At some point in our lives, we have been in a role or situation that is no longer satisfying, and we stay in it because it’s easier than change.
Did you know that up to 90% percent of American adults suffer from boredom at some point in their lives?
Did you also know that this number is significantly higher for young people?
Boredom is a physiological state of stress.
When we are bored, it may seem as if we are slowing down.
It may present itself in a way that shows we aren’t being productive.
In actuality, there is scientific proof that our brains are racing out of frustration and confusion; we are trying to figure out what it is we really want.
Feelings of boredom are horrible, but they are a signal telling us that we aren’t doing what we want to do or what we are capable of doing, and these feelings are a means which force us to take action.
As my good friend, Crisis Management Expert & Leadership Coach, @Stephynie Malik says, "Embrace the suck".
Sit in it.
If you are feeling bored or unchallenged, you have CONTROL to do something about it.
Think about it…you do the same job, day in and day out. Boredom is borne of monotony and when this happens, we tend to seek external stimulation. This external stimulation could manifest into binge-watching Netflix or throwing yourself into projects that you have been putting off for a while. We trade one form of procrastination for another.
Eventually, we will come to resent ourselves and our situation. And that can have an effect on those around us. We unwittingly place the burden of our boredom and frustration on others.
There are people who think they want something different in life. They feel that they are stagnant and that the grass is greener elsewhere. They’ve been successful and have the finances to live a simpler life. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?
They go into semi-retirement. Days are filled with new adventures: hiking, biking, exploring new places, experiencing new cultures, making new friends.
Yet, something is missing.
From the outside, it looks like they are having an amazing time, living life on their terms. But on the inside, the frustration of not knowing what they really want is eating away at them and they begin to have regrets which turns into resentment.
That resentment can turn into destructive behavior.
💢 Give yourself a break.
💢 Think about what you really want.
💢 Allow your brain to truly slow down.
💢 Understand your passion, and then notice your emotional state when you envision living your live with that passion.
💢 Create a plan to make your ideal-life reality
💢 Put that plan into action
When you are bored in other aspects of your life, you do something about it. You realize that getting off your butt and doing something, anything, you enjoy is so much greater than wallowing on the sofa eating chips and watching Netflix.
Why not apply the same principle to professional boredom?
If you are feeling stagnant in the workplace, let’s talk about why. Let’s figure out what is going to reinvigorate you and challenge you, and let’s create and execute a plan to get you out of your state of boredom.
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