Living in Lakeview Stressful?

Originally published June 2018 | Updated December 2025

Live in the Lakeview area of Chicago and feeling stressed?

Chicago city living has its perks – a plethora of things to do, a vast amount of cultural and identity diversity, an award-winning food scene, and (in my humble opinion) the most beautiful skyline in the country nestled up against the prettiest of the Great Lakes.

All of that being said, city dwelling also has its downsides. The traffic, the noise, and the constant hustle and bustle can have quite an impact on our mental health. Generally speaking, mental illness tends to be more prevalent in urban areas, and many studies have shown that city dwellers experience higher rates of anxiety and depression.

In fact, research has examined the areas of the brain used in assessing threats and generating fear – and found that these areas were most active in the brains of city dwellers and least active in rural dwellers. No wonder we city folks – whether we’re in Chicago or New York or LA – tend to be slightly on edge sometimes!

And yet, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. More than 2.7 million of us call The Windy City home. (And we all can attest to the backup on Lake Shore Drive at rush hour, right?)

What’s Changed Since 2018

Since we first published this post in 2018, Lakeview has continued to evolve. The pandemic reshaped how we think about urban living, remote work changed our daily routines, and mental health awareness has grown significantly. Many Lakeview residents now work from home at least part-time, which means we’re spending more time in the neighborhood – and potentially feeling the stress of city living even more acutely.

The good news? Mental health support has become more accessible, with more Chicago therapists offering both in-person and telehealth options to help residents manage the unique stressors of urban life.

Lakeview-Specific Stressors in 2026

However, depending on which Chicago neighborhood you call home, the day-to-day stressors can look very different. As someone with a doorstep in the Lakeview neighborhood, I can attest to these challenges that are right outside:

We’re Still Popular!

Lakeview is consistently ranked as one of the top ten neighborhoods to live in Chicago. (And with up to 200 neighborhoods unofficially recognized, that’s an accomplishment!) Due to this, we seem to be constantly building and reshaping ourselves to remain modern and attractive to current and prospective residents alike.

In 2026, we’re seeing even more development – luxury apartment buildings, restaurant openings, and infrastructure improvements. While not necessarily unique to Lakeview, we seem to have more than our fair share of construction on roads and buildings whose loud noise and detour roadblocks can certainly cause a few headaches.

Which Way to Belmont?

Chicago is lucky to have a fantastic public transit system. And Lakeview is lucky (for the most part) to have the Belmont Station as one of the major hubs where three of our L trains stop, located right on Belmont Ave which is the local, direct artery to Lake Shore Drive.

Because of this, there is a lot of traffic (bus, foot, and train) everywhere you look. And (I don’t think you need me to tell you), all that traffic can really threaten an early morning good mood. The post-pandemic return to offices has brought crowds back to pre-2020 levels, making rush hour on the Red, Brown, and Purple lines as chaotic as ever.

Open Late!

Lakeview also touts a large and diverse amount of nightlife, creating some evening noise that might not be the best support of a reasonable bedtime for beauty sleep. Wrigleyville, Boystown, and the Belmont Theatre District provide chances for night owls to keep active every night of the week.

Boystown, in particular, remains one of Chicago’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, with bars, clubs, and community spaces drawing crowds from across the city and beyond. For those living in the heart of this area, the energy is exciting – but it can also be exhausting. If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and finding that the constant activity in Boystown is adding to your stress rather than relieving it, working with an LGBTQ-affirming therapist who understands the unique dynamics of living in this neighborhood can be incredibly helpful.

While city ordinances may keep the noise level to a minimum on a school night, there’s no ignoring the joyful noises coming from a group of friends leaving the bar at midnight.

Go, Cubs, Go!

Speaking of Wrigleyville, you cannot mention Lakeview without mentioning the Cubs. One of the coolest elements of Lakeview (whether you’re a sports fan or not) is the fact that a major league baseball stadium is nestled among the residential streets of the neighborhood.

But while it might be cool to look at, the chaos of game days starting in April and not ending until at least September (or longer, if we’re lucky!) can make for some crowded and annoying strolls down the street if you’re anywhere close to the ballpark. In 2026, with the Cubs’ continued popularity and the ongoing development around Wrigley Field, game day crowds show no signs of shrinking.

