6 Ways to Get Rid of Boredom at Work

With any job, there will be times when boredom may take over. Even if you initially enjoyed your work, many of the tasks may now seem routine. 

Uninspired, restless, depressed, these are all states you may find yourself in when bored with your work. Try ridding that boredom in the following six ways.

1. Update Your Workspace

Your surroundings can play a significant role in how you feel. If you’re bored with work, first start with changing up your space. Whether an office, a cubicle, or a desk in the middle of the room, there are ways you can make it more inviting, more efficient, and more motivating.

• Consider lighting. Are you always reading documents, comparing tables side by side, or doing other intense visual tasks? Consider having a designated a spot on your desk and add special lighting. This can be a library type lamp or a designer lamp that fits the design style of your space.
• Update furniture. Although you may be limited to your furniture options, you can make small changes and request an ergonomic assessment. Consider adding a stand-up desk. Changing to a standing position can sometimes energize you and help you focus on the job at hand.
• Add photos. Put up pictures of family or vacation plans to keep you motivated. Look at these throughout the day.
• Focus on your career trajectory. Choose symbols, photos, or other items that represent where you want to go in your career, and place them around your workspace.
• Add a plant. Plants have been shown to not only improve your mood but to also make you more productive.

2. Approach Meetings in a New Way

Do you head to meetings with a sigh, dreading the time you’ll spend in yet another boring get-together with co-workers?

Try making suggestions for improving meetings, or even decreasing the number you have each week. If that doesn’t work, then it’s up to you to change your mindset in approaching those meetings.

Go in with the determination to take at least one thing away from it and find a way to make it yours. Take notes throughout the meeting, so you stay engaged.

3. Step Up Your Game and Get Noticed

If it’s more than just a task or two that’s boring you, it may be time to step up your game and identify ways to get noticed.

Take notes at meetings and share them with attendees and those that couldn’t make it. Include topics covered, assignments made, future goals, and so forth.

For a new project, take on extra tasks. Conduct a self-review and identify those areas you are weakest in and vow to work on them. Volunteer to research new ways of accomplishing things.

With this goal in mind, you will remain engaged in meetings and while working on projects, and it will also get you noticed by your superiors. More interesting work could be waiting just around the corner for you.

4. Add New Responsibilities

Are your current responsibilities not challenging enough? Why not request different tasks so you could explore and improve your other skills?

Don’t just go into a meeting with your supervisor with complaints of how bored you are. Instead, let them know you are ready and looking for a new challenge. If you have ideas of the type of added responsibilities you would like to take on, bring them up.

5. Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities

Be constantly learning new things. Seek out educational opportunities in your line of work, or in some aspect that supports your work. This can be software programs or the development of soft skills. Other ideas include:

• Research workshops to attend and make a proposal, with a projected budget, to superiors before the yearly budget is made. This way you will have something to look forward to.
• Suggest office retreats, even if for just one day to learn something new. This can help build teams and also recharge enthusiasm about your career.
• See what your company currently offers in the way of education. Many companies these days offer online video courses, as well as written resources.

6. Reframe Tasks

Sometimes, you may need to use your imagination to get you through the most boring tasks and projects. For this, consider reframing tasks to look at them from a different angle. For instance, imagine you are making a film, a documentary of sorts.

Looking at things from a different perspective can engage your mind in a new way and relieve the boredom.

Rarely is every work project going to be exciting. Finding ways to combat the rising boredom will be necessary if you want to be successful, and also remain happy in your job.