Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional side of a person. It’s called an absence of mental illness. A sound mind is important for your social relationship and the way you feel, act and think. It drives how you handle stress, makes choices, finishes your work’s tasks. Most of all you’re acquainted with how to eat the right foods and all sorts of tangible things. But there are things that can affect your mental health negatively. Here are ways to reduce your exposure to them. Why mental health? It helps you to cope with stress Work efficiently Discover your hidden potential Find a purpose in life Build good relationships Improve physical health Connect with Your Family Your family - parents, siblings, children - are always there during the time of loneliness and stressful situations. Your parents will always lend you a helping hand no matter what happens. Keeping in touch with your family, seeing them through video call or in-person or hearing their voices can help you reduce boredom and loneliness. Do Hobbies  Doing hobbies could be creative activities that can boost your creativity, habits and fight boredom. Indoor hobbies: Candle making Cooking Painting via tablet or the physical canvas Making art by arranging beans, seeds and grains. Watching online videos Learning new things Doing cross stitch Practising digital painting through tablet Gardening Listen to podcast Playing board games: Chess, Game of the Generals, Snakes and Ladders, etc. Eat Healthy Foods You can never be mentally sound without eating healthy food. The best foods are those that are closer to nature. Such foods should be rich in vitamins and minerals and less in preservatives.  Healthy foods include leafy greens, fruits, nuts and seeds.  Specific foods for brain health include avocado, turmeric and oily fishes (sardines and tuna).  Some foods are considered bad for the brain Foods high in trans-fat Sugary drinks such as soft drinks with High-Fructose Syrup Alcohol Highly-processed foods Refined carbohydrates such as white flour, highly processed grains and sugar. Commercial muffins Cured meats  Processed fruit juice Donuts You can include healthy foods in your breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.   Get the Right Exercise You have probably noticed that staying in your house for the whole day or not having a sweat can make you feel fatigued or lethargic. Without daily exercise, your muscles and joints grow weaker; your body accumulates fat as not all calories are burnt. Too much exercise is also not good for your body and mental health. Indoor exercises: Curl-up Jump rope Dancing Lunges Cleaning Push-ups Jumping jacks Following youtube exercises Outdoor exercises: Saunter (30 mins to burn calories) Cycling Jogging Suspension training Get the Right Sleep Your body needs the right amount of sleep to repair damaged cells and tissues from daily errands and workout. Undersleeping or depriving yourself with sleep can lead to weight gain, headaches, erratic mood and possible type 2 diabetes. Oversleeping can result in high risks of obesity, heart disease, headache and impaired infertility. How much you sleep depends on your age.     Babies (0 to 2 months old)     -     12 - 18 hours     Infants (3 to 11 months old)   -     14 - 15 hours     Children (3 to 5 years)          -     11 to 14 hours per day     Children (6 to 12 years)        -     9 to 12 hours per day     Teens (13 to 18 years)          -        8 to 10 hours per day     Adults (18 years above)        -     7 to 8 hours per day Limit News Exposure News is a great source of knowledge - from science to current affairs. But what if most of what you see in news app or TV are all about tragedies - explosions, shootings and the ongoing COVID    -19 pandemic?  According to the American Psychological Association, constant watching of negative news may be bad for your health. Similarly, being bombarded by upsetting news and natural disasters may increase the loop of distress and personal worries. How to minimize exposure to negativities Move news and social media apps off the home screen. Set a timer to limit your time spent on news and apps. Read and watch uplifting news such as cute pets, humour and uplifting stories. A landlord offers his/her apartment for free for the entire duration of COVID-19 lockdown. Millionaires spend part of their income to open a soup kitchen for the displaced workers. Pet cat/dog rescues his/her owner from a heart attack. Actors and actresses sent truckloads of rice, coffee, noodles and canned goods to suffering jeepney drivers. A man who is broke and subsisting on grated coconut got relief goods and employment from PESO. Man feeds dogs and cats. Avoid Smoking While it seems smoking is relaxing, research shows that smoking can increase anxiety, depression and addiction. Smoking is an addictive habit that can lead to heart disease, cancers, regular flu, and shortness of breath that can impact your concentration and eventually your mental health. Limit or Avoid Drinking Alcohol Drinks Alcohol is known to slow down brain response and affect nerve signals in the brain. According to this resource, extreme drinking can lead to psychosis, delusions and hallucinations - mental conditions that can impact your mental health.  