Author Topic: Boredem at Work?  (Read 4294 times)

mayodt

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Boredem at Work?
« on: March 14, 2018, 09:45:14 AM »
Hey there,

I have a general question about work --

Everywhere I have ever worked I feel bored the majority of the time, especially in an office setting. I'll have a couple hours of engaging work then I either have nothing to work on or mundane tasks that are boring. Is this just part of the "working life"? Does anybody else feel this way, am I pursuing the wrong things in my work life? Outside of work I also often feel bored I suppose when I am not hanging out with friends or fixing/building things.

I have a few things I would like to try as a career (fixing up old trucks, building/fixing almost anything, etc.) but I have fears that seem legitimate to me (not enough money, not enough income, not enough knowledge, don't want to rush jobs to get paid, etc.), but I feel like most of these I would also get bored quickly.

Is there something wrong with me? Have I just not found something that's mainly engaging for me, or is this just life?

Thanks!

Lady SA

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2018, 10:10:45 AM »
Dont worry. It's just life, and not weird for you to feel like this in the slightest.

Dont' put so much pressure on your job/work to also be your passion and for you to enjoy it every single second. Expecting your job to provide an income, and occupation, and fulfilling joy every second is too much pressure on yourself and the job, and is a recipe for generating needless unhappiness because you start thinking you are somehow defective because you don't LOVE your job.

I don't LOVE my job. I'm good at it, and it is satisfactory 90% of the time. I'm bored for a bit every day (like now, when I'm cruising the forums). I just think of it as extra time I can pursue my own interests (like personal finance, or researching for a project I'm doing, or planning meals, whatever). My job doesn't consume every second between 9-5pm, and I prefer it that way.

As long as you find a career/industry/job that you are skilled at, is in demand (so you can command a decent salary), and satisfies you the majority of the time, you are fine. This way, your job provides you an income and the means to pursue your passions -- OUTSIDE of work.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2018, 10:13:13 AM by Lady SA »

mayodt

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2018, 10:14:17 AM »
Thanks for the reply!

How do you not feel guilty for doing these types of things on work hours? I just feel like I'm quickly closing tabs and pretending to be working whenever somebody walks by and I'm not "working".

Lady SA

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2018, 10:19:23 AM »
Thanks for the reply!

How do you not feel guilty for doing these types of things on work hours? I just feel like I'm quickly closing tabs and pretending to be working whenever somebody walks by and I'm not "working".

I do the same exact thing. I just make sure I have a "work" tab open while I also have "personal" tabs open, and if someone comes by I can quickly switch to the work tab. I also have the freedom to move around so I can work in a different corner or chair or table if I want to, so I'll go somewhere more private (I do this anyway for actual working to help myself focus).

And honestly, if you have good communication with your boss and you are performing where they expect and delivering everything on time (which it sounds like you are because you are left with chunks of time to be bored), then they really can't complain.

Of course, my workplace is pretty casual and doesn't have the expectation of being "butt in chair" at all hours and 100% focusing on work the whole time. It's pretty common for people to schedule doctor's appointments, have a quick text conversation with their spouse, leave a bit early to pick up their kids from school, etc. If your workplace culture is less accommodating, I would be a bit more circumspect about doing non-work stuff in full view of the office.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2018, 10:21:13 AM by Lady SA »

Trying2bFrugal

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2018, 11:04:46 AM »
It was in my peak entry level employment days, I was handling multiple projects at same time, each one was challenging and different yet I wasnt satisfied on what I can do vs whats given. I often thought the work is boring until I had a chance to talk to an old retired post office personnel.

He was doing the same job (collecting covers, sending and stamping) 30 years in a small town, in same position and lived his life in full, simple, and satisfied.
The money I got on my second year was his salary on his final employment year.

That moment of conversation had a lot of impact on me. Then I see that its not the job bored me, its my thinking.
From that moment, each task in my each day I try to do it with complete attention and try to do compete my previous work. I never said that it was boring again.

It may look funny or stupid to compare with yours, but may be I am lacking on expressing on typing. But things change after your attitude changes.

But - its normal to get bored in work. If everything else looked good, stick with it otherwise try a different one.

