction with people, instead spending your days with man's best friend. You're tasked with keeping up with a dog's care as a dog walker.
You'll do more than exercise canine companions. You will also give Fido his food and water, clean up his waste, play with him, and take him to the vet if need be.
You might work for clients on a short-term basis, like when a family goes on vacation, or long-term, such as for a client who works away from home during the week.
This job pays $28,560 to $62,140 per year, with the average dog walker earning $42,127.
What You Need to Become a Dog Walker
- GED
- Current driver's license
- Dog care and training experience (not necessarily veterinary)
- Good driving record
Pros
- You get to spend all day with dogs.
- You will get plenty of exercise between walking and playing with canines.
- No offices here; your job requires you to be outside in the fresh air.
Cons
- Finding dog walking jobs can be difficult, as you must regularly seek new clients.
- This job can be tough if you have to take a dog to the vet.
Platforms to Find Dog-Walking Gigs
4. Masseuse
As a massage therapist or masseuse, you're all about a relaxed pace.
You'll use massage modalities to alleviate client stresses, soothe their muscles, reduce their pain, and improve their quality of life.
You can feel good about your gig knowing you're improving client wellness.
You might work in a health office or spa as a massage therapist. Some masseuses travel to their clients' homes. This job has an average salary of $49,860 per year.
What You Need to Become a Masseuse
- Completion of approved massage therapy program
- National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork certification
Pros
- This job is versatile, offering unique work environments.
- You're making a positive difference in the lives of your clients.
- This job has flexible working hours and scheduling.
Cons
- This is a physically intensive job.
- Female massage therapists might be faced with harassment.
Platforms to Find Masseuse Jobs
5. Florist
Consider becoming a florist if you're looking for a very slow-paced job.
As a floral designer, you'll create arrangements for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, new jobs, baby showers, and housewarmings.
You'll cut and arrange flowers to a customer's specifications, favoring fragrances and colors based on seasonality and client preferences.
You can work in a floral shop or in a hospital or grocery store's floral department.
Floral designers earn $34,310 as a mean annual wage.
What You Need to Become a Florist
- Floral design skills
- A diverse portfolio
- Knowledge of flower species
- Engineering skills so your arrangements don't fall apart in shipping
Pros
- You don't need many technical skills to become a florist, nor higher education degrees.
- You can take your career to the next level with certifications that set you apart.
- You will work in a quiet, relaxing environment.
Cons
- Floral design is a lower-paying job, with only so much room for advancement.
- You can’t do this job if you suffer from seasonal allergies due to pollen exposure.
Platforms to Find Florist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
What Profession Works the Least Hours?
Seeking a career as a dietician, real estate agent, author, musician, artist, chiropractor, psychologist, or dentist allows you to log fewer than 40 hours per week. Many of these gigs pay the big bucks, especially if you're more established.
What Is the Least Stressful Job?
All jobs have some stress, but you should consider a job in the fine arts or opening your own landscaping business for lower stress. Working as a house sitter or a medical lab technician can keep your stress levels down, as well.
Wrapping Up
The best low-stress jobs allow you to work at a comfortable pace and offer flexible hours and/or working environments.
You can't completely remove stress from your working life, but with gigs like these, you're about as close as you can get!
Let us know what you think in the comments below, and share this with a friend who needs a more chill work life!
Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.