Boreout - sick with boredom

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Everyone is talking about burnout. However, it is largely unknown that too little work can make you sick. Psychologist Benjamin Martens explains the background to Boreout - and what you can do about it

If work leads to total exhaustion, concentration problems and depression, there is a risk of burnout. Researchers are now on the trail of another phenomenon: Many people show symptoms of burnout, although there is no question of excessive workload. A second look often shows that these people do not suffer from overstrain, but rather from understrain.

This can happen at work as well as in private life. "Too little work, too undemanding tasks - this is the main cause of boredom, especially among young, motivated employees. And the resulting boreout symptoms," explains Benjamin Martens from the "psycheplus.de" portal. These are, for example, listlessness, irritability and frustration.

Pia Heine can confirm this: For half a year of her life she was stuck in a job in which she had far too little to do. "I felt useless and at home I was constantly brooding over how to proceed," says the 27-year-old from Munich. That gnaws at one's self-confidence.

Young, motivated, bored to death

A report by the federal government from 2011 recently showed that the topic is relevant. This shows that up to two thirds of those surveyed have experienced phases of boredom and under-challenged at work. They stated that they could do more than was required of them - and also want to do more. "But all motivation doesn't help if there is simply not enough work to do," says Heine, who was once affected by Boreout.

The problem is that a boreout is often not recognized in time. You think of everything else, just not the workplace as a trigger. Many sufferers - and even doctors - first look for physical causes for the symptoms. Or one suspects that another mental disorder such as depression is behind the symptoms.

The consequences of boreout are no less dangerous than those of the dreaded burnout. They can actually lead to depression and permanent incapacity for work.

Disguised problem

People with burnout now find understanding in our society. Mainly because burnout has the nimbus of meeting highly committed people in particular. "Those affected who complain of health and psychological problems due to being under-challenged, on the other hand, are not taken seriously," says Martens. Because if you have too little work, it is your own fault, so the general assumption.

The logical consequence: those affected do not talk about their problem and come up with all sorts of ideas to cover up the situation: They pretend to be busy. "Unfortunately, such measures often appear to outsiders and the boss as if the employee was busy with his work," explains the psychologist. "Otherwise you might get the impression that you are lazy or don't feel like working." And that's not true: people with a boreout are often particularly ambitious and motivated to perform. And that's why frustrated.

Look for solutions

Having a little less on your desk for a while can be pleasant. However, this situation quickly shows its downsides. The own motivation drops and the person concerned gets sucked into boredom and frustration. "Those affected first have to recognize this process and admit it to themselves," says Martens.

Then you should definitely seek an active conversation with the boss. In many cases, new or additional projects can be found that fully utilize the people concerned. Here, everyone involved must ensure that the situation does not turn into the opposite and lead to burnout. "It's important to find the ideal level," says Martens.

expanding horizon

If there is really nothing left to do, it may be possible to reduce working hours in phases. Perhaps the time gained in this way will even be invested in meaningful and exciting training. Otherwise, more free time offers the chance to broaden one's horizons and fill it with new activities. "I cooked a lot during that time," says Heine. At least she had ample opportunity to search for recipes on the Internet.

Anyone who cannot or does not want to afford reduced working hours financially, or who falls on deaf ears with their boss, may also be the right decision to change jobs. "Of course, such a step should be carefully considered," says Martens. But being under-challenged in an employment relationship in the long term is not a good alternative.

For Pia Heine, the turning point came just in time: A new boss brought a breath of fresh air into the company. "He finally gave me more demanding tasks, some of which I could get really creative with," she says. Suddenly there was no trace of boredom and frustration.

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