A client introduced me to the term boreout recently. I’d never heard it before. (And I call myself the work therapist. Embarrassing.)
But it turns out that boreout is really just a newer name for an old problem: chronic understimulation at work. While burnout is usually associated with prolonged stress and overload, boreout describes the distress that can come from not having enough engaging, challenging, or meaningful work to do.
We tend to think about work-related distress as something that happens when there’s too much. Too much work. Too much pressure. Too much responsibility. Too many emails, meetings, deadlines, and people needing something from us.
But sometimes the problem is the opposite. Sometimes there’s too little that feels meaningful, challenging, or interesting. And that can be surprisingly difficult too.
When Being Bored at Work Is More Than Boredom
Everyone gets bored at work sometimes. Even people who love their jobs have tedious tasks, slow weeks, or meetings where they find themselves wondering exactly how much longer another human being can possibly talk about the same spreadsheet.
Boreout is different from occasional boredom. It’s the experience of being chronically understimulated at work, and over time, that can have a real impact on how you feel.
You might notice that your motivation has dropped significantly. Tasks that should be easy feel strangely difficult to start. You might feel tired despite not being particularly busy, or find yourself procrastinating more than usual. There can be irritability, restlessness, disengagement, or simply a nagging sense that everything feels a little flat.
And that can be confusing. We tend to associate exhaustion with doing too much, so feeling drained when you’re objectively not overloaded can come with a certain amount of guilt. You might wonder what’s wrong with you. You might tell yourself that you have a perfectly good job and should be grateful. You might look at colleagues who are overwhelmed and feel ridiculous complaining that you don’t have enough to do.
But human beings generally need some level of stimulation, challenge, purpose, and engagement. Spending a significant portion of your waking hours feeling disconnected from what you’re doing can take a toll, even if your calendar isn’t particularly full.
The More Interesting Question Is Why
The label boreout can be useful because it gives people language for an experience they may have struggled to explain. But identifying that you’re bored or understimulated is really only the beginning.
The more interesting question is: Why?
Have you always felt this way in this job, or is the feeling relatively new? Were you once engaged in the work? If so, what changed? Are you no longer learning? Have your responsibilities shifted? Did a new manager change the nature of your role? Have you become so efficient at your job that there’s very little left that challenges you?
It’s also worth looking beyond the job itself. Sometimes what feels like boredom is actually emotional exhaustion. After a prolonged period of stress or burnout, it can be difficult to feel interested or energized by work that once felt engaging. The problem may not be that there isn’t enough stimulation; it may be that you don’t currently have the capacity to engage with it.
Understanding the difference matters because the solution depends on what’s actually happening.
Boreout Doesn’t Automatically Mean You Need to Quit
When people realize they’re deeply disengaged from their work, it’s tempting to jump immediately to the biggest possible conclusion: I need a new job.
Sometimes that’s true. Chronic boredom can absolutely be information that a role, organization, or even career no longer fits.
But it isn’t the only explanation.
Sometimes you’ve simply outgrown your current responsibilities and need a new challenge. Sometimes a role has gradually changed and the parts you used to find meaningful have disappeared. Sometimes you need more autonomy, creativity, connection, or opportunities to learn. Sometimes something happening outside of work has affected your ability to engage with it.
And sometimes, yes, you’re bored because the job is no longer right for you.
Before making a major decision, it can be useful to understand which story you’re actually in. What specifically is missing? When did things change? What parts of work still engage you, if any? What would need to be different for you to feel more interested again?
We love a label because labels can make complicated experiences feel easier to understand. Burnout. Boreout. Quiet quitting. Suddenly there’s a name for the thing we’ve been feeling.
And sometimes having that name is genuinely helpful.
But the label is rarely the most interesting part.
How Talk Therapy Can Help.
It can be challenging to know whether what we’re feeling is burnout, or something else. Or, you may know you’re burned out, but are feeling overwhelmed with the idea of handling it on your own. Talking to a therapist can be an effective form of support when the do-it-yourself options just aren’t enough. Through getting to know you, a therapist can help you understand what your personal signs and symptoms are, and what may be at the root of them. They can then work with you on creating a personalized plan that feels realistic for you, to help you break your burnout cycle.
You are not alone. I know firsthand what professional burnout feels like, and the unique challenges that come with carrying the weight of responsibilities at work and home. Therapy can help.
Please reach out if you’d like to learn more.
