Now you can measure stress with the Stress Meter
What is stress?
Stress is the body’s way of reacting to different types of pressures. When we experience situations that the body interprets as dangerous or challenging, the stress response is activated.
This is entirely natural and part of our built-in defense system. The problem arises when stress becomes prolonged or repetitive, as it can lead to both mental and physical health issues.
Symptoms of chronic stress can include headaches, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and difficulty relaxing. Therefore, it is important to be aware of your own stress level and, if necessary, take measures to reduce stress.
By regularly measuring your stress level, you get an indication of how you are doing and whether you need to adjust your life to feel better.
Our free stress measurement is a simple self-awareness tool that can help you maintain your health.
How can one measure stress?
There are different ways to measure stress, using both objective and subjective methods.
Objective measurements focus on physiological stress reactions in the body. For example, measuring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva, monitoring blood pressure, or heart rate variability.
Subjective measurement methods, on the other hand, rely on the individual’s own perception of their stress levels. This is captured through various types of questionnaires and rating scales.
Our stress meter is an example of a subjective measurement method, where the person rates their current state based on 18 questions about common stress symptoms. The total score then provides an indication of the perceived stress at that moment.
Other established subjective measurement methods include PSS (Perceived Stress Scale) and DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales), where participants respond to statements about their thoughts, feelings, and perceptions regarding stress.
Both objective and subjective measurement methods have their advantages and disadvantages. They can be combined to provide the most comprehensive picture possible. The most important aspect is to repeat the measurements over time to observe trends and evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions to reduce stress.
Do you keep track
of your stress level?
The purpose of this page is to offer you as a visitor a free opportunity to quickly measure your stress and your current stress level.
By answering the questions in our stress meter, you will get an indication of how you are feeling right now. It will only take 1-2 minutes of your time. The measurement will give you a number between 1-7, indicating your current stress level, where 1 means no stress at all and 7 means extreme stress.
The result is meant to be a guide and a hint as to whether you should take some measures to feel better.
Maybe you need more sleep, regular exercise, talking to a friend, or booking an appointment with a therapist? Or perhaps you are doing well and just need to continue as usual.
Regardless, we hope that you will benefit from our free service for self-awareness.
How does our stress meter work?
Our stress meter is designed to provide an overview of the perceived psychological stress in the individual answering the questions.
The measurement covers areas that affect well-being when stress is too high or prolonged.
It includes feelings of worry, anxiety, irritation, and nervousness, for example. Also, factors such as fatigue, exhaustion, and cognitive problems like difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness are included, as these are often linked to stress.
By asking about sleep and rest, the ability to recover is also assessed. The idea is that the measurement will provide an understanding of your current psychological state and whether the level of stress is healthy or if it’s becoming too high.
Simply put, you will find out if there are signals indicating that you need to pause and find ways to reduce stress or if you are feeling well and balanced.
Our stress meter consists of a total of 18 questions covering various aspects of stress, such as fatigue, irritation, worry, low mood, and cognitive issues. The questions have been designed based on well-established psychological tests used in research for many years.
As the person answering the questions, you will rate the extent to which each statement applies to you right now on a scale of 1-7. A score of 1 means the statement does not apply at all, and 7 means it applies completely. Example statements could be “I feel like I’ve had enough” or “I feel alert.”
After responding to all 18 questions, your answers will be summed up and sent to your email. Your stress level will then be presented on a scale of 1-7, where 1 indicates very low current stress, and 7 indicates a very high current stress level. This way, you get an indication of your current stress level.
Stressed colleagues?
Reduce stress in your organization.
Here you can take a stress measurement and instantly get the results of your stress level.
You will also receive a brief summary that tells you where you stand.
Reducing stress in an organization is crucial for creating a healthy work environment where employees feel well and perform at their best. Our stress meter can be a useful tool for this.
By allowing everyone in the staff to take the measurement regularly, you can get a collective picture of the stress levels. Any high-scoring groups that stand out as potential risk areas can be identified and provided with extra support in a timely manner. If the results show generally elevated stress levels during periods with many deadlines, you know that interventions are needed at that time. Visualizing stress in this way makes it easier to implement the right measures.
In addition to the measurements, we recommend reviewing organizational factors that may affect stress.
This can include workload, control over tasks, predictability, social support, and feedback. Areas such as meeting culture and streamlining processes should also be examined.
