Need some R and R? You're Not the Only One in Massachusetts

By Kasandra Brabaw (Patch Staff)

If you’ve been feeling a little restless, stressed and in need of a personal day, then you’re not alone. Chances are, your neighbors feel the same way.

The majority of Massachusetts residents forgo taking time to improve their personal well being, according to a new study from Lantern.

Massachusetts ranks seventh on the company’s index for least emotionally balanced states. This means residents in 43 states are more likely to take time to care for their emotional health than people living in Massachusetts, according to the study.

To create the Lantern Emotional Balance Index, the company surveyed more than 3,000 people over two weeks between Dec. 26, 2014 and Jan. 9, 2015.

During those two weeks, a projected 44 percent of Massachusetts residents reported regularly taking the time to “learn something new, share a moment of closeness with a loved one, have a meaningful conversation with a friend, do a good deed for someone else, or engage in other activities that help them truly rest, recharge, and unwind,” according to the study.

The state may need to take relaxation tips from its neighbors, as New Hampshire ranked first and Rhode Island ninth in the study’s list of most emotionally recharged states.

Image via Shutterstock