19.07.2023

FIGHTING BOREDNESS AT THE WORKPLACE

There are probably tasks in your job that you don't like to do. Every job has aspects that can be unpleasant, and we all have days when we are not motivated to do our best. However, what can we say about the cases in which a person constantly feels bored and can't wait for the working day to end?

The first step here is to find out what is causing you to feel this way.

"When people are bored, they fill their time with 'hollow activities' such as online shopping, overeating, endlessly scrolling through social media, etc.," says Annie Rosenkrans, director of people and culture at the HR services platform HiBob. "Boredom at work is no different, but these types of activities there can have a serious impact on your ability to stay in your position," she adds.

Boredom can be a sign of something you are neglecting. Consider if one of these five situations doesn't apply to you:

Your work is no longer challenging

While everyone sometimes gets bored with the workplace routine, it doesn't have to be the norm, much less describe your daily routine, says Rosenkrans. "It tells you that the job isn't challenging enough, that you're no longer engaged," she explains.

The good news is that finding a solution is up to you. Start by acknowledging your lack of challenges, then identify the root cause and address it with your boss. Rosenkrans says one potential solution is to get involved in new projects, and another is to think about whether it's time to take on a different role and talk to your boss about a promotion.

“You may have outgrown the company, or you may have dreamed of a complete career change but never had the courage to make the move. What you do and how you solve the problem is entirely in your hands. It's very empowering,” she says.

A lack of challenge may mean you've reached a "career maturity point," adds Yolanda Owens, chief career coach at The Muse.

“You grow and mature in your career just like you do in your personal life. Your preferences, tastes, priorities, and circumstances change, causing you to mature and lose interest in your environment, becoming bored with the activities it offers you," Owens adds.

When this happens, Owens suggests evaluating whether you can refocus your skills in another role or reevaluate your work environment to see if you can feel purposeful and productive in your work again.

You are ready for a new field of development

Boredom can also result from outgrowing not just a job, but an industry or field, says Mark Berry, senior human resources specialist at Insperity.

"Today's workers can expect to have multiple careers in their lifetime," he says. "With that comes the possibility that some bored employees may find that they've outgrown a certain industry or field that once suited their personality, goals and interests."

If you're constantly bored even when presented with challenging and engaging projects in your field, you may be ready for a new career development. Berry suggests talking openly with HR about the possibility of transferring to a new department, joining a rotational program, or seeking training to acquire new professional skills.

You have moved on to repetition of the same tasks, which does not require thought

Humans are lazy and energy-saving creatures. We often stop looking for challenges and turn off our brains when we know how to complete a task after repeated repetitions, says Stefan Falk, author of Intrinsic Motivation: Learn to Love Your Work and Succeed as Never Before.

"Instead, we shift to a behavior where we do the tasks out of habit," he says.

Doing tasks out of habit is good from an energy-saving point of view, but it leads to boredom because the tasks are no longer challenging. What's more, when we do tasks that we think are boring, our performance tends to suffer, making them even more boring, Falk explains.

"It's important for professionals to understand that over time, all tasks will become boring - even the ones we love and have motivated us in the past - if we don't challenge ourselves and use our energy to develop our skills," he adds.

You have strayed from your goal

Boredom in the workplace can also be a signal that you don't understand why you're doing what you're doing, says Nathan Pearson of human capital management firm Paycor.

"When employees feel bored at work, they should consider whether their managers are providing them with meaningful tasks and opportunities for development, and an environment that allows them to thrive," he says.

Pearson advises asking yourself if your job is still the best fit for you. "If the answer is yes, then the next step would be to talk to your line managers about taking on new tasks or getting clarification on the company's goals and vision to better understand why you're doing these things." Take the time to consider what this job offers you besides the salary. If nothing else, it might not be the right place for you,” he says.

You are involved in a negative workplace environment

Unfortunately, the usual environment in many organizations is negative, says Falk. Constantly complaining people and those always looking for a way to conflict with others are a common sight in many workplaces.

"Being surrounded by or engaging in negativity directs the mind to focus only on the bad aspects of work, which causes us to subconsciously view interesting tasks as less enjoyable and boring tasks as downright boring," he explains.

Falk says the solution is to choose wisely when it comes to who you spend time with at work so that your experience is enhanced.

A new Gallup survey finds that only 36% of employees say they are engaged in their work and workplace, meaning the majority of people are not. By taking the time to understand why you are bored, you can make the necessary changes to improve your situation. Since you spend about a third of your life at work, the effort will definitely be worth it.