Cure Your Boredom at Work (and Stop Boring Others)
People who have to work long hours and multi-task their way through the day might wish for an hour or two of quiet boredom. Then again, you can have plenty to do and still be bored, if that “plenty” entails repetition and routine. At work, certain activities reliably trigger boredom, such as doing meaningless paperwork, attending too many meetings, and sitting through yet another mind-numbing presentation.
These work-related activities highlight one of the elements of boredom: control. Many people feel bored when they’re forced to endure unpleasant situations and have little say about it. I become bored (and annoyed) if I have to wait for someone or something and have nothing to read. As a result, I rarely go anywhere without a book to read or device I can read on, so I’m prepared just in case.
Unlike other psychological states, such as anger or happiness, boredom has only recently become a topic of research. One recent finding is that there are five types of boredom, described as indifferent, apathetic, calibrating, reactant, and searching (although I came across an article on something called taste boredom, so there may very well be many other types of boredom.)
Although boredom is often seen as trivial and readily alleviated by a change in circumstances, for some people it’s a chronic stressor that can take a toll on health, well-being, and productivity. Furthermore, people who are chronically bored exhibit higher risk-taking behavior, the better (presumably) to avoid that uncomfortable state.
To avoid everyday boredom outside work, there are lots of options, such as trying something new, doing volunteer work, or spending more time with your pals. Boredom can actually be a positive thing when it motivates people to seek out doing-good activities, such as giving blood.
At work, aim to avoid creating boredom for others by keeping meetings brief, focused, and to a minimum. For yourself, try to reduce opportunities for boredom by seeking ways to be more productive. Among this list of ten ways to cure boredom at work is the suggestion that you take more web-browsing breaks. Apparently, occasional web surfing can actually increase productivity, as long as you don’t overdo it. Keep this link handy to back you up in case your boss catches you in the midst of boredom-reducing surfing!