ZiziPB

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2018, 12:59:10 PM »

mayodt

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2018, 01:16:45 PM »
Here's a thread for you: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/the-art-of-not-working-at-work/

This is exactly what I was looking for, exactly how I feel about work most of the time. I always see the people that seem to work from 7am to 6pm or whatever just walking around spending half their time talking to people about random things or wasting time making a 10 minute long coffee four times a day aha. But, nobody ever says anything to that guy but will call people out for surfing the web after they complete their tasks and have nothing to do but sit until 5pm.

I guess I need to get some good hobbies to learn things online - I guess this forum is a good place to start aha.

Thanks!

moneynoob

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2018, 01:38:36 PM »
I am always bored at work.

Working in an office setting with a love of physical activity and outdoors is very difficult.

What helps me is going to the gym on lunch break and researching ways to improve myself when I don't have pressing projects.

However, my daily struggle is feeling like I'm wasting time sitting in a dark corner of the office unable to do the things I want to do. I live alone so afterwork is usually taken up by cooking, cleaning, showering, commuting, etc. So I have only the weekends to enjoy life.

Personally I feel that I shouldn't give up 5 days a week of my life for someone else in return for 2 free days. Who wants to give someone $5 in return for $2?

This is my number one driving force for becoming financially independent and starting a business. Now, to find the time... lol

shelbyautumn

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2018, 02:11:36 PM »
I'm so thankful to hear that other people feel this way.

My job in college was the most rigorous I've had - since then it's been snoozeville. I worked in the admissions and recruiting office at my college and there was ALWAYS more to do. I had a position that should have been a staff member and not a student, so my to-do list was always never complete. I LOVED it.

I've had two jobs since then. I thought the first job being boring and slow was an anomaly. Now that I'm in the second job, I'm beginning to think this is just what offices are like.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2018, 02:33:58 PM by shelbyautumn »

Brother Esau

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2018, 02:26:32 PM »
A tab for this site is open on my computer all day while in the office.

trollwithamustache

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2018, 04:42:29 PM »
Most organizations are absolutely terrible about correctly loading up workloads for staff employees.

Over the years I have leisurely done a lot of online classes vaguely related to my job. It improved you and if you get caught, it looks like you just got way to far down the rabbit hole researching something related to work. Which is much better than being caught on this website.

Schaefer Light

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2018, 06:45:45 AM »
I can definitely relate.  At my workplace, there's a big emphasis on resolving customer issues quickly.  In order to do this, you need staff members who really don't have a lot to do.  After all, response times are faster when people aren't engaged in other activities.  The issue I have is that no one in upper management will admit that it's okay not to be busy all the time.  They want us to be busy, busy, busy, but also able to respond to every issue right away.  You can't have both.  If we were that busy, we wouldn't have time to look at every issue the moment it comes in.

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2018, 08:40:03 AM »
My last job was like yours.  A couple hours of work, and literally nothing to do for 60-75% of the time.  I was completing all my work on time, and doing it quite thoroughly, but still had a lot of downtime.  I complained to a mentor (not at work), and he gave me some very good advice:

"Invest in yourself!"

I.e. work to make yourself more valuable.  Take some online courses, learn new skills, polish your resume, etc, so that if/when you decide to jump ship, you are more attractive to future employers.

maginvizIZ

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2018, 01:56:42 PM »
Wow what a breath of fresh air reading this.  I'm not the only one who sits in my cubicle, thinking I may have made a mistake on my career choice, as I have WAY too much time on my hands? This is what careers are like?  9 to 5 until your 65, 30% work, 70% chat with coworkers, responding to occasional emails, and surfing the web like I'm doing right now.


I really like what zolotiyeruki had to say.  Invest in yourself. I work in finance, but see value in learning VBA (to make macros to do my 30% of work, so then I'll end up with 95% non work tasks haha).

I'll look into free coding classes online.  Hopefully you find something to keep yourself occupied!

2Birds1Stone

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2018, 03:46:15 PM »
This site has helped me immensely =)

You are not alone.

DreamFIRE

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Re: Boredem at Work?
« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2018, 05:03:15 PM »
I have a pretty interesting job, but every once in a while I get bored with the work because I think about other things.  Over about the last year, I tend to dream about FIRE, and I'll think about that and imagine that future, check out some relevant stuff online, and it can make it tough to get back into working mode.  But, once I snap myself out of it and get my thoughts back my job, the boredom fades.  But that seems like the disadvantage of getting close to FIRE is that now I dream about it more when I'm at work.  I've got over a year to go, so it probably won't get any better.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!