Negative effects of boreout

Boreout often comes on gradually and quietly. You might not see it coming until a team member is overwhelmed by symptoms. What’s more, if they do realize something’s wrong, they might feel foolish asking for help from a supervisor. As a manager, you might feel uncomfortable about talking to staff about emotional issues.

Discomfort aside, it’s important not to ignore any warning signs. After all, boreout is more than simple boredom. Over time, it can lead to a range of damaging effects in the office, including:

• Increased stress
• Depression
• Difficulty focusing
• Apathy and exhaustion
• Weight gain
• Health problems

If the individual experiencing boreout is a manager, it doesn’t stop there. Since they set the tone for the team, the ripple effect can spread throughout an entire department.

What causes boreout?

Boreout can happen to anyone at any level. This condition might develop when your team experiences:

• A lack of new challenges (or too many): Without the stimulation of overcoming obstacles and learning new things, it’s easy to lose interest in work. This can happen when high-performing employees don’t perform tasks that are challenging enough. On the flip side, it may be the result of junior team members being given work that’s too challenging.
• Unused skills: Each task requires a different skill set and performance level. If your team isn’t using its most developed and satisfying skills, it’s difficult to stay interested and motivated.
• Low workload: Not having enough things to do is a common cause of boreout. Sometimes, this happens when the company is experiencing a lull. In other cases, it’s because a team member is more efficient and productive than previous workers, leaving them with excess free time.
• Lack of purpose: When work doesn’t feel fulfilling or meaningful, it can affect your employees at a deep level. You’re not alone; a McKinsey study found that 70% of workers draw purpose from their professions.

Signs that your team is dealing with boreout at work

When something seems off with an employee , but you can’t determine the cause, boreout may be the culprit. If you notice any of these warning signs, it’s important to take action.

It takes a superhuman effort to complete easy tasks

A member of staff may struggle to complete easy tasks, or they may feel as if they’re pushing a boulder uphill every day. When work that should be a breeze seems like a burden, it’s often because your employee isn’t feeling challenged enough.

They’re inexplicably exhausted

Exhaustion is a common side effect of boreout. An employee might seem mentally and physically beaten down, even when they’re getting plenty of sleep. This feeling can seep into their personal life, making time off less rejuvenating, disrupting work-life balance and tanking productivity.

They ask for more meaningful work

Many people wish their work was a bit more meaningful. When dealing with boreout, this desire becomes more persistent and demoralizing. Think back on feedback from the past few weeks and months—if you’ve heard any of these things, you might be on the way to chronic boredom:

• It’s not like I’m making a difference
• All I do is make other people more money
• I’d love to help people or make their lives better
• My work doesn’t make an impact on the world

They feel detached from your company and colleagues

Personal connections help your team get through tough times at work. Severe boreout can create a feeling of distance, creating a sense of detachment. This is particularly common if they’re also longing for meaning and purpose. A strong brand story with clearly defined mission and value statements are essential. Using them to guide the hiring and onboarding process and capture the attention of people whose values align with company culture is a great way to prevent boreout ever occurring.

You’re noticing symptoms of depression

Stressful situations and events, such as boreout, can cause depression. Keep an eye out for symptoms among your team, such as:

• Disinterest in tasks that once seemed exciting
• Changes in sleep and eating habits
• Feelings of sadness, anxiety, worry or hopelessness
• Trouble with focus or memory

How to prevent or resolve boreout

Boreout is bad for employees’ health and careers and your business. Whether they’re displaying early signs of this condition or they’re deep in the weeds, there are things you can do to improve the situation.

1. Ask for help

One of the best ways to prevent boreout is by creating a culture of asking for help in the workplace . Too often, employees feel unable to seek help with personal problems or express their feelings, but you can provide training sessions on asking for help at work and ensure supervisors set the right example. You can also speak to your HR department about offering an employee assistance program.

2. Provide new challenges

Sometimes, a new challenge is all it takes to dispel boreout. Offer the team member experiencing it more responsibility , or teach them a new skill that benefits your department. Choose something that’s interesting but hard—it’ll light the fire of curiosity and determination.

3. Help your employees grow

If employee boreout seems to stem from a lack of purpose, try focusing on growth. Talk to each one individually about their professional goals, and find ways to help them succeed. If someone displaying the signs of boreout dreams of going back to school at night, offer to let them leave early to make it to class.

You can also assign new projects to build skills, set goals to work toward a promotion or find company funding for professional development. Even if you can’t change the nature of your company’s work, you can make a real and lasting difference in the lives of your team.

4. Find creative solutions to business problems

Every business can benefit from innovation, but few are willing to dedicate the resources and time it takes to get there. If your team is feeling bored, this is a good opportunity to identify inefficiencies or opportunities and find creative solutions.

Reach out to other managers to find opportunities for collaboration, or spend more time with workers on the floor. You’ll build relationships, gain insight and develop a better understanding of your team as a whole, making it easier to solve team-related issues.

5. Find ways to make a positive impact

If your employees are demonstrating that they feel a lack of meaning, create initiatives that help the world. Start local:

• Set up a team volunteer day with a nonprofit
• Ask the company to sponsor a local organization
• Offer training at a school or community college

Never be afraid to ask for help

Boreout in employees can’t always be resolved, especially if it’s caused by things outside your control. If you’ve made a genuine effort and things aren’t improving, consider seeking advice from a career coach or mentor.