Boreout as a result of boredom at work

Boredom at work The main trigger of the Boreout syndrome

01/04/2012

Burnout is a relatively well-known phenomenon as a consequence of high workload. However, the psychological impairments caused by a permanent overwork during work are summarized as "burnout syndrome".

The Boreout syndrome describes the psychological consequences of a permanent overwork at work. Through the constant boredom similar symptoms appear, as with constantly too high occupational burdens, explained the psychotherapist Wolfgang Merkle from Frankfurt opposite the news agency „dpa“. According to the expert, the only difference to burnout is that the exhaustion during the burnout is caused by the stress of overworking rather than by overstraining.

Mental consequences of the burnout similar to the burnout syndrome
The phenomenon of burnout is far less well-known than the issue of burnout, which has increasingly been the subject of public discussion in recent years, but has similarly serious psychological consequences for those affected. Boreout derives from the English word after the word stem „boredom“ (Boredom), but is in no way synonymous with laziness. On the contrary: those affected are actually extremely willing to perform, but their potential is not rudimentary at work. They feel bored by bureaucratic work such as filing documents, sorting e-mails or constantly under-filling the blunt filling of documents. The result is in the worst case, a Boreout syndrome in which the victims have to cope with similar mental impairments, as in burnout, said the psychotherapist Wolfgang Merkle. According to the expert, our company is at this point „shared: Burnout has the successful ones. They get all the interest“, while people with borage find much less attention, „although they have almost the same symptoms.“

Physical and mental impairments due to burnout
As typical signs of the Boreout syndrome, the psychotherapist describes persistent depression, listlessness, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, and the inability to enjoy life. There are also physical symptoms such as abdominal pain, upset stomach, dizziness, headache and tinnitus or tinnitus. The victims often have „first such a dull feeling in the background that something is wrong“, explained Wolfgang Merkle. The lack of occupational capacity usually arises from too few and wrong tasks, which brings a kind of Unterforderungsstress for those affected in the long term. As an example, the psychotherapist called an excellent chess player who could only ever play mill and lady. The discrepancy between one's own abilities and the set requirements, in combination with a lack of recognition, can trigger stress, which in the long term becomes a considerable psychological burden, emphasized Merkle.

Quantitative and qualitative override Cause of the Boreout
Swiss business consultant Peter Werder explained to the news agency „dpa“ For example, a typical chain of events that can lead to work-outs to bore-outs. As a result, when a new occupational activity starts due to the call for tenders and the interview, they often hope for a full and responsible position, but the everyday work situation is significantly different. For example, someone applies for a project with international experience, but the position does not include the project management but only a subdivision where rarely international experience and language skills are required, said Werder. For those affected this is a quantitative and qualitative under-demand. At first, most people may still be comfortable with the situation and may even enjoy the low workload, but it will be permanent „one is just under-challenged“, emphasized the management consultant. „The real difficulty is to realize“, that the low requirements are the reason, „why you feel tired in the evening“, explained the expert.

According to Peter Werder, bores are usually closely linked to qualitative and quantitative demands. For the quantitative under-demand often try to cover the affected with so-called behavioral strategies. This means that the Boreout patients fall into actionism, with which they try to conceal their idleness, so the statement of the expert. Sometimes people would spend all day in the office and simulate congestion, with the result that burnout patients virtually reverse their problem, the management consultant explained. Paradoxically, many sufferers pursue a kind of burnout strategy, emphasized Werder. The Boreout patients are by no means just lazy, they want to „Yes Work“ and suffer from the fact that they can not“, explained the expert. Also the psychotherapist Wolfgang Merkle confirmed that Boreout therefore usually meets the willingness to perform.

Take measures to avoid boredom and boredom
According to the expert of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Jörg Feldmann, in addition to the general under-demand, the permanent occupation of subtasks can also cause the development of the Boreout syndrome. Because for the employees, it is important in the long term from a psychological point of view to have a sense of achievement and to complete things, Feldmann emphasized to the news agency „dpa“. Anyone who feels that their daily workload is low and recognizes the danger of contracting borage should, according to Wolfgang Merkle, take the initiative as early as possible and approach his employer with regard to the existing problems. Here, for example, part-time work could be a solution. If necessary, those affected should also point out to their boss that their own job is actually not a full-time job, but a maximum of an 80-percent job, the expert advises. While this may sometimes mean less salary, those in the office will be working at full capacity again from now on, and could use spare time more meaningfully for other activities, said Merkle.

Get medical attention if there is evidence of burnout
If there are already typical signs of burnout and fatigue depression, the psychotherapist advises those affected to urgently entrust their family doctor and describe the symptoms. In most cases, followed by a referral to the specialist in psychosomatic medicine, who sometimes the complaints already in the context of „one to two talks a week“ repair, explained Merkle. But even with the help of a specialist, the Boreout can not always fix according to the psychotherapist. Here only help the termination of the existing employment, said Merkle. (Fp)

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