Bored at Work? Turn Your Frustration into Insight

It’s happened to all of us. Every task you’re assigned at the office is one that you’ve done a thousand times before. You’ve become so adept at your job that it only requires half your brain, and the other half occupies itself by ruminating on how bored you are.

Feeling bored at work is exceedingly common, but constructive strategies for addressing a sense of boredom are less so. 

Sometimes we suppress these emotions. We tell ourselves we shouldn’t be complaining about a gig that pays our bills. Other times, we lash out. We snap at the bosses who pile the work on our desks, the colleagues we’ve grown weary of, and the loved ones we return to after another deadening day.

Neither path is particularly effective because neither deals with the issue head on. Here are some tips for when you’re feeling stuck in the doldrums. 

1. The first step is to admit you’re feeling bored at work. Rather than pontificate on whether you have a right to feel bored, it’s more productive to simply accept that you do. Emotions aren’t good or bad. They just are. 

2. Next, recognize that your boredom is a signpost of your underlying values. Get curious. If boredom is a symptom; what unmet need is the cause? Perhaps you value growth, and your assignments no longer require you to expand your skills. Or maybe you’re stimulated by social interaction, but spend most of your time working from home. The key is to get specific about which part of your job is boring you.

3. From there, plot a course to bring your work life closer to your values. If you love learning or crave new experiences, put your hand up for a project outside of your area of expertise. If you’re a freelancer who needs to be around people, consider investing in a co-working space.

It’s possible that you won’t be able to make the necessary adjustments in your current job and that your boredom may be pointing you toward the next phase of your career. And while this can be a daunting realization, it’s a crucially important one, because we all need to experience some level of meaning and purpose from the work we do. 

And once you’re clear on what you value, you can begin taking steps toward finding (or shaping) a career that truly fits your needs.