If you have noticed a lack of interest, demotivation or lack of energy in your work, come in and discover what boreout syndrome is and how it affects mental health.
It is common that when we hear about work, most of the time it is associated with exhaustion and stress. However, there are other problems that are less talked about, but that happen to many workers, such as, for example, boreout This syndrome arises when the worker feels little stimulation in the work environment, which causes him to feel bored and uninterested in his work
In this article we will explore what this syndrome is specifically about, what the difference is between burnout and what the causes and consequences are.
He boreout syndrome It is a new syndrome that occurs in the work environment that, although it does not have sufficient scientific documentation, affects an increasing number of workers and can lead to depression and decreased self-esteem.
He boreout It was first described by authors Philipe Rothlin and Peter Werder in 2007 after the publication of a book about it. The word boreout is an English word that is composed of bore – boring – and out – out -. The result of this combination of words would be something similar to “finding yourself out of boredom.” In this way, someone who suffers from boreout would be someone who is beyond the boredom so that this emotion becomes increasingly unbearable and gradually affects different areas of the life of the person who suffers from it.
Philipe Rothlin and Peter Werder (2007) defined the syndrome based on three main characteristics:
Boredom at work: The worker feels disoriented and listless because he feels that he does not know what to do throughout the work day or part of it. He boredom It can be caused by different factors such as, for example, the type of tasks that the worker must perform, which he considers monotonous, meaningless and tedious, etc. In this sense, the realization of repetitive and monotonous tasks Without learning opportunities it can cause chronic boredom in the worker.
Disinterest at work: The person feels little identified with their job, which can be reflected in a lack of interest in everything that the company represents (its values, culture, etc.), in their work itself and/or in the situation they have within the company. showing little interest in promotions, promotions, etc.
Under-demand at work: Underexertion at work can occur when the worker feels that his or her abilities exceed the tasks assigned to him or her, because the number of tasks assigned to him or her is low, etc. The under-demand Together with the lack of opportunities in the workplace, they can contribute to the worker feeling unrecognized.
In conclusion, the boreout syndrome It could be defined as the opposite of being motivated and aligned with the objectives one has at work. Although we may reach the erroneous conclusion that the worker spends the workday relaxed, the reality is that this is not the case. The worker who presents boreout feels restless since he may have the sensation that time does not pass, generating, therefore, feelings of tension and irritability.
What is the difference between boreout and burnout?
Perhaps when reading boreout, the Burnout syndrome (or also called burnt out worker syndrome). Although they are different syndromes, it is true that both have job dissatisfaction as their main basis, one due to work overload and the other, on the other hand, due to feeling little challenged by the tasks performed at work. So both, although they are opposite, lead to the same result, being burned out at work.
In fact, in the same department of a company some people may suffer from burnout and others from boreout. The main reason is the poor distribution of tasks, since some people tend to work more than they really should so that they offload the work of their colleagues. As time goes by, those people who monopolize more tasks begin to feel overwhelmed and others feel less and less interested and more under-extended.
What are the causes of boreout?
Having free time during the work day could be the dream of many workers, however, far from that, people who suffer from this syndrome feel desperate for spending so many hours without knowing what to do. In this sense, the chronic boredom It is closely related to the employee’s interest in wanting to test his or her abilities, improve professionally, demonstrate his or her growth, etc., but not being able to do so is frustrating for the employee.
Although there are many reasons why this syndrome can occur, the main ones are the following:
Carrying out tasks that are too monotonous and boring, causing the worker to feel underutilized.
Having a job that itself involves activities that are very repetitive.
Little motivation on the part of the employee in the work he carries out, he feels that his expectations do not match the job for which he was hired.
Have salary as your only work objective.
The worker’s role is ambiguous so that the worker does not know very well what his function is in the company.
The worker performs functions below his or her competencies, so they do not adapt to his or her capabilities.
Inability to get a promotion within the company or to increase your salary.
Feeling unmotivated or needing recognition of the work done by the company.
Not visualizing a future in the company.
The employee does not feel prepared to carry out the tasks related to his or her job.
The hierarchical structure or leadership style of bosses prevents workers from making decisions to enhance their capabilities within the company.
Consequences of boreout on the worker:
He boreout It can have consequences both on the work well-being and mental health of people. Some of them may be:
Decreased motivation and commitment to the company: The main consequence that boreout can have on workers is the demotivation due to lack of carrying out interesting and challenging tasks for the person. As a result of this demotivation, performance, productivity and commitment to the company can be negatively affected.
Professional stagnation: When people are caught in situations of job boredom, professional development can be seriously affected. In this sense, feeling that you do not have challenges and opportunities can limit your ability to acquire new knowledge and skills.
Deterioration in labor relations: Employees who are bored may show less interest in helping their colleagues at work, which ends up leading to conflicts within the work environment.
Greater predisposition to depression and anxiety: Chronic boredom can lead to the appearance of depressive and anxious symptoms. The lack of challenges and monotony On a day-to-day basis it can make people feel trapped and purposeless, which negatively affects their mental health.
Low self-esteem: Boreout can end up affecting the worker’s self-esteem since the lack of stimulating tasks can make people feel incompetent and worthless.
Lack of concentration: The lack of stimulating tasks can have a negative impact on employees’ ability to concentrate. Constant boredom makes it difficult for the person to maintain attention on the tasks at hand.
Increased risk of addiction: Some people, in order to manage boredom, may present addictive behaviors as a way to escape the same boredom and dissatisfaction they feel at work. One of the most common addictions that can occur is to social networks, video games, etc.
As we have seen, the boreout It is not simply boredom but has multiple consequences on people’s emotional health. If you think you suffer from boreout at work and do not know how to manage this situation, it is best to seek professional help in order to obtain individualized attention.
