Keeping a constant focus on your long term career and being productive round the clock is not natural. Especially when you are feeling under-challenged or uninspired. It is natural to feel bored in certain circumstances. You are not alone in this, boredom is one of the most common feelings in the workplace.
You must be looking for ways to get this dreadful feeling out of your head. In this blog, we will try to know in bit detail why exactly do we feel bored at work, and of course, what to do about it.
Reasons why you are bored at work
1. Your interests and work do not align
It is one of the common reasons why people fall in boredom. When we start a new job all things seem pretty interesting and new. It is after some time that people realize if it is the right job for them. You must introspect and ask relevant questions about why you applied for the job in the first place to yourself. Was it the salary? or you had no better job interviews? or you simply wanted to change your environment? If the answer to these questions raises major concerns, you need to reconsider your job interests.
2. Limited growth opportunities
If you are asked to do the same tedious task for weeks, or for months, or maybe for years, over and over. It is likely you will be bored out of your skull. If your work does not provide you the right opportunities to grow and learn, and you don’t see yourself getting any better, it is probably causing the boredom. You are too free at work.
If you are getting too much idle time at work, your mind tends to wander places. You are likely to come across negative thoughts. It is important to take breaks, but if you’re too free, it is a problem.
Ways to overcome boredom at work
1. Keep your boss or supervisor informed about your situation
If you realize that the work is holding you back or is preventing you from overcoming your boredom, you should talk about it to your boss. Make sure they respect and welcome feedback. Bosses and supervisors are the right people to talk to as they understand you and can potentially help.
You can simply ask for a change of work or maybe ask for something more challenging that fits your area of interest. This will have two-fold benefits, it will not just help you to overcome your boredom. Also, it will make your boss and supervisors appreciate your willingness to learn and improve in the job.
2. Keep learning new skills when free
If you have a lot of time in hand when at work, you can always invest your time to learn new skills. It can be absolutely new, like Graphic Designing for an accountant, which can help to stimulate and switch to the other side of the brain. The new skill could be an extension of your primary expertise, for example, learning new analytical and statistical tools voluntarily if you are an analyst in a firm.
3. Take breaks to fight exhaustion
Breaks are usually something that is not looked up to and is considered to be a waste of time. But taking a break from work at the right time is the best thing you can do to have a sustained career and there is nothing wrong in doing so. In conclusion, one should always take a break from work and it is imperative to charge you to come back and achieve more. You should never underestimate a good break from work.
4. Know what you want from your job
Have that one thing in mind, what made you walk to the job interview for the job you are in right now. Always have a goal, and it can motivate you to work. You should never forget to note down all your motivations and goals and stick it on your desk.
5. Quit your job if it is holding you back
This one is important and the most critical. You should never overlook excessive boredom and work to get it out of the way. If you have done everything you could do in your capacity to overcome, then it may be a sign that you should consider quitting your current job. It is crucial to realize that changes are essential and know that you deserve the best.