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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder which is worse, a boring job or a stressful job??

83 replies

RosaDeZoett · 15/06/2017 10:04

This is more of an Am I Nuts really, but I have an opportunity at work to run a new project. It will cause me more stress (probably) and bring in no extra money, but will be good experience if I want to move up the career ladder.
I like my job at the moment, but have been doing it for a long time and tbh I'm a bit bored. But.... But.... But.....
I have a really good work life balance, am well paid and have time to spend with family and pursuing hobbies. So I could just work away happily as I am until retirement.... But be a bit bored.
Or I could take on more responsibility, eventually (slightly) more money, more stress, less free time most likely, but more job satisfaction, I have always been quite an ambitious person..... I have to make the decision in the next month. Wwyd?

OP posts:
TheNaze73 · 15/06/2017 10:06

Stressful every time. It's how you handle the stress that counts. Being well rewarded is the plus point normally with stressful jobs & can help focus the mind.

x2boys · 15/06/2017 10:11

i had a stressful job i was a mental health nurse for years even on annual leave etc i couldnt really relax the stress can take over your life even on annual leave i couldnt really relax, i would take boring any day .

LedaP · 15/06/2017 10:14

I would take stressful everytime.

I have Just done what you are thinling about. Project for career advancement. Absolutely love it.

Hate being bored.

Original poster
RosaDeZoett · 15/06/2017 10:19

Thanks so much for the replies. I think you've hit the nail on the head thenaze, it comes down to how I handle stress personally.
When I wrote it down, it just looked so insane to even consider. But it's about job satisfaction and fulfillment.
I was very 50:50 whether to go for it..... I'm 70:30 now.... Or maybe 75:25 Smile

OP posts:
stopfuckingshoutingatme · 15/06/2017 10:20

boring is worse. IMVHO (bored right now)

stuckinthehouse · 15/06/2017 10:21

I think a stressful job is worse as it's someone else controlling the expectations. At last with a boring job, it's in your power to make it more interesting.

Metalgoddess · 15/06/2017 10:25

I would take boring over stressful any day. I am a mental health nurse and the stress is making me ill. I could cope with boring. I guess everyone is different though

Shockers · 15/06/2017 10:26

I've moved from what wasn't a particularly boring job, but I'd stopped enjoying it, to a very stressful one.

I'm trying to find a way of my job not impacting so much on my family. Sometimes I come home so emotionally (and often physically) battered, I just have to sleep.

If I can't find a solution, I'm going to have to call it a day.

Auchan · 15/06/2017 10:28

I'd take boring, The work life balance is so important to me.

I've had both and in the boring jobs I've used the time to study etc.

MaidenMotherCrone · 15/06/2017 10:28

Stress kills, boredom doesn't. The effects of stress tend to spill over into your personal life/relationships. I've never come across anyone on antidepressants/sick leave for boredom.

FakePlasticTeaLeaves · 15/06/2017 10:29

I left a stressful job and realised, as pointed out, it was more about how I handled that stress. If you learn to handle it correctly I'd do that any day over a boring job! More achievement, purpose, fulfillment etc Good luck in your new role!

FakePlasticTeaLeaves · 15/06/2017 10:31

(Obviously jumped the gun saying good luck in your new role - good luck in whatever decision you make that's best for you!)

IAmNotAWitch · 15/06/2017 10:31

Bored is worse.

I can handle almost anything in a job. But the second I am bored it is all over.

Original poster
RosaDeZoett · 15/06/2017 10:36

I have actually used my time to study, which has put me in the position of being able to take on the new role. The type of stress would not be equivalent to the emotional and physical exhaustion with any type of nursing tbh. It's more of a managing tricky people stress.
I have 2 hobbies, one of which I would consider a passion (it's not cycling Wink) and that's how I relax/blow off steam.
So it's a combination of things really, the job itself and type of stress, but also the type of person you are. Thanks for the replies, plenty of food for thought. I'd better go and do some work in case I get fired!! 😂

OP posts:
senua · 15/06/2017 10:37

boring job or a stressful job??

It's the wrong question.
The question is happy life or non-happy life? What makes you happy/satisfied? - it's a different answer for everyone.

macaronip1e · 15/06/2017 10:38

I think it depends on the pattern of stress. My job is project based and generally not stressful, but one or two days every few months (typically round deadlines) it can be very stressful (like I can't switch off at home or sleep stress). If it was that level of stress all the time or even a low level continual stress I wouldn't do it, but I'd take occasional extreme stress over boredom

DJBaggySmalls · 15/06/2017 10:38

The new opportunity is stressful, but is it temporary? If so, you could grit your teeth and try it, see how you get on.

Shantotto · 15/06/2017 10:39

The absolute worst is a boring AND stressful job! As long as it's one or the other it's usually manageable!

OVienna · 15/06/2017 10:43

I've had one which was both.

TrueColors · 15/06/2017 11:06

I was bored in my previous career. It did nothing for me. It became quite mindless and I was totally unfullfilled. I'd take the stress of my current job every day. Occasionally, I think "fuck it, I can't do this" but then remember what it was like to count every boring minute.

LedaP · 15/06/2017 14:15

Stress kills, boredom doesn't

I would disagree with that to some degree.

Boredom can be as bad for mental helath as stress can be for the body.

Ladyformation · 15/06/2017 14:26

I'd take stressful. Boring is the thing I can't tolerate at work.

GetAHaircutCarl · 15/06/2017 14:29

Stress is fine provided it's not constant. And provided you're a pragmatic person (I am).

Boredom I find intolerable. It genuinely saps me.

Etymology23 · 15/06/2017 14:34

It would depend on the type of stress: I don't mind things being difficult, but the sort of stress that arises when people expect you to achieve the impossible, are in a position of power over you and view weekends and evenings as a huge luxury rather than normal is (to me) vastly worse than boring.

But stressful in the sense that it's challenging but achievable and you have the appropriate resources and support to enable you to achieve it is positive, productive, stress, and I would rather have that than be bored.

Equally constant low level stress of never quite having enough time etc etc I would rather be bored.

Badbadbunny · 15/06/2017 14:38

How long will the stress last? If it's a short term job, then the positives will likely outweigh the negative, i.e. future career progression due to experience, personal satisfaction, etc. The effects on your health, family, etc will be minimal.

However if it is longer term, then it can cause a lot of problems. Friends and family will rally round and accept you not being there or being ratty for a short while, but will soon lose patience. Long term stress could bring on various health issues.

It's got to be a balance of good against bad, and the timescales involved will have a big bearing in that.

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