Play Video Games Video games, whether it’s a strategy, shooting or puzzle, can make you forget the passage of time and fight boredom. Various articles described the benefits of playing video games. One is from the apa.org that published a 13-page study. Gamedesigning.org listed 10 reasons why video games are good for you. Anything in excess is harmful and this is true in video gaming. Another benefit is you can enhance your skills in problem-solving. Games such as puzzles, arcade, RPG, strategy and first-person shooter games use puzzles as a test for the player before he/she progresses into another stage.  Spend Time with Pets Dogs, cats, parrots and goldfishes are some of the popular pets in the Philippines. Going home with your cat or dog waiting at your door can be stress relieving. Look at numerous Youtube videos when feline friends wake up their human friends, a raven mimics a human voice and a dog acts like a human. Another idea is to buy a fishbowl aquarium, goldfish and gourami. Add filtered water, aquatic plants, sand and corals. Install a water filter to prevent dirt buildup. You can keep this on the sturdy table. Owning a pet is beneficial to your health, according to a study made at SUNY Buffalo. Owning pets can improve heart health. Aside from that, your pet can be your lifesaver during times of solitary life

Maybe if you’re asked - “what are the reasons why did you quit your job? You’ll answer - Low pay and stress.  In fact, stress is one of the main causes why Filipinos leave their job alongside other factors such as a bossy supervisor or manager, insecurity, non-stability and lousy pay. Stress pertains to the body’s response to threat or demand. Some jobs have low-stress levels compared to jobs known for high churn rate (attrition level). No job is absolutely stress-free as everything faces challenges and demands for accuracy and efficient communication. And the stress level depends on the person’s training and skills. What factors that affect work stress Career growth ​Change in residence Competition Exposure to chemical hazards ​Exposure to environmental hazards Physical demands Responsibility for someone’s life Risks of physical injury Tight deadlines Travel Working under public scrutiny Though the perception of stress may be subjective and depend on every person These jobs are known for their low-stress levels compared to in high stress-category.    ACTUARIAL An actuary is a profession that deals with money and insurance. Here, you’ll use statistics and probability to help insurance companies predict business trends and stability. You’ll deal with mathematical concepts to calculate how much should be set aside to ensure that it will cover unforeseen events. For instance, if a client buys car insurance, he/she expects that the insurance company will pay for that accident or event. You may explore opportunities in finance, genetics, personal money planning, forex, healthcare and risk management.  Where do they work? Insurance companies Banks Hospitals Social security systems of governments What makes it less stressful You don’t face physical risks and physically demanding tasks. What are the cons Some actuaries may face a level of stress than others such as their entry-level colleagues. You have to face mind-numbing math in finance, economics, mathematics and statistics.    ARCHAEOLOGIST You may have seen the movie “Indiana Jones” where “Indiana” a fictional professor who went to missions in recovering the lost ark and the holy grail. Well, that’s an example of an archaeologist - although you won’t exactly have the same lifestyle as Indiana. For this adventurous role, you’ll spend time analysing artefacts - human remains, potteries, weapons, coins, statues, and historical sites. Your analysis is important as it serves as evidence that humanity has a past ancestor who lived, thought, cried, loved and emoted. Where will you work? Museum Universities Historical excavation sites Government agencies Law enforcement  What makes it less stressful Unless you’re trotting over remote and dangerous areas to find the lost ark Indiana Jones style, if you’re in a lab or inside the museum, you’ll face less danger and physical demand. What are the cons Being deployed far away from your family.   