Bore-out-Syndrom: Macht Langeweile krank?
Es ist das Gegenstück zum Burn-out: das Bore-out. Es beschreibt die anhaltende Langeweile und Unterforderung. Welche Warnsignale gibt es – und was kann man tun?
Did you know that almost one in three people in Switzerland feel underchallenged at work? In other words, being underchallenged is much more widespread than being overchallenged, according to the Swiss Health Promotion Association. And if this state of being insufficiently challenged persists, it can lead to bore-out.
Until now, bore-out has barely been investigated by the medical profession. “But it’s a condition that’s becoming increasingly prevalent in society,” says Katja Cattapan, Head Physician for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Kilchberg Sanatorium. Why? Because it’s apparent that more and more people are bored at work and feel underchallenged. If Cattapan has her way, research will soon take a closer look at this growing phenomenon.
What is bore-out syndrome?
The term “bore-out” is derived from “to bore”. Paired with “out”, it describes the state of being mentally understimulated – a situation in which persistent boredom becomes unbearable and can have an impact on physical and mental health.
“Bore-out is becoming increasingly prevalent.”
-
What causes people to be underchallenged at work?
In most cases, it’s a person’s working life that leads to bore-out. Those affected feel underchallenged at work and often lack interest because they cannot identify with either their job or their employer.
The figures back this up. Market research company Gallup conducts an annual global study on job satisfaction. In Switzerland, only 54% of employees were satisfied with their job in 2023. What’s more, 81% of those surveyed stated that they only “work to rule”.
Why is that? According to Philippe Rothlin, one of the main reasons for “working to rule” is a feeling of being underchallenged at work. The HR expert and co-author of the book “Bore-out: Why not being challenged at work makes you ill” advises companies on these issues. He notes that more and more people do not find their work meaningful and are not being encouraged to fulfil their personal potential at work.
This leads to a feeling of stagnation, and those affected often don’t know what to do next. “That weighs heavily on them,” says Rothlin. Especially when they feel surrounded by people who’re progressing and getting on in life.
-
Is bore-out a recognised illness?
There is still little scientific research into bore-out and a lack of studies into the physical and psychological effects. The syndrome is therefore not yet considered a recognised illness. However, experts believe more studies will be conducted into this widespread phenomenon in the future.
These will show whether bore-out meets the criteria to be classified as a disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, this often takes a very long time. For example, burn-out was only recognised as a disease in 2022 – after decades of debate about whether it is a disease or a trendy diagnosis.
-
What’s the difference between burn-out and bore-out?
Experts often describe bore-out as the opposite of burn-out. In the case of the latter, as the name suggests, stress and overwork lead to a state of feeling burned out. In bore-out, boredom leads to a sense of stagnation and disillusionment. However, experts say it’s still unclear what happens neurobiologically during bore-out.
They believe that bore-out can also lead to high levels of stress – as both conditions result in the person affected no longer knowing what to do with their life.
Symptoms: What are the signs of bore-out?
If the boredom and lack of challenge persist for a long time, those affected experience a dwindling interest in and commitment to their work. This often triggers a combination of factors that create a vicious circle: those affected want to leave their job, but the thought of changing jobs overwhelms them.
There are strategies for coping with the boredom: those suffering from bore-out often work more slowly in order to prolong the work they have to do. This gives rise to a sense of unease – because they are no longer really achieving anything. Although sufferers mainly start off feeling bored, the above factors combine to create a stressful situation that weighs them down and leads to a paralysing feeling of powerlessness, because they cannot see any way out.
This can have health consequences. The most common physical symptoms include:
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Headaches and back pain
- Tension
- Fatigue
- Tinnitus
- Dizziness
- Susceptibility to infection
The psychological symptoms include:
- Insomnia and lack of drive
- Aimlessness
- Concentration problems
- Dejection
- Social withdrawal
- Strong sense of dissatisfaction
- Irritability
- Feelings of anxiety and panic attacks
Causes: What causes a bore-out?
The causes of a bore-out are complex. It takes more than persistent boredom at work. Experts say the state of bore-out is an interplay of individual factors that usually reinforce each other.
