Boreout

Boreout is understood as a combination of prolonged underchallenge, boredom, lack of interest and a sense of meaninglessness. This can happen not only at work, but also at university.
The short video by W wie Wissen gives you a first impression of what boreout is and what the consequences can be

The 2018 BAuA (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) employee survey, in which over 20,000 employees were questioned, revealed that 5% feel underchallenged by the amount of work and 13% by the technical knowledge and skills in their job. Boreout is therefore a relevant burden in our society.

We asked boreout coach Stefan Duwensee, who can also be seen in the video, what students can do specifically to combat boreout during their studies. We would like to share his tips with you:

1. put the topic on the agenda and draw attention to it: Boreout is still an unknown term for many people. The more people know that boreout exists and that it can be accompanied by psychological and physical impairments, the more acceptance of this topic will increase.

2. talk, talk, talk. If you feel affected, talk to friends about it. Tell them about your dissatisfaction and get rid of the frustration. Also seek professional support and discuss the issue with the university's psychological counseling center, for example. Solution strategies can be developed.

3. set a vision. Visualize what you are doing your studies for. What is your goal? Is it worth going through boring dry spells to achieve it? Try to work towards your goal in order to give your work more meaning.

4. write a list of pros and cons. Simply write down everything that speaks for and against your studies. Stefan Duwensee gave us the tip that it's good to get everything negative off your chest first. Then give yourself a few days and think about the positive aspects of your studies.

5 Don't rush things! No matter how bored and annoyed you are right now - you have time! You don't have to decide right away which steps to take or whether you should perhaps do another course of study or an apprenticeship. Take your time to reflect on your situation and think about possible solutions. Times during your studies when you feel bored or disinterested are not an immediate sign of boreout. However, if it is a long-term condition, it makes sense to reflect on your situation and reassess what you want.

Many thanks again to Stefan Duwensee for the super nice and informative phone call!