Heyo folks! Sloan, DEV Moderator and resident mascot, back with another question sent in from a DEV community member. 🦥
For those unfamiliar with the series, this is another installment of Sloan's Inbox. You all send in your questions, I ask them on your behalf anonymously, and the community hops in to offer advice. Whether it's career development, office politics, industry trends, or improving technical skills, we cover all sorts of topics here. If you want to send in a question or talking point to be shared anonymously via Sloan, that's awesome; just scroll down to the bottom of the post for details on how.
So, let's get down to business...
Today's question is:
I've been at the same company for quite a while now. I'm comfortable — the job pays well, the workload is reasonable, and I really like my colleagues — but, I've been feeling bored. I'm wondering if this is a sign that I should move on to something else? Do I just need to take some time to myself and recharge? Is boredom a justifiable reason to leave a place that otherwise fits all my needs? How should I approach talking about this with my manager?
Share your thoughts and lets help a fellow DEV member out! Remember to keep kind and stay classy. 💚
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Top comments (18)
If you're asking yourself this question, I highly encourage you to take some time off before making a decision regarding your boredom. It's best in these situations to be completely sure of the direction you intend to take, and time off will provide you the space to think about that.
Yes, it's a valid reason. Keep in mind that everything you like about your role isn't guaranteed to last into perpetuity. Work colleagues come and go, your comp can fall out of competitiveness with the market, and the workload can change into something that becomes unreasonable. Ultimately, you need to make decisions based on what's best for you, which requires a degree of being selfish.
Before you engage with your manager, self-reflect on your situation carefully & be certain that boredom is the issue that needs to be addressed. Some managers will have the ability to address your boredom through other challenging/meaningful work, but not all will - so it may become a signal that you should seek relief elsewhere.
Ok, I've been in this spot so many times in my 25-year career. My recommendation is to be honest with your manager that you're bored, if you're able to. Most employers would rather move folks around.
I've moved for boredom before, and it always results in more boredom. My advice is to work on building the skills it takes to shake things up and break out of the boredom. If you leave an organization every time you're bored, you will find more boredom just as I did.
Good advice, Mike!
I think you're right to point out that you gotta actively work to break out of the boredom. While I do think a job can become stale and sometimes moving on is a valid (possibly even best) option, I really think it's good to first try and mix things up & work to rekindle your passion for whatever it is you're doing. Otherwise, as you point out, you might just repeat the endless cycle of getting a job, working until bored, and then moving elsewhere.
i qoute here : "If you leave an organization every time you're bored, you will find more boredom just as I did."
--So what he is saying here is that the problem is you!!! Wherever you go you will find more boredom and perhaps even worse. lol
I mean, if you want to twist my words here there’s not much I can do to stop you, but I think my point is pretty clear: moving past boredom is a skill that we all can develop.
Do what you want, but it’s rather impolite to go around belittling advice offered in good faith.
Hey I put a lol at the end of sentence ....Its meant with a sense of humour. its 50% joke, 50% true. what I am saying is you mean he is bored yes but its not a bad thing. and he is always gonna find boredom because he is accomplshed in his skillset i imagine and he needs more challenge. And that is why he is bored.
I am not twisting your words in bad faith. rather perhaps in good humour.
Its all Fun.
Yeah, your words didn’t come across to me that way, or to the two people I asked if I was misunderstanding you.
I don’t mind jokes at all, but I do think you need to work on your delivery.
It’s true. I’m a funny guy. But not a good comedian. I agree. I mean no harm. I came in peace. Holding lols and love. Much love to yoll.
Nahh, I disagree. I don't think that's what Mike means.
Mike is being really empathetic and their tone doesn't put blame on the individual. Rather, they are speaking from their personal experience and trying to offer a helpful perspective.
yeah that is true. I did not mean it like that. It came off from that angle. I see. but its all in good faith. I did not mean it that way. I mean it in a jokey fun LOL kinda way....
All good! Sometimes the tone gets lost over the web. Thanks for clarifying!
Questions from post reformed into bullet points with answers:
No. It is a sign you should be creating your own side projects and learning the latest technologies on your own.
Yes. Take time. Recharge by learning new technology.
No. Boredom is normal and expected. Build your own side projects. Ask yourself, Why haven't you already begun to build a new side project? Not wanting to do anything is not boredom, it's malaise. You have to do things that take energy to get energy. Work your way out of the malaise and you won't be bored.
You shouldn't. I can't believe you've even contemplated discussing this with your manager. I can't imagine an employee telling me s/he was bored. It would sound like whining and all managers will (100% guaranteed)
I empathize with your situation because I've worked in IT for over 25 years and feelings of boredom at times are entirely normal.
I love this response. 1000 points to this response.
I'm wondering if this is a sign that I should move on to something else?
Go with your gut on this one! There is a line that is perhaps internal of "how can I optimize my current circumstances or change my approach to help see if this is a problem that I can solve internally" versus "maybe my gut is telling me that there is an opportunity out there for me that will activate my skills more— maybe I need to seek that out". Take time to try out different things before you make your decision, but do what you think is right.
Do I just need to take some time to myself and recharge?
Same sort of deal here, but I would say to this one— unequivocally (in my experience) the answer is yes. Though it doesn't have to be taking physical time off— for me, it means doing whatever it takes to zoom out a bit to better contextualize your feelings, ask others for advice if you think that might be helpful, read some books to help guide your thoughts more.
Is boredom a justifiable reason to leave a place that otherwise fits all my needs?
You have to do what you have to do to reach your own happiness. You do not need a reason to leave, if you have an internal thought that it is best for you and the circumstances are safe/stable financially and emotionally to do so— follow your passions!
How should I approach talking about this with my manager?
I love this question. I think it is absolutely appropriate to discuss this with your manager, but in order to get the most out of it, you may have to re-contextualize your mindset to see what you hope to get out of this. In the past, I think the way I have solved this is by asking for more challenging work, bigger projects, or to try different things out as far as responsibilities go! This can even be mutually beneficial, because you are able to delve deeper into your creative brain to feel happier/learn new skills and perhaps your team will be helped if you take on some different work and try new approaches towards problem-solving. At the end of the day— when one person is happy on a team, it bleeds into everyone else (and vice versa), so it is in your best interest to invest in your happiness!
If everything else is great, I think quitting is jumping the gun a little bit. You can ask to work on other projects with the same people, and try to find some new challenges within the company.
You should see what you can do with what you have first, because finding a good team where everyone gets along is REALLY hard.
i really also believe that maybe you could take this time to improve yourself.Do side projects. Use the energy or time for self, a me time. You have earned it.
Challenge yourself even more ...without the pressure of someone over your shoulder.
It might be you are one of those people who become well skilled at a subject and then the subject starts losing its lustre to them because now its not mysterious anymore. There is nothing wrong with that.
Excitement and adventure is double edged sword. You will leave a cool job and find yourself a company full of insolent and self-absorbed idiots and a rat of a manager overloading you with chores and dumb work. And you will look back and reminisce about the good old days back at the 'boring company'
Maybe you can fill in the time by teaching someone or doing something extra yourself without telling the manager that you are bored. Make initiative. you have been elected to improve and put on more excitement.
You are the president of excitement and fun now.
Go on the people are waiting on you.
You make fantastic points in your answer. You are so right about the double-edged sword and leaving a "boring" job. Really great stuff. Thanks
Been there so many times, problem is when you change company, you also change stuff that you like, witch have happen to me, so my advice try to change inside the company, so you save the best part and just change the one you are board at.
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