Boredom at work is a phenomenon that may seem totally harmless. In fact, some people would love to have so little work or so few responsibilities in order to be free. On the other hand, those who don’t enjoy their work or suffer from burn-out syndrome dream of a respite during the working day.

So why should having nothing to do be a problem for others? And for those who do, what should they do? I’m going to tell you how to deal with it, and when you should consider retraining.

Bore-out – what is it?

People often talk about burn-out. This illness is very common and has already claimed many victims. But today, I’m going to tell you about another pathology in the world of work. It’s a serious problem, but one that is not officially considered an occupational disease: bore-out. For a variety of reasons, a person suffering from this condition experiences profound boredom at work. This can even have a negative impact on their mental state.

Burn-out generally affects the most motivated and productive employees. Boredom at work, on the other hand, can affect any type of person, regardless of their position in the company.

Bore-out: when boredom makes you sick

How is it possible to understand how an employee who at the start of his or her career was very dynamic can experience boredom in his or her job? That’s because, in the meantime, certain factors have changed his or her work habits.

LACK OF WORK TO DO
Having nothing to do, or very little to do, can have a major impact on a worker. Indeed, when there’s not enough to do, it’s easier to procrastinate. Boredom at work also sets in when these small tasks become too numerous. Yes, because it’s less easy to do them with the care required.

UNINTERESTING AND UNVARIED TASKS
It’s easy to get bored when you’re only doing things that don’t interest you. There’s nothing to make you want to work. And apart from boring tasks, there are also repetitive ones. Doing the same thing every day makes work monotonous. The employee has nothing to look forward to, nothing to arouse his curiosity, and he exposes himself to boredom at work.

LACK OF RECOGNITION
Recognition is one of the best sources of motivation. A worker whose merits are not often recognized loses all will to continue. They settle into a kind of routine. The same thing happens when the person concerned is paid below his or her skills, or doesn’t get on well with colleagues.

NO OPPORTUNITY TO “MOVE UP
Extrinsic motivations play a major role in the workplace. But apart from recognition, there’s also the prospect of a new position or new duties. Boredom at work sets in if an employee realizes that it’s impossible. Yes, when we’re not given new responsibilities after years in the same job, our morale takes a hit.

OVERQUALIFICATION
When you’re in a job that doesn’t match your skills or aspirations, you’re bound to get bored. But that’s perfectly normal. When we work, we need to be stimulated. Even at school, it’s easy for children to get bored when they’re more advanced than the others.

But it’s possible to avoid becoming bored despite these situations.

Boredom at work: notice the first signs

In the workplace, human resources managers are busy looking out for the signs of burn-out. But there’s another phenomenon just as important: boredom. Boredom reduces employee productivity, thus affecting the company’s performance.

FIRST SYMPTOM: LACK OF MOTIVATION
Lack of motivation starts with not wanting to get out of bed. The mere sound of the alarm clock is enough to discourage you. You don’t care about being useful. You think that whatever you do won’t benefit you or the company you work for.

BOREDOM AT WORK AND INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE
When you’re sitting in your office chair, you find it hard to concentrate on your work. You’re easily distracted by your phone or something else, and you often have memory lapses.

HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS AT WORK OR AT HOME
You find it hard to cope with pressure and stress. Yes, that’s what happens when you suffer from bore-out. A feeling of anxiety sets in. You may experience muscle and joint pain, and skin irritation. You lose sleep, cry more often, become depressed…

BOREDOM AT WORK AND PROFESSIONAL ERRORS
Your performance is increasingly affected. By dint of disinterest, you no longer do anything the right way. You accumulate mistakes: miscalculations, typos, misinterpreted subjects… And because of this, you see your colleagues submerged under tons of work without you being able to help. You develop a feeling of guilt towards everyone, even those who don’t have a job. The feeling of being useless grows, all because of boredom at work.

5 tips for dealing effectively with boredom

What many people don’t realize is that this situation ultimately has negative consequences for those who experience it. Lack of goals, disinterest and frustration quickly appear. Symptoms of depression appear. There are problems with long-term concentration and apathy. Discouragement and low self-esteem follow. And you don’t want to leave your job, for fear of not finding another one, since you’re concentrating on your own incompetence. So you need to react quickly to this situation.

IDENTIFY THE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOREDOM AT WORK
To solve your problem, you first need to diagnose it. What situations have led to your boredom? If, for example, the cause is relational, you can complain about moral harassment. All you need to do is provide evidence to obtain compensation. Your employer will then have to recognize the situation and act accordingly.

BE PATIENT
Of course, this is a serious condition. But you don’t always have to react immediately. It may be that the situations that lead to boredom at work are only temporary. So, instead of getting bogged down in your own head and wanting to change course at all costs, it would be better to have a little patience. Don’t rush to hand in your letter of resignation and start looking for a new job. Take some time before complaining to your boss. While you’re waiting, you can try to find an alternative. Why not, for example, anticipate some upcoming tasks while you’re still free? It might even earn you a little reward!

OVERCOMING BOREDOM AT WORK: TRAINING
On-the-job training modules are highly beneficial for both the company and its employees. Employees can develop new skills and put them to good use, for example, to secure a promotion. In so doing, they escape the boredom burnout syndrome and become more productive.

So enrich your professional skills. This will help motivate you and boost your self-confidence. Even if you can’t do it in the office, you can find tips on your own. Don’t wait for someone to get you out of boredom at work, be your own benefactor.

If you’re an employer, make sure you notice how your employees are feeling. You are responsible for the moral well-being of those who work for you. Act before the damage is done.

MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO YOUR EMPLOYER
Does the work environment no longer meet your expectations? Can’t motivate yourself? You can also make suggestions to your management for possible changes. Failure to do so could worsen your situation, so don’t hesitate. Boredom at work is one of the consequences to be avoided at all costs! Sure, you’ve been told to be patient, but you can’t be patient forever. To make this communication easier, you can get involved in the employees’ union.

Any responsible employer has a duty to listen to these complaints, since they are responsible for the psychological well-being of their employees. So don’t hesitate to suggest ideas. In this way, you’ll be able to invest more in the life of the company. Yes, because you’ll not only be saving your colleagues from a bore-out, you’ll be saving them too!

CONSIDER A CHANGE OF SECTOR!
The ultimate solution would be to change the work environment. In other words, you’ll need to make a career change. But before you leave, you need to make sure you have a new anchor, a new challenge to take up.

The employee should therefore carry out a skills assessment to identify the professional opportunities open to him or her. They can then look for work elsewhere. Entrepreneurship is another option. Professional retraining is often a very good time to draw up a life project.

Conclusion

The problem of boredom can be avoided as long as companies take appropriate measures. Like burn-out, it is not to be neglected. Employees’ good mental health is essential to their self-fulfilment and the smooth performance of their tasks. Ignoring their needs, underestimating them and not paying attention to their suggestions will worsen the working environment. This is absolutely essential if we are to put an end to this psychological disorder. If the company itself decides not to intervene, the workers themselves must look for alternative solutions.

It’s up to you!