Boredom is notably more prevalent in the workplace than in any other environment, with studies indicating that employees endure over 10 hours of boredom each week.

This universal experience affects even those in seemingly dynamic professions, such as astronauts and police officers; no job is exempt from its reach.

Boredom’s function is crucial—it serves as a signal to cease a current activity and seek an alternative, more engaging one. However, the issue arises when boredom is overlooked and not addressed.

Recent findings from the University of Notre Dame have revealed that attempting to suppress boredom only extends its negative impacts. Furthermore, the research suggests that interspersing tedious tasks with meaningful ones can help prevent the adverse effects of boredom from affecting subsequent activities.

The research paper “Breaking Boredom: Interrupting the Residual Effect of State Boredom on Future Productivity,” is set to be published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. The study was led by Casher Belinda, an assistant professor of management at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, alongside Shimul Melwani of the University of North Carolina and Chaitali Kapadia of Florida International University.

The researchers aimed to explore boredom’s immediate and future consequences on attention and productivity. They conducted three studies that tracked the impact of boredom from one task to the next.

The initial study collected data from individuals in dual-career households across various sectors. Participants completed several surveys daily at different times, which allowed the researchers to track the dynamics between boredom, attention, and productivity over periods. Subsequent studies employed different methodologies to engage a wider audience and examined how engaging in meaningful tasks can alleviate the extended impact of boredom.

Belinda, an expert in emotions, interpersonal communication, and relationships within organizations, argues that boredom is often dismissed as a minor irritation that determined employees should overcome to maintain productivity. However, his findings suggest that this approach can lead to prolonged periods of inattention. Employees who attempt to persist through tedious tasks without addressing the underlying boredom tend to exacerbate its detrimental effects, making this one of the least effective responses.

He likens the situation to a game of “whack-a-mole,” where neglecting the issue in one task can lead to concentration and productivity lapses in later tasks. Ironically, by trying to suppress boredom, its damaging impacts are prolonged.

Belinda points out that the key to mitigating boredom is the strategic arrangement of daily tasks. While tedious tasks are inevitable, managing their adverse effects requires thoughtful planning of task sequences and types. He advises adopting a long-term strategy where employees should engage in meaningful tasks after completing a dull task to replenish their energy and focus.

Through this systematic approach, workers can minimize the cumulative impact of boredom throughout their workday, thus enhancing overall productivity and satisfaction.

More information: Belinda, C., Melwani, S., & Kapadia, C., Breaking boredom: Interrupting the residual effect of state boredom on future productivity, Journal of Applied Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/apl0001161

Journal information: Journal of Applied Psychology Provided by University of Notre Dame