AUDIOLOGIST An audiologist is a healthcare profession that is an expert in the study of hearing, related disorders and balance. So, you’re going to diagnose, evaluate and treat patients about their hearing loss,  hearing balance disorders and tinnitus. You may prescribe hearing aids, provide hearing-related rehabilitations such as speech reading, listening improvement and hearing improvement. You’ll recommend implants for the middle, bone-anchored, cochlear and auditory brainstem. What makes it less stressful Audiologists led the least stressful jobs in healthcare. The job involves less physical demands, less exposure to danger such as biohazards (bloodborne pathogens from body fluids) and hospital chemicals. What are the cons Dealing with patient complaints and if you’re in a less-funded government hospital, you may pay hearing-aids.   LIBRARIAN Librarians are among the listed jobs as less stressful. It’s evident since you’re dealing with books, records, digital libraries, internet kiosks and electronic sources. You may be called as an information professional who helps people find info for personal, professional and business use. As a teacher, you’ll show users how to find a specific book through cataloguing systems such as Science, Filipiniana, and History. You may guide people on how to use an almanac, atlas, encyclopedia and dictionary. What makes it less stressful You’re in control of your day and you’re not worrying about others' lives.  Daily, you’re arranging bookshelves and working from an environment will less demand for physical work. What are the cons Long-exposure to video displays can cause eyestrain. Poor pay in some schools.   ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & PROTECTION TECHNICIAN If you’re an environmental advocate or like to see less pollution, then this job is for you. You’ll help the government and NGOs monitor the surroundings by performing field and lab tests. You may join a team of engineers, specialised scientists and other science disciplines investigate and solve environmental problems that affect wildlife and human health. A day in your life involves - performing data entry onto the computer, collecting water samples from waste-water, river, stream and sea; and setting up devices to monitor pollutants from factories and transports. What makes it less stressful This offers an opportunity for fieldwork if you don’t like being confined inside 4 corners of an office or you get a chance of working both in-office and fields. You don’t deal with other people’s lives at stake or meeting tight deadlines. What are the cons You might encounter toxic materials. You might work in extreme weather and outdoor conditions.   JEWELER At this point, you’re in a business of making and selling jewelries - things made from precious stones and metal. Such precious stones include jade, diamond, garnet, aquamarine, sapphire, ruby,  amber, agate, alexandrite, diaspore, cavansite etc. Metals include gold, platinum, silver, iridium, rhodium, osmium and ruthenium. You source precious stones and metals and use your creativity to turn them into necklace, ring, bracelet and earrings. You’re an artisan who cuts and polish these gemstones or uses solder and torches to melt or shape metals.  What makes it less stressful? If you’re a self-employed jeweller, you decide when and where you work. Even for full-time employers, they don’t face tight deadlines or extremely hazardous working conditions. What are the cons Working with heating tools and toxic jewelry cleaning fluid but this can be replaced by ultrasonic cleaning machines.   MEDICAL RECORDS OFFICER Medical Records Officer or Electronic Health Records Officer is a custodian of patients and health personnel’s files. In other words, you’re the master of keeping data safe from unauthorised access and supplying such records if a doctor or pharmacist requests for a patient's history.  You’ll likely work in the hospital’s or clinic’s back office and use a computer to encode or retrieve medical records, manage patients list and present health protocols. What makes it less stressful You deal with papers and their softcopies on the computer. In other words, you’re not involved in direct patient care, thus, you have less risk of exposure to biohazards and emotional or mental stress. What are the cons You may deal with a demanding doctor or other medical staff. You’re responsible for the confidentiality of the records and if anything goes wrong beyond your control - that could be a mental and emotional burden.   MUSEUM CURATOR Maybe you have already been inside a museum or a specialized museum of all sorts - whether it’s a museum of beer bottles or coins during the Spanish period. There’s a guy inside that serves as a tour guide for visitors or someone who secures artifacts. Now, if you’re in such a position, you’re in charge of exhibits and all the treasures worthy to your country’s heritage. A day in the life of this occupation makes up: Raise funds and grants Maintain records and catalogues of artifacts Collaborate with other organisations. Research and compile descriptions of artifacts Secure the museum and its artifacts Guide visitors Enforce museum rules What makes it less stressful Basically, you’re dealing with things hundreds to thousands of years old - so there’s less exposure to mental and emotional stress brought by hazardous or radioactive chemicals unless your museum keeps samples from a nuclear disaster. What are the cons Sudden stress because of stolen artifacts If the museum is haunted, then that will be a frightening experience.   