The Daily Hassles and Uplifts Scale lists fifty-three aspects of a typical life, including “your spouse,” “the nature of your work,” “the weather,” “cooking,” and “church or community organizations.”
It asks you to rate how much of a hassle each item was that day, as well as how much of an uplift it was. Basically, the scale asks whether you view the roles, relationships, and activities of your life as irritating inconveniences or meaningful experiences. You might think, “It depends on the day.” But actually, people’s scores on this scale are remarkably stable over time. Feeling burdened rather than uplifted by everyday duties is more a mindset than a measure of what is going on in your life.
— The Upside of Stress (Kelly McGonigal), Loc. 1229–34