Boredom, ChatGPT and me

I love my work but as I sat down to write this week’s post, I found myself staring off into space and feeling vaguely resentful of my manager (me) for having set me the task!

It got me thinking about boredom.

When we're bored, it could be a sign that we're not being challenged or stimulated enough in our work – either in a major, career-defining way, or just that day or hour. It could also be a signal that we're not aligned with our values or goals.

Instead of ignoring boredom, use it as an opportunity for self-reflection.

Ask yourself, "What is it about my current work or situation that's making me bored?" and "How can I change my work or situation to make it more engaging and fulfilling?"

By listening to our boredom, we can identify areas in our work or life that need improvement, big or small, and take steps to address them.

This could mean taking on a new project, seeking out new challenges, or reassessing whether our goals really still resonate or may need an update. Or perhaps you just need a change of scene for a while.

Here are some other ways boredom can sometimes be a positive:

1. Boredom can foster creativity:
   When we're bored, our minds tend to wander, and that can be a good thing. Allow yourself some downtime to let your mind wander, and you might be surprised at the creative solutions that come to you.

2. Boredom can encourage learning:
   Boredom can also be an opportunity to learn something new. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media, use your boredom as a cue to read a book, listen to a podcast, or take an online course.

3. Boredom can build resilience:
   It's easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed in our fast-paced world. Embracing quieter moments of boredom can help build resilience by giving us time to recharge and reflect.

4. Boredom can foster connection:
   In today's digital world, we're constantly connected, but not necessarily building meaningful connections. Use boredom to reach out to a colleague or friend you haven't spoken to in a while and catch up.

In my case, there were no big revelations about changing my life.

Instead, I jumped on ChatGPT and asked it to write a haiku about boredom. Here’s what it produced:

Boredom, a dark cloud,

But within it lies a gift,

An invitation.

Not bad.

I took it pretty literally and went and met a friend for an after-work catch up.

But in all seriousness, while we all get bored from time to time, if you are frequently bored at work, don’t ignore it. By listening to our boredom, we can identify areas in our work or life that need improvement and take steps to address them. Even if those steps are out the door!

Until next week,

Take care of yourself and others,
Madeleine

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