STATISTICIAN If you love crunching numbers and graphs, then statistics can be your calling. This job requires a knowledge of statistical science and math. Your role is to help people know - what is the city’s population, how many are men and women? How many people live in a household, are there more in favour of unemployment insurance? Such textual and numerical facts are useful for making decisions - whether it's for raising funds or providing social care. Regardless of your working environment - private or public, you’ll be collecting and analyzing data through surveys; identifying trends and advising organisations to come up with better decisions. What makes it less stressful? A day in your life will be analyzing facts, data and graphs instead of worrying about tight deadlines and hazardous chemicals which frees you from emotional and nerve-wracking stress. What are the cons Deployment to far places and surveying residential areas where you may encounter rude people.

The ongoing COVID-19 lockdown enforces rules such as social distancing and home quarantine to stave off the virus outbreak. Some employees who have flexible work arrangements in the information technology industry, statistics, accounting, etc were able to secure work from home. If you’re one of such, it will help to eat foods that can nourish your body and health to finish your task with quality and punctuality. Without healthy food, you’ll end up overweight, constipated and possibly develop complications from junk foods.  These foods can nourish your brain and improve your immune system. Further, these foods are high in fiber and less in sugar.   Avocado Photo by Ryan Quintal on Unsplash It’s often listed among health blogs as brain food. Avocados burst with nutrition - minerals and vitamins. Its buttery and creamy texture makes it a good condiment, ingredient and supplement. Avocados contain the folate, potassium and vitamins B6, C, E. Here are some of its benefits: Brain booster - Avocados, which include the Hass cultivar, are rich in oleic acid (a type of omega-9 fatty acid) and polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA. Once oleic acid reaches the small intestine it becomes Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) which is linked to improved memory. A 2009 study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA found out that OEA improves memory. Fiber loaded - Avocados are laden with fibre that can lower your weight, risks of heart disease and blood sugar. (1, 2, 3) Absorb antioxidants - The Journal of Nutrition discovered in 2005 study that eating avocado increases the body’s absorption of antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lycopene. May promote weight loss - A study published in NCBI study reports about this benefit.   Peanuts Peanuts are abundant and cheap. For 10 to 20 pesos, you can eat a handful of fried or boiled peanuts. According to botanists, peanuts aren’t nuts but are a type of legumes similar to string beans. Peanuts contain B-vitamins, Magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. Although it’s high in calories, peanuts are low in carbohydrates. These quasi-nuts are also loaded with healthy fats such as the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that can help lower blood cholesterol, and risks of stroke and heart disease. A word of caution: For those who have nut allergies, you may try alternatives such as beans and seeds.   Canned sardines Sardines are also called the poor man’s food due to its low price. Some don’t know that sardines are nutrient-dense. The lowest-priced sardines is priced at 14.40 Php and the highest-priced is the Spanish style sardines in bottles priced at above 50.00 Php. Numerous sites and videos discuss the benefits of eating sardines as a condiment and main course. While it may not be the best tasting dish, it’s certainly an affordable and healthy meal for Filipinos. Contains minerals - niacin, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Protein-rich - proteins provide essential and non-essential amino acids. Omega-3 fatty acids - Fatty acids are anti-inflammatory that can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and blood clotting. Lower risk of mercury exposure - Sardines are in the low part of the food chain so they are unlikely to eat mercury-contaminated food. Source: FDC During the time of this crisis, you can count on sardines as cheap and versatile food for your recipes such as stews with vegetables and other ingredients (Pechay or Chinese cabbage, moringa, cabbage, egg).   Canned tuna  Canned tuna is also inexpensive. Prices range from 18 to 40 php depending on the brand and serving size. Canned tuna is a versatile food that you can cook with other ingredients or add in some recipes such as salads and spreads.  