Sure, You’re Bored At Work A Lot … But Is That Really A Bad Thing?

Social media, streaming networks, and mobile games have almost made boredom a thing of the past in our ordinary lives. But that’s probably not the case when you go to work.

A new study not only shed light on just how bored ordinary Americans are on the job, but also the potential downside of trying to eradicate that feeling completely.

What the research says

Depending on how you spend your days at work, it might not surprise you to learn that the typical employee spends about one-fourth of the work week — roughly 10 hours — feeling bored. And that stays pretty constant across various industries, even seemingly action-packed careers in fields like law enforcement or space exploration.

But what is boredom, exactly? According to a team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame, it’s more than just time you spend twiddling your thumbs. It’s a way for your brain to send the message that it’s time to conclude the current task and move on to the next one.

Despite the usefulness of boredom, it can become a net negative when it comes to productivity at work. Spending too much time on a boring task, the study found, often translates to poorer performance in other aspects of your job.

What you should know

The new study not only offers some interesting data points, but also provides a path toward using boredom to your advantage at work. Specifically, paying attention to when you feel bored can help you alternate between boring tasks and ones that are more stimulating to your brain, thereby reducing unaddressed boredom’s strain on attentiveness and productivity.

Lead author Casher Belinda recommended creating a schedule with that goal in mind.

“Following an initial boring task, employees should turn to other meaningful tasks to help restore lost energy,” he concluded.

Chris Agee March 30th, 2024

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