Thought it may surprise you, one can suffer from stress due to monotony and boredom. If it has never happened to you, lucky you. But maybe you have actually suffered from this type of stress, but did not have a name to put on it. Let us see what this type of work-related stress is about and how to relieve it.
What is stress due to monotony?
Stress due to monotony is a type of hypostress and may appear when we face monotonous work with very repetitive tasks. Also when we find the task boring because they are not demanding enough.
Beyond work, we may also suffer from this stress when each day seems the same as the one before and we feel we spend our life just sleeping, eating, working and doing the same household chores day after day.
Symptoms of stress due to monotony
The day seems tedious and never-ending because the hours do not seem to pass. You may feel demotivation and rejection towards the tasks that bore you. Also you feel lethargic and apathetic. But the worst scenario would be depression.
How to relieve stress due to monotony
In order to deal with this type of stress, it is necessary to look for a way to make tasks more tolerable and to make sure you plan leisure activities that get you out of the rut.
Look for the meaning of your work
First try to find a sense to your work and the monotonous or boring task within the global framework of your company and your job, in order to feel you are contributing with something useful. Knowing that you add value might not make the task more exciting, but it will make you see its importance and meaning within the ensemble of the company operations and your job.
Vary the way of doing the task
Try and look for a way to change how you carry out the task. Can you alter the order of the steps so the cadence is not always the same? Could you intersperse the tasks with other more stimulating ones?
Do the task most effectively
Analyse whether you are doing the task in the most productive and effective manner. Could there be a way to organise it better so it takes you the least possible time? Maybe you can group together several boring but similar tasks and get them done in a row and thus “get them out of the way” quicker.
If, for example you feel bored or lazy about filing documents, instead of filing paper by paper every time one comes up, try and file different documents gathered at once. But be careful not to let the pile grow too much or you may run the risk of feeling even lazier about it. By the way, having a good, easy and quick organisational system will also help.
Make the task more interesting
If the tasks allows for it, why not look for a way to make it intellectually more stimulating. When I still studied, I used to work from time to time at a photo lab. When I had to check the quality of the pictures I would count them in different languages in order to keep my mind entertained and not get bored. It occurs to me that I also could have invented stories about the people on the pictures.
The idea is to find a way to make the task more interesting but without losing concentration over what you are doing.
Create a pleasant environment
Have you tried, for example, to listen to music you like whilst doing the monotone job? This might be a way to enhance your mood.
Award yourself for a goal reached
A nice trick to tolerate a boring task can be to set yourself small goals and milestones and award yourself when reaching them. For example you could tell yourself: When I have finished the task I will get up and stretch my legs. Or once I am finished filing, I will have a coffee, tea or snack. Also, when I get this task out the way, I will work on one I like more. A small award may even be reading something interesting, watching an inspiring video or dedicating some time to that online course you signed up for.
Ask for more interesting tasks
But maybe it is not about a certain task that terribly bores you and rather you find your job monotonous in general. In this case, can you ask for more responsibilities? To be involved in some interesting project? Or to be assigned more stimulating tasks?
Be proactive, show interest and offer your help. Managers usually supervise more than one person. And with the current amount of work they might not always be aware of all their subordinates’ needs and aspirations. Yet work usually does not lack but maybe people to get it done. And maybe there is something in line with your skills and interests.
Gain new skills
Have you thought about enrolling yourself into some course to learn new skills? There are companies which offer access to training. But if this is not the case, nowadays internet offers a vast array of free and paid options.
This is a very good way to get out of the monotony. And by the way you can improve your value and curriculum or grow as a person, depending on the type of training chosen.
If you enrol on your own to training related to your profession or what your company does, make sure to inform the human resources department, delivering the degree or certification, and to let your boss know. Most of us are not aware of new strategic projects being cooked up in top management, which might require new profiles. Before looking for candidates elsewhere, they will usually check within their own ranks. But if management is not aware that you have the profile, it is unlikely that they consider you.
Have you considered a change of jobs?
If all this does not help, can you request a change into a more interesting position? I suggest you be on the watch for possible vacancies or professional opportunities arising in your company. Also look for a chance to share your interest with your boss.
As a last resort, have you thought about looking for another job? A job’s content may vary a lot depending on the company sector, department and boss. Or you might be prepared for a qualitative leap but do not see opportunities for promotion at your current company.
So why not update your CV, register on social media like LinkedIn and job portals? Have a look at the vacancies out there. Do you find interesting opportunities? Do you fulfill the requirements regarding training, skills and experience?
LinkedIn will not have immediate results and just introducing your resume is not enough. Therefore I recommend you look for groups of interest and make yourself visible by participating in discussions and sharing interesting contents related to your job or the one you aspire to.
Also keep your eyes and ears open in case friends or acquaintances mention an interesting opportunity.
Create yourself a rich and interesting life
Beyond work, do you feel your life is boring? A boring job is more tolerable if outside you dedicate your time to things you like. Do you take time for interests and hobbies you enjoy? Doing activities that help you disconnect from work and get you out of the rut, will improve your mood and relieve stress.
In fact, there are people who have such an interesting private life, that work is only a way to earn a living and they do not care whether it is boring. Now, I have to admit that I prefer both a stimulating job and interesting leisure time. But the main thing is that you know your priorities and actively organise your life in order to avoid stress due to monotony.]
Check your attitude towards life
Last but not least, I suggest you check your attitude towards your life and job. Do you usually look at things positively or rather negatively? Do you maybe tend to negative self-talk and generalisations? Become aware whether you might be working yourself up into boredom, thus approaching monotone tasks with a negative attitude. That way you will only manage to dislike them more and feeling less like getting them done.
In order to improve your attitude towards life, let me recommend you the gratitude exercise. This Mindfulness exercise is about thanking yourself every day for all the good things that you have done or have happened to you. You may practice it before going to bed or writing a journal. The idea is to get your mind used to giving more importance to positive than to negative things.
Do you know stress due to monotony?
Have you ever suffered from it? Have you managed to relieve it or do you think this advice can help you? Please share your story.
If you want to know more about stress and general stress-relief techniques, check out the post on what stress is and how to deal with it. Moreover, you may find other typical types of work-related stress here.