Good source of protein  Contains omega-3  Contains nutrients such as selenium, potassium and B-vitamins. A word of caution: Not all canned tunas are made equal. Some are made with extenders and artificial ingredients. Another concern is that consuming too much tuna might expose you to high levels of mercury as this fish preys on smaller fishes. Here is a tip, canned light tuna appears to contain less mercury than white tuna. Look for high-quality brands.   Water spinach  Water spinach or Kangkong in Filipino is unrelated to the common spinach but it’s related to sweet potato (camote). Water spinach grows fast and costs less (about 10 php per bundle). You can cook it as a side vegetable in stews or as a separate recipe (adobong kangkong). This humble plant is loaded with the following: Fiber Minerals (Calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, selenium, zinc) Vitamins (Vitamin A , Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, Niacin, Folates, Pantothenic acid, Thiamin, Pyridoxine) A word of caution: Only buy water spinach from trusted and clean sources as it can be contaminated by intestinal flukes and microbes that parasitize humans and pigs. If you’re unsure of the source, clean and cook it thoroughly.    Tofu (Tokwa) Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash Tofu (Tokwa) or soybean curd is a cheap source of protein during this time of rising prices of fish, chicken, pork and beef. In the absence of animal meat, you can use Tokwa as a substitute or add protein in your vegetable dishes. An inexpensive recipe is to cook it with water spinach or Pechay, onions, garlic and oyster sauce - stew style. When buying tofu, always make sure you get the fresh ones as they spoil easily. Spoiled tofu tastes sour and won’t be good for your stomach. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, tofu is your veggie meat. Benefits: Full of nutrients: Contains isoflavone, calcium, copper, fat, magnesium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, protein, selenium and zinc. (1)   Cassava leaves and root Most people don’t know that cassava leaves can be eaten as a vegetable like pechay and water spinach. The plants’ roots are also a staple crop. You can also stew the leaves and mix it with coconut milk or add it with smoked fish (tinapa). Benefits: High in vitamins and minerals: Vitamin C and folate. Low in calories Provide other health benefits.    Long shelf-life foods Mung beans Mung beans belong to the legume family and are easy to grow and nutrient-dense.  Its small green beans can be stored 2 to 3 years without spoiling. You can store them in jars for later use. You can sprout with water for use as a vegetable. An easy recipe of this legume is to mix them with smoked fish or meat, onions, chicharron, sauteed onion and ampalaya leaves. Benefits: Loaded with antioxidants, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 Vitamins, calcium, copper, essential amino acids, folate, fiber, selenium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. For more info about the benefits of mung beans and the said nutrients, visit these links - (1) (2) (3). Note: There’s a belief that mung beans cause arthritis but this was disputed by health professionals and an article.    Oatmeal  Photo by Margarita Zueva on Unsplash When dried, oatmeal doesn’t spoil easily and can be stored in a cool dry place. You can eat it as a breakfast meal or as a mix with nuts, seeds (sunflower, squash). Oatmeal is gluten-free which means it’s Ok for people with celiac disease or difficulty in digesting gluten-rich food such as glutinous rice and wheat. You can also use oatmeal as an extender for meat recipes.   Seeds Sunflower, watermelon, squash and bitter gourd (ampalaya) seeds can be stored for a long time without spoiling or getting mouldy.  You can use them as a snack on their own (salted or sweetened with honey) or as an ingredient to stir-fries, veggie burgers, fish coating and salads. Watermelon (butong pakwan) and ampalaya seeds are also excellent snacks or as garnish to baked goods. Benefits: Squash seeds - Contains copper, vitamin K, iron, fat, carbs, fiber, protein, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, polyunsaturated fatty acids. (1) Sunflower seeds  - Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamins E, Minerals. (1) Watermelon seeds - Contains magnesium, amino acids, zinc, iron, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. (1) (2)