Consider having regular check-ins where employees can share their views on the situation. Highlight successful examples within the team to inspire others. And don’t forget to celebrate achievements together!
By systematically working to reduce stress in workplaces, we can achieve a healthier and more productive business environment. Better health and more harmonious organizations would benefit us all. So let’s take this seriously – together, we can reduce stress!
Stress Measurement
in the app
Mindtemp is a digital health coach where you can measure your stress, but above all, get help to improve your health with lower stress levels.
In the app, you can conduct stress measurements and track your progress over time.
As mentioned, our stress measurement is completely free to use. It is offered as a complimentary service to provide people with a simple tool for self-awareness about stress and well-being. Our hope is that as many people as possible can benefit from trying the stress meter and become more aware of their own stress signals and health.
Feel free to share the link with family, friends, and colleagues if you think they would also benefit from trying it out. The more people become aware of how stress affects them, the better public health we can achieve. Take care of yourself and your loved ones by keeping an eye on your stress levels!
Check your stress level right now, click and answer the questions. It takes 30 seconds.
To conduct our stress measurement and find out your current stress level, click on the “Take the stress measurement here!” button below. You will be directed to a questionnaire with a total of 18 statements.
Read each statement carefully and indicate how well it applies to you right now by selecting a number from 1 to 7. Remember that 1 = not at all true and 7 = completely true. There are no right or wrong answers; the responses are solely based on your personal experience in this moment.
“It is important to answer the questions honestly to get an accurate result. Take the time you need to think through your answers. ”
Once you have answered all 18 statements, you will immediately see your total score translated into a stress level from 1 to 7. The entire measurement takes approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute to complete. Click the button below when you are ready to begin!
Frequently Asked Questions about stress and stress measurement:
What is a stress test?
A stress test is a method used to measure a person’s current perceived stress level. It involves answering questions that capture common stress symptoms and signs of increased psychological strain.
Stress tests can vary in format, but they often include statements about feelings of worry, anxiety, irritation, fatigue, and cognitive issues such as difficulty concentrating. Questions about sleep, rest, and general well-being are also commonly included.
Individuals taking our stress test are asked to rate the extent to which each statement applies to them at that moment, on a scale of 1 to 7. The higher the number, the more agreement with the statement.
Based on the responses, a total score is calculated. This score reflects the individual’s perceived stress level at the time the test was taken. The higher the score, the higher the current stress level.
Stress tests, therefore, provide a snapshot of one’s current mental well-being and whether the stress level is within a healthy range or starting to become too high. They can be a useful tool for self-reflection and becoming aware of one’s stress signals.
What is a normal stress level?
A normal stress level is individual and varies from person to person. The important thing is that stress does not become too high or prolonged, as it can lead to both mental and physical health issues.
A low to moderate level of stress is a part of everyday life for most people. Feeling slightly stressed at times may not be harmful, as long as there is time for relaxation and unwinding. Signs of normal stress could include occasional feelings of tension, worry, or irritability.
However, if stress becomes too high and prolonged, warning signs may include:
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Recurring headaches or stomach aches
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Difficulty relaxing and sleeping
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Persistent feelings of sadness and anxiety
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Trouble concentrating
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Rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties
If someone experiences several of these symptoms, it may indicate that stress has exceeded what could be considered a normal level. Regular stress measurements can help individuals become aware of their stress levels and take appropriate actions in a timely manner.
Finding a balanced approach between demands and recovery is ideal for overall well-being. Listening to the body’s signals and adjusting stress levels according to the life situation is essential.
Can you see if you are stressed in a blood test?
It is not possible to directly measure the perceived stress level through a regular blood test. However, certain blood values can be affected by long-term stress.
One such value is the level of the stress hormone cortisol. During prolonged stress, cortisol levels may remain elevated over extended periods, and this can be measured in the blood.
Blood sugar and blood lipids (fats) can also be negatively impacted by stress. For example, chronically elevated blood lipids like cholesterol can indicate that the body has been exposed to significant stress over an extended period.
White blood cells and inflammation in the body are also linked to stress. If someone has an infection or inflammation, stress can exacerbate these conditions further.
So, even though the perceived stress level cannot be seen directly, certain indirect effects of long-term stress can be seen in blood values. But a blood test only provides a small part of the picture. The best indication of how stressed someone feels is obtained by measuring the subjective experience through questionnaires and rating scales.
