Page 10 - KZN Business Sense 10.3

BOREDOM AT WORK CAN BE MORE

DANGEROUS THAN BURNOUT

Jacquie Bhana, In spite of the aforementioned, health has also become centre Break Up Tedious Tasks part-time basis. Someone looking
High Performance there is another concept beyond stage for businesses. But what Tasks do not have to be to combat boredom at work could
Coach, Mentor and boredom, called ‘boreout’ at work, if burnout isn’t the top problem completed all in one sitting. theoretically work two different
Counsellor which is chronic boredom and at work we should be worrying Scheduling tedious tasks for a few jobs on a part-time basis to
studies have shown that it can about? What if it is burnout’s hours in the morning, and then introduce more novelty and task-
re you cause depression, anxiety, stress, opposite state – boredom or returning to finish the tedious switching into their day.
bored out insomnia and higher turnover, boreout, that’s the real threat to tasks at the end of the day can
Aof your and is likened to burnout and wellbeing? help break up the boredom. Another fix is to set aside time
mind at work? workaholisam. Boreout is an Boredom is brought on by a on the clock for passion projects.
Google is probably the most
Cultivate psychological safety
Is spending emotional state characterised by combination of factors including so employees can speak up – well-known company that does
the better feeling unstimulated, unfocused a lack of stimulation, i.e. we encourage people to have difficult this, with their philosophy that
part of your and restless, to the point where find our work uninteresting conversations. employees should set aside 20%
waking people feel that work has and unengaging. Or perhaps of their time to explore or work
hours just absolutely no meaning. people don’t have enough work Admitting you’re bored or on innovative projects.
not inspiring you? There can be Two Sides to the Problem to do – too much leisure time unengaged at work is taboo
nothing more soul destroying can also bring on boredom. It’s in many organisations, but it Mental Health Support
than feeling absolutely bored at If you are feeling any of these also compounded by a mismatch shouldn’t be. Instead, speaking Addressing and nurturing
work. I am not talking about conditions, i.e. boredom, burnout between expectations and reality. up signals to managers that mental health can be the antidote
exhilaration every minute of the or boreout, do you expect your Expectations have grown that someone is unhappy or under- to issues of stress, monotony and
day, because there are aspects of company or your manager to give life would be, at least some of the utilised, and gives them time eventual burnout.
work that are routine. you work that is fulfilling OR do time, amusing and interesting to correct. Managers can help
you feel that YOU need to change – and so did the disappointment identify new areas within the This is a topic that is not explored
At work, boredom has a bad business for someone to support well enough in our organisations
reputation, mostly due to its the way you operate? when they weren’t. or other novel experiences to and yet would go a long way
connection with poor behaviours What if you are the manager, It’s time for ‘boreout’ to join provide a change. They can also to increasing productivity and
including ‘cyberloafing’ (non- and you are faced with a number the workplace mental health encourage employees to pursue employee wellbeing.
work related internet browsing, of employees who just don’t feel conversation in much the same outside interests that benefit both
including watching movies, that their work is inspiring? How way burnout, presentism, and employee and employer, such as If you need any assistance
staying active on social media), do you deal with a world of work work/life balance have become mentoring, public speaking, or with these very real challenges,
using company wifi systems – that needs to change and even you primary topics. taking on a new course. feel free to contact Jacquie
through to chronic fatigue. Some are not prepared for this? who has had good success
have also suggested that due to So how can we combat boredom Encourage Job Sharing or Job with coaching and mentoring
its known negative impact on So, there are two sides to this at work – both for the benefit of Crafting employees and managers. 
productivity, being bored at work problem – one is the manager’s the company and the employee ?
can be even more dangerous than challenge, and one is the Even if an employee’s role One quick fix is taking on Contact Jacquie Bhana if you would like
burnout, and has been found to employee’s challenge. doesn’t directly save lives or more varied tasks, and a way to coaching to become a high performance
be one of the top reasons people Following the Covid 19 change the world, they need do that is via job sharing or job employee and leader of a high
look for a new job. Boredom is epidemic, employee burnout to feel that their work has a crafting. Job crafting, is when performance team.
the feeling of being uninterested has become top of mind for purpose aligned with their someone proactively redesigns C: +27 83 386 8343
in what you are doing, or some employers on the heels of the great values and skills. Leaders their job to better align with their E: Jacquie.bhana@mbhana.co.za
call it ‘mentally idle’. resignation or great reshuffle, or should also spot opportunities interests, while still ensuring the W: www.jacquiebhana.co.za
fundamental requirements of
We generally tend to be more changed working arrangements. to create more challenging work the role are still performed. For
familiar with the concept of Recent research reports indicate to increase mental engagement. example, someone interested in
burnout, which is a state of high levels of burnout and distress This can take the form of developing their programming
mental and physical exhaustion amongst employees, with 74% of joining new committees or task skills could increase the amount
caused by one’s professional life. human resource leaders in the forces or perhaps being asked of time they work with online
Burnout is known to be a result of United States committing to make to help solve a complex problem applications. Job sharing is when
chronic workplace stress that has mental health a top priority. Back someone would otherwise not two people share the same job
not been successfully managed. home in South Africa, mental be involved in. within a company, working on a

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