Stress refers to the body’s emotional and physical responses that arise when the job does not match the worker’s resources, needs and capabilities. There isn't an absolute zero-stress job as every job requires some sort of deadline and expectation and that's even true in home-based jobs. Every job has its own unique brand of stress. But, there are jobs that can be clearly defined as stressful and less stressful. These jobs have their stress levels that are more than others.   Military personnel Job description: Military men of all ranks are tasked to defend their country’s sovereignty and assist the civilian government in times of calamity. They may serve as instructors for ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Course and CAT (Citizens Army Training). How much does it pay: Pay depends on rank. 18,587 Php a month for a candidate soldier, 29,668 Php for private and 67,000 Php for military generals. Causes of stress: Possible injury or loss of life (frontline soldiers) due to an enemy or friendly fire,  wrong use of military equipment, being captured as POWS-Prisoners of Wars, and harsh military training (marines, special forces). In fact, military men are prone to psychological trauma after witnessing a loss of life and violence.   Police and other law enforcement jobs Job description: Police and other law enforcers (anti-drug units and special forces) make sure that laws are enforced and assist in investigation tasks.  How much does it pay: Pay depends on police rank, for example, the Police Officer I (PO1) earns 29,668 Php, the Senior Police Officer II (SPO3) - 34,079 Php, Police Chief Superintendent (PSSUPT) 91,058 Php and the Police Director General (PDG) - 149,785 Php (1). Causes of stress: Policemen and other law enforcers face a possible injury or loss of life when they go on dangerous operations such as raids, undercover missions or face a lone criminal. Those special action force units (police special force) undergo harsh training on par with marines.   Airline pilot Job description: Pilots guide and steer the aeroplane and make sure that the passengers get safe and smooth air travel from the airport to airport. They also have to communicate with the air traffic controller for weather, location, flight clearance and altitude guidance. How much does it pay: Pilot salaries pay well (156,823 Php) as they top the list in Philippine wage scale although it depends on experience and airline companies. Causes of stress: Pilots bear the responsibility of controlling and flying a gigantic machine and mind about the lives of a few hundreds of their passengers. Sure, the cockpit is full of high-tech controls and screens, but when engine trouble comes, a well planned and thought decision can mean the difference between an air crash or a happy landing.   Firefighter Job description: Firemen plan and execute the best possible methods to efficiently put out a fire, prevent further fire damage and save trapped lives as soon as possible. How much does it pay: Firefighters for the Bureau of Fire Protection earn as much as 37,448 Php including allowances and salary. Causes of stress: Facing a building slowly consumed by a raging fire, is a frightening situation to endure. On top of that, the real hazards are going through a burning house, avoiding electrical wires, finding trapped men and animals, and going to dangerous heights.    Doctor (Surgeon) Job description: The role of this job is to cut and close the patient’s tissues and skin. Surgeons diagnose and treat animals and humans for internal problems. They remove diseased tissues, organs, and use sophisticated equipment to sustain a delicate surgery and save the life of a patient under life support. How much does it pay: Salary depends on the experience and specialization but generally, the profession pays well. General practitioners get a salary between 300 Php and 1500 Php for consultation for every patient. More experienced surgeons who work for government hospitals, the Department of Health, and bigger hospitals can earn 64,000 Php to 80,000 Php. Causes of stress: Being a surgeon doctor means the life of a patient whom you are going to operate is at your hands. Anything that goes wrong such as misdiagnosis, using the opposite blood type (O versus A), and operating on the wrong patient can lead to suspension/loss of license, disastrous surgery, lawsuits and loss of life.   Registered Nurse Job description: Nurses take care of patients by administering and monitoring the intravenous infusions and other medications, taking temperature and blood samples, providing pre and post-operational care, writing records, tutoring student nurses and supervising junior nurses. How much does it pay: A nurse earns a salary between 8,000 - 13,000 Php or more, depending on these factors:  location (province vs NCR), (private vs government hospitals and experience. Overseas, the salary could be higher starting from $3,800 per month to $4,500. Causes of stress: Hospitals, its ward and emergency rooms could be busy and chaotic. Incoming patients are either in a life-threatening situation or need prompt medical attention. Add a load of 7 patients per shift of nurses, a sleepless evening shift and you got a recipe for stress. You may or might go home exhausted. Patients you haven’t monitored may go bad as their families are seeking you out to ask the question why you haven’t done this ABC etc.   