Help, I'm Bored to Death!

Did you know that people get physically tired because of emotional factors such as boredom, frustration, and anxiety? True intellectual stimulation, on the other hand, doesn’t exhaust us at all. The first time I heard this, a lightbulb went off. It occurred to me that I could write nonstop for 8 hours and then run a 5K immediately afterwards, yet after spending a few hours at my corporate job I could barely drag myself to the train station.

Let’s get real, though.  In today’s business world, compelling work is sometimes in short supply.  But if there’s one thing to take away from this column, it’s that you can choose your response to your environment, and you have more control than you think.  If your work is getting you down, look for ways to expand your skills and responsibilities and communicate actively with your managers about how and where you can lend your expertise.  This might include volunteering for a cross-functional task force or devising a new process or product that will allow your organization to run more efficiently. Also, consider signing up for any personal development or leadership courses your company offers so that your mind gets exercised outside of your cube.

On days when you’re feeling particularly ornery, you might try this strategy: pretend it’s your first day of a new job, and imagine approaching every task with confidence, eagerness, and enthusiasm. You are full of ideas and you feel that you are making a genuine contribution.  In many cases, the simple act of changing your energy and your way of thinking about your job can actually shape your situation for the better.

Comments

[Patti DeNucci]

Three people come to mind when I read your blog: 1) my recently departed friend and colleagues Sue Cullen who believed and taught that we all matter and that everything we do, large or small, matters to others; 2) Austin singer, songwriter & humanitarian Sara Hickman who said at a luncheon a few years ago that her pet peeve is people who complain about being bored; she added that this is indulgent thinking as there is so much to be done in the world; and 3) Haley Rushing who has co-authored the book "It's Not What You Sell It's What You Stand For." Having purpose and clarity about your purpose is key and helps us see what we can contribute and also shows us when to remove ourselves from situations where we cannot be excited and effective in making positive change in the world.

[DC Jobs]

I like your idea of approaching your current job with the enthusiasm of a newbie. I wonder how long before I ran out of "pseudo-new guy steam" and had to psych myself up again?

[Onereason]

For whatever reason, someone or something pointed me to your blog, likely to read this insightful reflection. I hope I can keep this in mind as I enter yet another dreadful work week. Thanks for your words of inspiration.

[Alexandra Levit]

@Patti: I'm sorry to hear about your friend, though it sounds like she left you with some incredible gifts.

@DC: For me, it was about two months. :)

@OneReason: Thank you so much, that really means a lot. Hope you'll keep reading!

[James]

I am also faced with the same feelings of boredom with my day job, to be more specific, it's actually frustration from the overwhelming list of activities. Thanks for the inspiration. What I usually do to combat boredom is to think of things in my present job that makes me happy, like having a friendly conversation with my subordinates.
Friends from the Mentor club have a lot of tips regarding are work life.

[Tobias Bergstrom]

Here's a site that deals with what you've mentioned above. It's got a commercial bent but never-the-less walks you through elements of the boredom phenomenon.

http://www.help-im-bored.com/

I liked it that's why i'm posting it here.