A couple of weeks ago, I was exchanging small talk with an employee. It was obvious they were ready to leave work, checking their watch twice and commenting what a slow day it was at the office. Not only did they talk about time, the look of boredom on their face was apparent and had their boss walked by, it could have been worse.
Being bored and pretending that you’re not can be one of the most draining experiences at work. When boredom strikes, don’t panic. Just stop and take notice. It happens for a reason and is a wake-up call that something is missing in your life or work.
Boredom does not mean you dislike your work or your colleagues. It happens to everyone during their career, whether you’re starting your first job or are a seasoned professional. Even if you are super busy, there are numerous ways in which boredom occurs such as dealing with the same predictable schedule, meetings that last all day or a career path that seems limited. All in all, it gives you a general feeling of malaise.
Some research has indicated that boredom could be a form of burnout where you are more under-challenged than over-worked. When your job gives you a purpose with meaning it helps give you energy and without it you can easily get side-tracked and become bored. Most interpret boredom as a signal that it’s time to move on to another job and that can be a huge mistake. Leaving one job for another without resolving the problem will only lead to a repetition of the same pattern elsewhere.
If you find yourself bored and trying to look busy at the same time there are things you can do to to recharge your energy. The first step is to evaluate your career and list your goals where you can honestly decide if the position you are in matches your plan.
Once you have a realistic view of your career goals in front of you, identify what’s missing and label it. Then determine where your boredom is coming from: health issues, stress, poor habits, being passive versus taking action towards your goals, depression, or lack of direction. The good news with boredom is that you can end it and revitalize your job.
How do you bring life back to a boring job?
Think in terms of changing your habits, rearrange your work patterns and consider taking some risks in stretching your skills. Instead of checking the time for hours left in the day, make better use of it by doing something good for your career and for your employer. Consider taking an online training program during the downtime of your day, learn new skills and break through old patterns of thinking.
Ask your boss about the possibility of rotating jobs or enlarging your job responsibilities. Start networking internally and look for opportunities where you can contribute, take the initiative in discussing ways to redesign your job.
What are thoughts about boring jobs? Should you stay and work through it or leave to find another one?