Chef and kitchen commissaries in busiest restaurants/hotels Job description: Chefs (the head of the kitchen) oversee a kitchen and ensure that its operation flows smoothly such as delivering accurate food orders and making it tasty as possible. They also make food costing to keep wastage down, modify and make menus.  Kitchen commissaries make mise en place (food preparations) and orders according to the standard. How much does it pay?: An average salary of a chef is around 10,000 Php to 18, 000 Php or more depending on experience and the size of the restaurant, resort or hotel where he/she serves. The same position in a bigger company could mean a higher salary for the chef. An executive chef might earn 45,000 Php or more. Causes of stress: Chefs are considered one of the most stressful jobs. If you work in a highly busy fine dining restaurant with a hundred customers, then you must face a constant pressure of keeping orders organized and have them clearly instructed to your cooks (commissaries, chef de parties and demi-chef de parties). As a chef, you're likely to be blamed by the management if any of diners complain - bandages in a salad, hair in pasta, larvae in Romaine lettuce, stale bread, and all sorts of strange things you can imagine.  There’s a danger of slicing your hands with a knife or machine or getting injured by a bouncing knife. Throughout busy hours, you may come across cursing or yelling with other cooks (just think Gordon Ramsay’s hell's kitchen) as one of them made a wrong order or got into a heated argument.  You also have to mind modified or special orders because of vegan, vegetarian, religious and dietary requests of customers. As a commissary, you have to make accurate orders while facing a stream of requests that just came out from a kitchen printer or waiter. On top of that, add the mistakes that arise from forgotten order detail plus yelling colleagues and you got a situation of exploding like a pressure cooker.    Taxi Drivers Job description: They take the passengers in the right direction and destination. Taxi drivers make sure that their passengers are comfortable and taken to their destinations. How much does it pay: Taxi drivers rent cars from the owners of carpool or operators and pay them from 1,200 Php to 3,600 Php depending on the number of hours of driving and take-home pay of about 1,000 Php. Causes of stress: Taxi drivers face a number of stressors such as varying temperament of passengers, traffic, and reduced sleeping hours. There’s also the possibility of crimes caused by questionable passengers, road rage from other motorists, being flagged by MMDA or traffic enforcers for violations and air pollution.   Flight Steward or Attendants (Cabin Crews) Job description: Flight stewards, attendants or cabin crews guide and take care of passengers throughout the flight duration. They attend flight briefing,  serve inflight meals and drinks; perform safety demos during preflights and before landings; and greet passengers with courtesies. How much does it pay: Flight attendants earn starting from 18,000 Php to 60,000 Php or more depending on experience, position and airline. Salaries are higher in large and multinational airlines that fly international routes compared to local airlines. Airlines pay their crews only during time airborne and not between inflights. Causes of stress:  The stress level of cabin crew depends on the volume of passengers and airline but generally flight attendants encounter stresses such as: meeting various types of people (personalities), different situations (rude vs nice, sporadic hours, wake-up calls, flight cancellations, flight delays, and sleepless nights).   The Bottom Line This list is not meant to dissuade graduates or students from taking one of the above jobs but rather serve as a guide or info of what they can expect from pursuing these professions.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), poverty declined slowly over the past four decades owing to the great income inequality in Filipino society. While employment opportunities exist in the country, the fact remains - many Filipinos struggle to own a house or break free from the vicious cycle of renting (eats a huge chunk of monthly savings), worsening traffic, and low income. Despite this situation, you can still mitigate factors that you can control by following a frugal lifestyle.   1. Search for nearby, quality and rent-to-own house If you’re a minimum wage earner or earning just a little above a minimum wage, it will help if you go for affordable rent in an apartment, condo or single detached subdivision and weigh the factors essential for safe and quality living. If you can afford to settle down for a rent to own condo, single-detached or row house within metro manila or the nearest outskirts (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal), then go for it. Make sure that your house has transport accessibility. Renting a housing is a temporary solution but if you’re going to work in the same place for more than 2+ years then it’s better to settle down for rent to own housing.   