Throughout our careers, we may work several jobs and enjoy the work that we do. It’s something we take for granted and continue to keep doing. Although not everyone finds their jobs exciting, it’s common to find work boring sometimes. So why is work boring? That can be a problem, and that’s what will be covered in this article
UPDATED: JUNE 25, 2022
Is it ok to feel bored while working?
It’s completely fine to feel bored at work sometimes. Every now and then, people may experience boredom some days.
But if it becomes an issue, in the long run, that can impact your productivity. So it’s always a good idea to look out for common signs when that happens.
Some of the common signs include:
- Having less energy
- Feeling stressed out
- Not feeling like yourself at all
- Feeling fatigued (very tired)
For the rest of this article, I will discuss three primary reasons why work can be boring sometimes. If you understand why that’s the case, you’ll be more aware of what you have to deal with at work.
Your job does not align with your interests
You may do well in the job you have, but it may not be right up your career alley. It seems that a lot of people work in jobs that don’t match what they really want to do in life.
One common example is working in a job that does not require a degree. Based on the modern education system we have today, a lot of college graduates don’t do the work that they went to school for.
According to recent studies, about 41% of recent college graduates worked in jobs that did not require a college degree. On the other hand, around 33.9% of college graduates in general work in jobs without a college degree requirement.
Throughout the years, it’s very common for people to fall into the underemployed category. Especially if you work in the service sector, maybe your intentions are to work in a different area of work.
What I went through after college
After graduating from college, I ended up not finding work for nearly a year after leaving school. Luckily, I ended up finding part-time work, but it was not in an area I went to school for.
In the years to follow, I ended up working jobs that I never went to school for. Although the jobs were interesting, I question myself now whether those jobs really fit with my original career interests.
That can be a problem with the system that’s in place. That’s a different topic for another article, but it’s something to keep in mind as well.
The work is not fulfilling (meaningless)
Naturally, you may like the work when you start out. After some time, you may get tired and think that something is missing.
If you experience a lot of moments where you do not feel fulfilled, then it’s something to not ignore. A lot of people may not realize it, and it can be too late when they find themselves not enjoying the work they do.
Especially if you do work that’s repetitive and gets very old day in and out, then you’ll find yourself not enjoying the work. Some people don’t mind it at all, but for others, the work becomes meaningless.
My experience
It was not until a few years ago I realized that I was not doing fulfilling work. The company I worked for was nice and all of that good stuff; however, the work I was doing got old after going through it over and over again.
So after three years with this company, I voluntarily resigned to move on to something else. But a big reason for this decision is the feeling of not being fulfilled.
When you’re doing work that’s not fulfilling, it’s something that you have to reevaluate. When I made that decision at the time, I felt that it was the right move when you’re in that position.
Lack of motivation
Now it may not be for everyone, but not feeling motivated is a big one as well. If you lack the motivation to work, you will find that work isn’t very exciting.
If you’re not in a work environment that excites you, then it can present a problem. I could explain that in great detail, but I think it’s easy to understand why that can be the case.
Also, if you’re not surrounded by others who inspire you, you’ll find work to be boring. So the work environment and the people you’re surrounded by can play a big role.
The work environments I’ve been in
In all of the jobs I’ve had over the years, the work environments I was in did not serve me well. I mean, I was not working in sweatshops or doing intensive, hard labor. But there were some things that did not inspire me at times.
Also, the people I was surrounded by were not bad. Sometimes, they drained my energy, and that made my work not enjoyable.
What are my overall thoughts?
Doing work that’s boring can take a toll on you, depending on the type of job you have. It’s what I felt sometimes, and I knew I was not living up to my full potential.
It’s not easy to feel excited or inspired to work at a job you find boring. When you don’t have that drive or energy, you feel lost and start to question yourself.
What can be done about it? I think people need to be more mindful about what kind of work they want to do.
Also, the fact that there’s an antiquated, broken education system shows that there are problems not being addressed. Whatever comes about, later on, remains to be seen.
Final Words
There are a lot of reasons that people find work boring. It’s a topic that a lot of people don’t discuss that much.
The three primary reasons I mentioned earlier are great starting points for people to think about. Whether your job does not align with your interests, it’s not fulfilling, or due to a lack of motivation, these are things to keep in mind.
If you find yourself in that situation, do know you’re not the only one. You’ll get through it and find something better if you desire a better route to success.
If you want to seek another alternative to doing something you’re passionate about, I would love to talk with you. If you’re interested, feel free to shoot me a message to learn more. Please visit the contact page for more information.
Your Turn: Do you find work to be boring?
I would like to get some of your thoughts on this matter. Do you find your job to be boring?
If so, what doesn’t excite you about the job you have? What can be done to make it more fulfilling and worthwhile?
Do you lack the motivation to do the work? Is it something that you need to think about more often?
Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. I look forward to reading your responses, and I’ll gladly respond promptly.
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Eric is a content writer and the site owner of notimekillers.com. He takes great pride in helping people manage their time and grow their businesses. Eric is a firm believer in time freedom, as he believes in taking ownership of time. “Time is your most important asset. It can be your best friend or worst enemy. How you use your time can shape the future you desire to have.” In his leisure time, Eric loves to write and read whenever possible. He enjoys going for long walks outdoors while doing in-home workout videos every week. You can follow Eric on LinkedIn.
