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Boreout symptoms can occur when you are incredibly bored at work, if you lack stimulation and/or don’t have enough to do. Boreout is named after the well-known burnout. Although the symptoms are similar, the cause is exactly the opposite. If you find your work boring, don't feel connected to your work, don't have much to do, or you find it hard to concentrate and often get home tired: these are classic symptoms of a boreout. Read more about the symptoms of boredom at work and what you can do about them. From boreout to fresh energy at work.
What exactly is a boreout?
If you get incredibly bored at work, you may suffer from boreout symptoms. You become tired and exhausted from boredom. Boredom at work can have several causes, including:
You find the work boring
You like the work, but don’t have enough to do
You find your work easy and lacking challenges
You don't find the work meaningful
You don't feel connected to the company
People who are bored at work often don’t want colleagues or managers to notice. As a 'solution', they take longer than necessary on tasks, for example. Some people busy themselves with personal matters at work. The result is that the day drags on and you get home exhausted. In fact, pretending to be busy takes more energy than you might think. Moreover, it creates stress at work.
Boreout symptoms
The symptoms of boreout resemble the symptoms of burnout:
You have little energy
You feel stressed
You are easily irritated
You have little interest in work or private matters
You can't concentrate properly
You have low self-esteem
You sleep badly
You put things off
If you are bored at work and experiencing (some of) these characteristics, it is important to make changes sooner rather than later. The more energy and self-esteem you lose, the harder it becomes to tackle your boreout symptoms.
What to do in case of boreout symptoms
People are usually embarrassed of boreout symptoms. They prefer to keep them hidden. That's why managers often don't notice until an employee resigns, for example. It's nothing to be ashamed of. There are many people who suffer from boredom at work. Research shows it affects 43 per cent of employees (Udemy, 2016). Fifteen per cent are so bored that it leads to stress, irritation and fatigue (Werder and Rothlin, 2007).
Take your symptoms seriously and discuss them with your manager. Let them know that you don't have enough to do, or that you lack challenges. Your supervisor will want to know, and you can work together to find a solution.
If you can’t find a solution together, if there is no extra work or more challenges available within your current job, then it's probably time for something new.
Look forward to your work again!
At Maandag® there is always interesting and challenging work for you, no matter how much experience you have. We are interested in your interests and abilities.
Want to develop further? With secondment, your personal growth comes first. All kinds of training and courses are available through the Maandag® Academy. Together, we will find that job where you never get bored.
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Boreout test
If you are uncertain about whether you are suffering from boreout symptoms, the DUBS (Dutch Boredom Scale) by researchers Gaby Reijseger, Wilbar Schaufeli and colleagues can be a useful tool to find out. Boreout cannot yet be clinically diagnosed, because it is not a scientific term. However, the DUBS is a handy way to measure boredom at work.
Read the following statements and indicate how often each one applies to you. Use a scale from 0 (never) to 6 (always). If you score an average of 4 or higher, it is a sign that you are bored at work.
Time goes very slowly at work
I am bored at work
I daydream while at work
It seems like the working day never ends
I tend to do other things during work
There is not much to do at my work. This test is for informative purposes only, not for self-diagnosis.