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Battling Burnout? People Who Live in This U.S. State Have the Best Life-Work Balance. Many workers are ready to prioritize meaningful lives over emotional exhaustion.

By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas

Murat Taner | Getty Images
Hartford, Connecticut

You've heard about work-life balance, but what about life-work balance?

The latter is a term coined by global employment expert Remote, describing the many professionals who prioritize a balanced life over their careers.

And it's about time: Almost a third of American workers reported feeling emotional exhaustion in 2021, according to the American Psychological Association's 2021 Work and Well-being Survey — with nearly half reporting physical fatigue.

If you want to join the wave of Americans opting for meaningful lives over unchecked burnout, you might consider relocating to one of the U.S. states Remote's index data analysis found to have the best life-work balance.

Related: Work-Life Balance Is Simple. To Succeed at Work, Get a Life.

The top 10 states below are ranked by a life-work balance score out of 100 — a rating based on factors including minimum wage, sick leave, maternity leave, availability of healthcare, overall public happiness and LGBTQ+ inclusivity.

1. Connecticut

Overall index score: 66.86

2. Washington

Overall index score: 62.79

3. New York

Overall index score: 62.75

4. California

Overall index score: 61.26

5. Rhode Island

Overall index score: 59.52

6. New Jersey

Overall index score: 59.22

7. Oregon

Overall index score: 58.47

8. Vermont

Overall index score: 58.02

9. Maine

Overall index score: 55.66

10. Massachusetts

Overall index score: 52.99

Amanda Breen

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

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