How to Turn Bore-Out Around

We talk a lot about burnout — and rightly so, as it can seriously harm our mental health.
But there’s another, quieter version of the same problem: bore-out.

Bore-out happens when your work no longer challenges or excites you. It creeps in slowly — through repetition, predictability, and the feeling of being stuck. It’s often dismissed as something “manageable.” After all, you’re getting paid, your manager is nice, and your job is stable. But ignoring that dull ache of dissatisfaction doesn’t make it go away. Over time, it drains energy, motivation, and self-confidence.

At the start of a new role, everything feels fresh — there’s growth, learning, and a sense of purpose. But once we master our tasks and there’s nothing new to stretch us, the excitement fades. If nothing changes for too long, we lose interest altogether. Many people either stay and quietly tolerate the stagnation or start looking for an escape.
But what if you actually like your company, your team, even your manager — and still crave more?

Recognizing the Signs

You might be approaching bore-out if:

• You have no stretch tasks or new challenges.

• Every day looks and feels the same.

• You interact with the same people on the same topics.

• You start to procrastinate — not because you’re lazy, but because you’re uninspired.

• You feel like you’re playing the same level of a video game over and over again.

Becoming aware of this pattern is powerful — because awareness is the first step to change.

My Own Bore-Out Story

A few years ago, I took a role knowing that parts of it wouldn’t excite me much. But the company was growing fast, and I trusted there would be room to evolve.

The learning curve was steep, and I quickly discovered that the job was broader and more complex than I expected. There were side tasks that stretched me beyond my comfort zone and gave me new perspectives. I started to see where my real strengths and interests lay.

Still, my main responsibility was repetitive, operational, and limiting. It didn’t allow me to use my full potential. My manager wanted me to stay focused on it, which left little room for change. I knew I didn’t want to become a well-paid passenger in my own career.

So I acted.

I told my manager honestly that I couldn’t see myself doing the same thing much longer. The answer was: “Not yet — we need you there.”
I accepted that but didn’t wait passively.

I threw myself into my side projects — the ones that energized me. These were complex, time-sensitive projects involving multiple stakeholders. I thrived there. The results spoke for themselves — people started asking for me to lead high-visibility projects. Senior leaders noticed.

Meanwhile, I reframed my main, “boring” role. I made its impact visible. I quantified results, improved reporting, and turned it into a case study of operational success. My main task became my proof of mastery; my side tasks became my path forward.

Bit by bit, I built my bridge out of bore-out.

When the time was right, I proposed and helped onboard a successor for my original role — ensuring a smooth transition for the team and for myself. I stayed aligned with my manager’s and department’s goals while clearly communicating my own direction.
And yes — I even coached my manager through this process.

It didn’t happen overnight. It took almost a year. But I stayed engaged, grew my skillset, and ultimately earned a promotion and my own team.

Turning Bore-Out Into Breakthrough

Feeling bored at work isn’t a failure — it’s feedback.
It’s your mind’s way of saying, “You’ve mastered this level. What’s next?”

Before you walk away, make your current work shine. Wrap it up, celebrate it, and make sure everyone can see the value you created. Then, start experimenting — volunteer for stretch projects, explore side tasks, and test what excites you.

Each small step builds a bridge from where you are to where you want to be.

So if your work starts feeling too easy or too predictable, take it as your wake-up call.
Don’t hit snooze.