Listening to Boredom for Career Curiosity

 A newsletter from Susan David, an award-winning psychologist and Harvard Medical School instructor who studies emotional agility, made its rounds. One standout line read,

“We all need to experience some level of meaning and purpose from the work we do.”

After chewing on that statement, we considered how does this meaning and purpose translate in the construction industry. Is there a difference in getting fulfillment in an office job compared with those who work at a jobsite? Our hunch is no—we all deserve a career that brings us purpose.

So what do we do when boredom creeps into our career? Susan offers some enlightenment about how to handle those lingering boredom feelings.

1. Accept that you’re bored. Emotions are what they are, so admit that you are having this feeling.

2. Think about what boredom is saying about your values and what you are looking for in your career. By doing this, you are attempting to define what is boring.

3. Look for new experiences and seek out opportunities that intrigue you. Consider if it’s time to try a different role at work or to ask if you can be reassigned to a different project or team.

4. Ask for more and pivot to the next phase in your career. Boredom can be a sign that adjustments need to be made to reinvigorate your interests and career curiosity.

We sometimes forget that we are the ones ultimately shaping the path of our careers, not our employers. It might be time to listen to your boredom so your career needs are met at a higher level.

​If you are looking for a new opportunity and are in the Oklahoma City area, consider joining one of our teams at Flex-Ability Concepts or with our sister company, Progressive Stamping & Fabrication.