These include:
- Boredom
- Being underchallenged
- No sense of purpose in life (mostly at work)
- Lack of interest (usually due to lack of identification with work)
- Helplessness
- Identity crisis
- A feeling of stasis
These factors lead to an “experience of alienation,” as psychiatrist Cattapan terms it. Alienation is characterised by a loss of connection with oneself, with the world, with other people, with nature and with work.
The “experience” then feels empty and meaningless, especially when it comes to work. “The person affected perceives their work as meaningless. Their work no longer appeals to them emotionally,” says Cattapan.
Warning signs: Am I affected?
“Bore-out sufferers often develop strategies to cover up their boredom and the lack of challenge they’re experiencing. They prolong tasks that they could actually complete quickly or they work overtime to appear busy,” says expert Philippe Rothlin.
Those affected quickly fall into a negative spiral, for example by pretending to their colleagues that they’re very busy when in fact they have nothing to do. This causes internal stress and puts a strain on the psyche. Boredom also increases stress.
The following warning signals indicate potential bore-out:
-
Boredom and lack of interest
People who are bored and underchallenged at work lose interest in their jobs. They often distract themselves with private matters during working hours.
-
Frustration
People who are underchallenged at work often feel that their potential is neither recognised nor encouraged. This leads to frustration – and ultimately to bitterness or sarcasm.
-
Internal resignation
There comes a time when the lack of challenge, boredom and frustration is so great that those affected resign inwardly. They then often become ill and take sick leave.
-
Poor working atmosphere
Frustration, absenteeism and just “working to rule” lead to a poor working atmosphere. This often leads to crisis meetings with superiors, warnings or even dismissal.
What steps can you take to prevent a bore-out?
Suffering a bore-out is not a sign of fate – but rather a signal that those affected should make a fundamental change in their lives. “The first and most important step is to admit this to yourself,” says psychiatrist Cattapan.
Those who recognise the situation as such and are prepared to change something in their lives have a good chance of escaping bore-out by taking the right steps.
Ways to overcome bore-out:
-
Improve your current situation
Look for ways to improve the processes and content of your work so that it becomes more exciting and meaningful again.
-
Seek dialogue
Talk openly to your line manager about your situation. In most cases, those who work alongside sufferers are not aware of how they feel. Also discuss the situation openly with your colleagues.
Working with different people within the team often helps to make a job more interesting again and enables you to learn new things.
-
Pursue a new career
Commonly, those affected by bore-out are no longer able to identify with their work or even their industry and have to look for a job that better meets their current needs for meaningfulness, commitment and professional development. Seek advice on this from a specialist.
-
Define your values and goals
Write down what you don’t like about your current job – and what you think are the important factors for your next job.
Of course, this includes aspects related to the content of the job, but also what values you represent and what professional and personal goals you want to achieve. This preparation is important for the recruitment process.
-
Ask questions proactively
Take the opportunity during job interviews to ask questions that will give you valuable insights into a company. Firstly, the communication culture is important. Ask how openly and how often feedback is given.
Also address the topic of bore-out – and ask how the company deals with it. If necessary, mention an example from your current working day. This shows a willingness to change, help shape things and be proactive.
-
Set a new focus
We often focus too much on our careers and identify too much with our work. This can lead to unrealistic expectations. There’s so much more to our lives than work.
Change your focus. Focus on hobbies that bring you joy, social contacts and further education, for example by learning something new such as a language or an instrument.
Katja Cattapan
Katja Cattapan, Head Physician at the Kilchberg Sanatorium is a professor and doctor of psychiatry and psychotherapy. She is also a titular professor at the University of Bern. Her clinical and scientific work focuses on stress-related illnesses, depression and anxiety disorders.
Philippe Rothlin
HR expert Philippe Rothlin advises companies on how to offer their employees the best possible working environment. He co-authored the book “Bore-out: Why not being challenged at work makes you ill”. He is Managing Director of the Swiss Finance & Property Investment Foundation and heads the HR division of the Swiss Finance & Property Group.
