City Stress

Dagens nyheter's På stan recently had an article about so-called micro stress. That's stress about small things, daily life stuff, which is supposedly more predominant among city dwellers. The articles includes a self test - how will I score?

You micro stress when:
1. The computer freezes - Guilty!
2. You must remove your mittens to use your iPhone - Nah, love it so much I don't mind haha!
3. People try to board the tube train before letting you get off - Oh yes!
4. You're waiting for one of the separating sticks (to separate your shopping from the customer's in front of you) to be free in the supermarket - Not really but I do get annoyed when people are slow!
5. People don't keep to the right in the tube (escalators) - Very!
6. Out-of-towners and idiots who stop at the top or bottom of the escalators - Yes! And this could actually be dangerous!
7. Sluggers who check their receipt for too long at the ATM - Don't encounter that too often, so no.
8. You fail to get the attention of the bartender after the umpteen time - Yes! I think I'm too polite and not pushy enough
9. People don't have their ticket ready when they board the bus and keep looking for it while the bus is running - Well, as long as the bus actually leaves and the driver doesn't wait for the person I'm fine
10. When the staff at the burger place says "it's ready in 3 minutes" but those minutes double - Doesn't actually bother me much
11. You need to swipe your credit card several times in the shop - I reflect on it but don't stress about it
12. You get stuck behind a row of prams and fail to overtake - Oh yes! Or just people in general taking up the whole width of the pavement.
13. When a caller introduces themselves for too long - No, but I do like when people get to the point, even friends don't need to bother with "how are you?", etc. Hahaha!
14. People who don't answer their ringing mobiles on the tube/bus - Yes, or when people haven't removed the buttons' beeps or click noises (e.g. when sending text messages)

Score: 8.5 (counted 4, 9 and 11 as 0.5)

Result (5-9 yes): Hi freelancer, student or part-time working enjoyer of life! You are a master of long lunches and "after work" and hurry slowly between the day's few commitments. Lot of talk, little action constitutes your chilled lifestyle where Friday wine lunch is a permanent feature. Trade the Chablin for an energy drink once a week to achieve the ultimate balance in city life.

This sounds like me! Not just during maternity leave but I'm pretty good at staying calm and not letting things get to me. The things that do bother me are just common sense and things people should really stop doing! ;)