What Is Boreout? Exploring the Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions

Sep 16, 2025

By Will Moore

Most people are familiar with the feeling of being bored—whether it’s a slow afternoon or a meeting that drags on. But when boredom becomes a chronic state tied to your job, it evolves into something more serious: boreout.

So, what is boredom exactly? It’s more than just having nothing to do—it’s the mental discomfort of wanting stimulation and not getting it. And when that feeling becomes routine at work, it turns into something deeper and more damaging.

Boreout (short for boredom burnout) is a psychological condition that occurs when someone consistently feels under-challenged and disengaged at work. The term was coined by Swiss business consultants Peter Werder and Philippe Rothlin in their 2007 book Diagnose Boreout. While burnout is linked to too much work or pressure, boreout comes from the opposite problem: not enough meaningful work.

Boreout vs. Boredom vs. Burnout: What’s the Difference?

While burnout is linked to too much work, pressure, and stress, boreout comes from the opposite problem—not enough meaningful work. And boredom? It’s the temporary state we all face when things feel slow. But when boredom becomes chronic and connected to how you spend your workday, that’s when it turns into boreout syndrome.

This distinction matters:

Burnout = overwhelmed, overworked, exhausted
Boredom = temporary lack of stimulation
Boreout = long-term lack of challenge, meaning, or engagement

In essence, boreout means you’re doing too little—or the wrong kind of work—to feel mentally stimulated or emotionally fulfilled.

So if you find yourself constantly thinking, “I’m feeling bored at work, but I don’t know why,” you might not just be bored—you might be experiencing boreout at work.

But what does boreout mean for your long-term well-being? Left unaddressed, it can slowly erode your self-worth, lower your engagement, and even impact your mental and physical health. That’s why it’s more than just a mood—it’s a real workplace problem that deserves attention.

Why Boreout Happens in the Workplace

Boreout creeps in when people are busy without purpose. This often happens through repetitive tasks, lack of challenge, or when roles are misaligned with strengths. Being micromanaged or stuck in bureaucracy with no autonomy makes it worse. Zombie meetings, where nothing meaningful gets done, drain energy and creativity.

Picture a talented designer stuck updating templates, or a project coordinator looping through admin work with no voice in decisions. From the outside, everything seems fine. But inside, there’s a growing sense of "what’s the point?"

Signs and Symptoms of Boreout

The symptoms of boreout aren’t always loud—but they’re powerful.

Chronic boredom and clock-watching
Apathy toward work and disengagement
Procrastination due to lack of stimulation
Crisis of meaning—feeling your work has no value
Insomnia, fatigue, and constant tiredness
Increased absenteeism and avoidance
Pretending to be busy—using “fake work” to hide disengagement

Phrases like “I have nothing to do, but I still feel drained” or “I’m always tired, though work isn’t hard” may be signs you’re facing boreout, not just boredom. It’s a psychological malaise, not laziness.

The Impact of Boreout on Employees and Organizations

On a personal level, boreout syndrome leads to low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression. You might experience insomnia, stress, and even early retirement intentions. Your mind isn’t being used—and your body knows it.

For organizations, boreout results in staff turnover, quiet quitting, and reduced productivity. It spreads through teams, damaging company culture and wasting resources. When people pretend to work or sit through zombie meetings, it’s not just their time that’s wasted—it’s potential.

How Boreout Differs Between Individual Contributors and Managers

Boreout doesn’t affect everyone equally. Within the same company, people in different roles can experience this syndrome in drastically different ways—and often, leadership misses that disconnect.

Individual Contributors

For individual contributors, boreout often stems from repetitive tasks, lack of voice, and underutilization of skills. When roles are overly structured and stripped of autonomy, employees begin to feel stuck. Over time, this leads to boredom, a loss of professional interest, and a creeping sense of meaninglessness. They want career advancement and skill development, but don’t see a clear path forward.

Common patterns include:

Assigned routine work with no creative outlet
Limited decision-making power
Tasks that feel disconnected from the company’s goals

Without challenge or autonomy, boredom at work becomes the norm—not the exception.Learn more about How to Get Unstuck in Life

People Managers

At first glance, managers seem too busy to be bored. But in reality, many suffer from a different kind of boreout. Drowning in bureaucracy, attending endless meetings, and enforcing processes without influence, their work can begin to feel empty.

Despite appearing active, managers often:

Lack strategic voice
Are trapped in zombie meetings
Feel a lack of trust from senior leadership
Experience limited avenues for meaningful advancement

They may go through the motions while privately feeling stuck in roles that lack purpose or challenge.

What to Do When You’re Feeling Bored at Work

Start with Self-Reflection

Ask yourself:

Are your tasks too repetitive?
Do you feel under-challenged or stuck?
Are you avoiding work because it lacks meaning?

Recognizing boreout at work is the first step.

Tipps gegen Boreout (Action Steps)

Reframe your tasks to make them more engaging.
Ask for stretch projects or new challenges.
Upskill intentionally—learn something relevant to your goals.
Find purpose in small wins and meaningful contributions.
Break the pattern—adjust your schedule or environment.

If nothing improves after trying, it might be time to switch environments. Some companies simply aren’t structured for growth or employee engagement.

How Leaders Can Prevent and Manage Boreout

Leaders must actively create workplaces where boreout can’t survive. That means:

Designing value-creating roles with visible impact
Offering stretch opportunities that challenge employees
Cutting unnecessary meetings and outdated systems
Promoting autonomy and trust
Laying out real career paths with room to grow
Training managers to spot and support disengaged team members

It’s not about perks. It’s about replacing routine with relevance.

The Moore Momentum Approach

The Moore Momentum System tackles boreout by helping people grow in five core areas:

Mindset: Replace negative patterns with curiosity and purpose
Career & Finances: Feel valued and fairly compensated for what you contribute: Build roles that align with your strengths and goals
Relationships: Create supportive, trust-driven work environments
Physical and Mental Health: Restore energy through purposeful routines

This system treats disengagement as a signal—not a flaw—and offers tools to reignite growth and fulfillment from the inside out. Not sure if you’re stuck in boredom or sliding into boreout? Take our quick 2-minute quiz to find out where you stand—and get a free personalized game plan to get back on track. Take the Core Values Quiz Now

Conclusion: You’re Not Lazy—You’re Underchallenged

Boreout isn’t just boredom—it’s a deep, ongoing lack of challenge, meaning, and purpose in your work. Left unchecked, it can drain your motivation and affect your mental health. But it’s also a signal that change is needed.

Whether you’re coasting through repetitive tasks or stuck in endless meetings, there’s a better way forward. Reignite your momentum, build habits that fuel you, and start creating a career that feels energizing—not empty.