Factors to look for when renting a house Factors Description Fire safety The house should be fire safe and built with less combustible material and provided with a proper fire exit. Neighbourhood safety: A safe neighbourhood should be free from crime and the community has strong law enforcement and security in place: Gates, lighting and Barangay police (Tanod). Geological safety The place should be safe from flooding, landslide, and faults. Affordability The house rent should not be expensive and it should not take away a huge chunk of your monthly savings. Distance Your house should be near your office or working site, otherwise travelling could be taxing because of distance travel, heavy traffic, and reduced resting hours.   2. Settle down for a rent to own property. If you work for the long term (2 to 10 years), it’s advisable to look for a rent to own property such as a row house, single detached or condo unit. Renting a house is only a temporary solution but in the end, it’s a waste of money because after renting 5 or more years, that property will never be yours. Instead, look for affordable and nearby housing. Most row houses are priced less than single detached. You can also save money by choosing for foreclosed properties (PAG-IBIG has a comprehensive list of foreclosed properties). Finding an affordable rent to own housing near the business and working centre (Ortigas, Makati, Eastwood Libis) is not easy unless you already own a property or have a well-off family because of high property values within the metro manila and the nearest outskirts such as Cainta, Rizal, Bacoor, Cavite and Tungko, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.   3. Reduce wants and keep your needs. Wants refer to things that you wish to have but not absolutely necessary to live. Needs are things that you need to survive. You can reduce your cost of living by reducing wants. Here is the table of wants versus needs. Basically, if you’re a caveman or living in a rural area, your only needs are food, water, clothing and shelter. But because you’re now living in an urbanized society, such needs are more than such four basics. The needs below are adjusted for urban living conditions.   Needs Wants Home packed lunch Dining in fast food or fine dining restaurant Access to clean tap water Mineral water Used and basic clothing and shoes Expensive and branded clothing and shoes   Movie and video streaming service Internet (necessary if you’re in freelance business) Internet (only for video streaming and gaming) Inexpensive phone Expensive phone   4. Save money for tomorrow The future is both exciting and frightening because you’ll never know if you are heading to a utopian or dystopian society unless you possess a future-telling power. If you don’t have money when crisis knocks at your doorstep, you’ll go broke. You may never know if you can depend on your relatives. Saving money for an emergency fund can help you cover during these future plans and unfortunate situations:   Future plans Unfortunate situations Career change Unforeseen health issues Start a small and medium-size business Company bankruptcy Early retirement Accidents Buying a property Natural disasters Resignation and transition to a new job   You can save money safely by: Saving in a stable bank  - Separate your checking from savings accounts for steady savings. Saving in a cooperative - A cooperative shares its profits to members and help them during emergency needs. Investing in insurance - Find a stable insurance company and get a suitable plan.   5. Get a side income Earning a side income, a part-time or freelance can earn you extra money while working a full-time job. It includes selling your products and services.  Advances in the internet and technology made working at home possible. Capitalize on your skills and creativity. Here are the side income ideas. A reminder, make sure that your side income is not in conflict with your full-time job which is the main focus of your time and effort.   Side income Essentials and Investment Copywriting, News Writing, Technical Writing Writing skills, graphic software skills, time manager, Stable internet connection, laptop, modem, comfortable office chair and table. Graphic design Graphic software skills, laptop, stable internet connection, modem, comfortable office chair and table. Surveys Time management, laptop, stable internet connection Blog Writing skills, graphic software skills, time management, laptop, stable internet connection Crafts and trade  Machines materials used in making crafts, marketing and social media  Food (condiments, pastry, sausages or longganisa ) Ingredients, cooking wares, marketing and social media Forex  Upfront money investment, forex trade training