Maybe you're not ungrateful, maybe you're just bored in your career.
If you’ve been having trouble pinpointing exactly why you’re miserable at work, it might be because there is another culprit to your career unhappiness that’s been flying under the radar.
You might not be stuck, ungrateful or unreasonable, you might just be bored. Here are some overlooked signs that you’re bored at work:
You catch yourself accidentally tuning out of meetings. – Sometimes, life gets in the way of your focus. That’s normal. But, if you're constantly daydreaming or thinking about other things while you’re in important meetings, it might be because you’re uninterested.
You get through your to-do lists on autopilot. – It’s one thing to be so good at what you do that you get things done quickly and easily. That is both an underrated gift and a skill. However, if your to-do lists consist of mundane tasks that don’t require much brain power, then that might be a sign that you’re not being challenged or energized by your work.
You envy the excitement in your partner or friends' voices when they talk about their work day. – Maybe you wonder how it’s even possible that they have a career they enjoy, or maybe you avoid the conversation altogether because you know how it makes you feel. Either way, it’s a clear sign that you’re not in alignment with your career.
You don’t feel inspired by your company’s mission or goals. – While you might enjoy the work you do, if you don’t resonate with who you’re doing the work for, then you might find yourself feeling like the work you’re doing isn’t as meaningful or impactful. This can lead to boredom and frustration, even though you like what you do.
You’re constantly counting down the hours at work. – Watching the clock is the most obvious sign that you’re bored at work. Of course, there might be days that move slower than others. But, if you’re counting down the hours every day, then you’re not truly engaged and fulfilled at your current company.
You’re not excited about the career growth opportunities at your company. – Sure, a promotion would bring in more money and a new title, but it wouldn’t make you jump out of bed in the morning. If that’s the case, it might be a sign that your ambitions do not align with the company’s opportunities for career growth.
You feel guilty for being unhappy because you like your coworkers. – Going to work isn’t too terrible because your boss and coworkers are great. But, this makes you feel ungrateful because something is still missing. You still feel underutilized and unfulfilled.
The idea of landing a new job in the same industry makes you cringe. – If landing a new job at a different company in the same industry doesn’t excite you, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck or out of options. You might just be bored with your current industry, overall.
Your performance level is starting to decrease. – Although you pride yourself on being a top-performing high-achiever at work, you’re starting to notice that you are not as motivated as you used to be, and it’s impacting the way you show up at work and your ability to get things done.
So, how do you fix this?
If you feel like a lightbulb just went off reading these signs, then you might need to shake things up. Boredom in your career is a sign that you could be doing so much more than you’re doing right now.
If you find that the work you’re doing is boring, look for ways to support other colleagues and teams working on more intriguing projects. Or, have a candid conversation with your manager about your career goals and how you can add more value to your team.
If you find that your current company or industry is the root of your boredom, then it's time to get curious. Start looking for other opportunities, companies, and industries that align with your values, goals, and interests.
All in all, your career is your responsibility, and the sooner you make a choice to cure your boredom, the faster you’ll open yourself up to a more fulfilling career.
Adunola Adeshola coaches high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level. She is the author of the guide How to Go From Zero Interviews to Dream Job Offers.