2026 Update: New Stressors

Remote Work Blurring Boundaries: Many Lakeview residents now work from home, which means the construction noise, delivery trucks, and daytime traffic that once happened while you were at the office are now interrupting your Zoom calls and focus time.

Rising Costs: Lakeview’s popularity has driven up rent and property values, adding financial stress to an already expensive city. The pressure to afford life in this desirable neighborhood can compound other sources of anxiety.

Social Overload: With so many bars, restaurants, and events packed into a few square miles, there’s a constant feeling that you should be out enjoying the neighborhood – leading to FOMO and social exhaustion for those who just want a quiet night in.

What To Do About Lakeview Stress

All in all, Lakeview is a great place to live – but it certainly can add some additional stress to your life. So, what do you do about it?

Your best bet is to, first, do some reflection and try to figure out exactly what your stress points are. Chances are they are circumstantional (i.e., large crowds, late-night noise, work-from-home distractions, etc.). Then, you can identify ways to lessen (or even avoid) the stress associated with them:

Practical Strategies for Managing Lakeview Stress:

Take a different route home from work to avoid going near Wrigley Field on game days (check the Cubs schedule on your phone!)
Ask your boss to shift your workday by half an hour to avoid those rush periods on the L
If avoiding the crowds is impossible, try giving yourself something to focus your positive energy on when things get stressful (e.g., your favorite hot/cold beverage, a podcast in your earbuds, noise-canceling headphones)
Create a work-from-home sanctuary with white noise machines or soundproofing to minimize construction and street noise
Celebrate Lakeview when you can by attending smaller activities sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce or taking a nightly stroll down a new road to admire the tree-lined streets
Get to the lake more often because studies show that being near water has a calming effect on us (perhaps residents in waterfront cities take this to heart!)
Say hello more often to the people who live next door so that Lakeview feels much more like a community of friends and neighbors as opposed to the rat race of strangers
Find your community within the community: Whether you’re connecting with other young professionals, parents, LGBTQ+ neighbors, or fellow Cubs fans, finding “your people” in Lakeview can transform the neighborhood from overwhelming to welcoming

When Stress Becomes More Than Situational

Sometimes, the stress of living in Lakeview (or any urban neighborhood) goes beyond situational annoyances and starts affecting your mental health more seriously. If you’re experiencing:

Persistent anxiety that doesn’t ease when you leave the neighborhood
Depression that makes it hard to enjoy the aspects of Lakeview you once loved
Feeling overwhelmed by the social demands of city living
Relationship stress related to your living situation
Difficulty sleeping despite trying noise reduction strategies

…it might be time to talk to someone. Anxiety therapy in Chicago can help you develop coping strategies specifically tailored to urban stressors, while depression treatment can help you rediscover joy in your neighborhood and daily life.

For gay men living in or near Boystown, the unique pressures of living in a historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood – from social expectations to dating dynamics to simply navigating a vibrant nightlife scene – can add layers to urban stress. Specialized counseling for gay men in Chicago addresses these specific experiences with understanding and cultural competence.

2nd Story Counseling: Right Here in Lakeview

The best part? You don’t have to travel far to get support. 2nd Story Counseling has been serving Lakeview and Chicago’s North Side for over 20 years. We understand the unique stressors of this neighborhood because we live and work here too.

Whether you’re dealing with situational stress from your environment or deeper mental health concerns, our team offers:

Individual therapy for anxiety and depression
LGBTQ-affirming counseling
Couples therapy for relationship stress
Specialized support for the unique challenges of urban living

We get it – living in Lakeview is amazing, exhausting, exciting, and stressful all at once. You don’t have to manage it alone.

The Bottom Line

Taken into consideration, most of us will agree that living in Lakeview is worth all the hassles it can bring. The tree-lined streets, the diversity, the food scene, the proximity to the lake, the sense of community (even amid the chaos) – it’s home.

But of course, perhaps the best thing about Chicago being so big is that we have plenty of other neighborhoods to go explore when we need to escape Lakeview for an hour or so (or more!). Lincoln Park, Uptown, Andersonville, and beyond all offer different flavors of Chicago life when you need a change of scenery.

And when you come back home to Lakeview, we’ll be here – ready to help you thrive in this wonderfully chaotic neighborhood we all love.