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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are most jobs fairly boring?

73 replies

PookieDo · 07/08/2019 15:32

Making me think as DC1 is nearly 17 now.

I have a fairly flexible job on 2 days of the week (not so much the other 3). I like all the people I work with too, and proud of what I do

But it is up to 7.5 hours a day 5 days a week mostly staring at a computer screen. Spreadsheets, policies, emails mostly.

If I ask my DC what I do, they would say ‘look at a computer all day!’ And that they would never want to work in an office because it looks so boring. I don’t want to demoralise them before they are adults by saying most jobs are boring, but at least 70% of mine is quite boring and repetitive and you have to be realistic

When people enjoy their jobs is this more the socialisation and what they produce rather than the boring delivery/method of production? Do the majority of people have boring jobs with a small majority loving every minute of it?

OP posts:

BuffaloCauliflower · 07/08/2019 15:37

My job is similar to yours - spreadsheets, policies, emails. Some longer projects, some day to day fire fighting. I do love it, because I really feel like I’m in a job that fits my skill set and working preferences, in an organisation that I really believe in - an SM charity that does amazing work. I don’t work frontline but I know my part in the whole is crucial and important in its own way. I think the values piece matters a lot, especially to younger people entering the work force now.

BuffaloCauliflower · 07/08/2019 15:39

Missed a bit - my part in the whole means the frontline staff can do their jobs and make a huge difference. I couldn’t do their jobs (for long anyway) but I can facilitate their work.

SnuggyBuggy · 07/08/2019 15:40

I kind of wish we could give young people more realistic advice about this. Few people can really follow their dreams and many won't ever find much fulfilment through work. It's fine for work to just be a means to an end.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 07/08/2019 15:40

I'm a teacher. Its the opposite of boring for me as there is zero chance of having a minute to not fill. And as the children are different each year and what we do isn't the same from hour to hour never mind day to day.i never find it dull.

Dinosforall · 07/08/2019 15:44

I enjoy my job because I find it stimulating and it allows me to be creative. The PC/office are just the tool/environment.

InOtterNews · 07/08/2019 15:44

I also look at a computer all day (90% of the time). There are definitely some jobs over the years that I've done that fall into what you've described. Boring because they're repetitive mainly. There were jobs I had when I first started working.

Now (albeit I've been working for 20+ years) I have a job that never fails to challenge me - I work across the organisation (it's small) so I am involved in most things. I learn something every day which also helps alleviate boredom. I made a conscious switch early on in my career to move from private sector to the third sector which really helped me and gave me the opportunity to have variety in my job.

happinessischocolate · 07/08/2019 15:44

I love spreadsheets and can happily spend all day on them, my DD is identical to me and has got a job similar to mine and loves it.

Yes all jobs get boring simply through repetition, but the secret is to do what you enjoy.

One persons boring is another persons dream job. When I was little my dream job was to stack shelves.

Frequency · 07/08/2019 15:45

I don't find any of my jobs boring on the whole. Tiring, stressful, rewarding, demanding, low-paid, enjoyable and more but not boring. I get bored at work when I have no work to do but my work isn't boring. I'm a carer, hairdresser and content writer.

SnuggyBuggy · 07/08/2019 15:48

I must admit I do love a spreadsheet.

PixieLumos · 07/08/2019 15:51

My job isn’t boring day to day, it’s stressful but also fun - definitely too busy to ever get ‘bored’. I’ve never clock watched hoping time goes faster - there’s too much to and too little time so most of the time I want it to slow down.

Pipandmum · 07/08/2019 15:51

My job was computer based but not at all boring as it was in publishing and design.
The key is if your child has a real interest in something and if that can be monetised. My son spends half his life in the gym and doing sport. He lost a lot of weight in his early teens by totally changing his diet to very healthy food he cooked and enjoyed helping his friends with advise. So when it came to choosing a career it seemed obvious and he’s now going to go to college to become a personal trainer (though chef was also a thought).
Some parts of any job will be boring - the paperwork/admin is generally not everyone’s favourite! For me it was filing photos. But if you could turn it back to 70% enjoyable the 30% would be a lot more tolerable!

Jsmith99 · 07/08/2019 15:53

Almost all office based jobs are boring, in my experience. It’s not just the work itself, it is the ‘groundhog day’ monotony of working in an office which is so repetitive and tedious.

Shop work can also be very boring, particularly when it’s quiet, eg weekday mornings in term time.

thisnamechanger · 07/08/2019 15:53

I work in entertainment... everyone always goes "that must be so exciting" but mostly I'm same as you. Emails, spreadsheets. And the stuff you go to that should be "exciting" like attending events is actually just usually hassle that you don't get paid for, and people think you should be contactable on work phone 24/7. I think if you do the same thing for too long it all gets boring eventually!!

PoppyHxx · 07/08/2019 15:54

Im a cleaner / house keeper and i dont finds my job/s boring , although it can be repetitive. I enjoy physically doing something (Used to work in admin) and I enjoy seeing the outcome of my hard work :)

BobLobLawLLB · 07/08/2019 15:54

I'm currently sat in A&E, it's fascinating watching the staff running about sorting one problem,then quickly on to the next, i can't imagine they have many boring days.

DidntAskToBe · 07/08/2019 15:56

My job certainly has its routine aspects, as do most, I'm sure. I am also at a screen all the time. But I love my job (editor for a scientific journal) and find it very rewarding and often challenging.

I am in a field that I found a love of when I was in school so feel pretty fortunate in that respect.

I look at different things every day.

NabooThatsWho · 07/08/2019 15:57

I’m a community care assistant. I don’t get the chance to get bored. Stressed out, yes but it’s too fast paced and varied to allow for boredom.
I genuinely think I would go mad staring at a computer screen all day but then I’m quite a sociable person and thrive on human interaction and connection.

PixieLumos · 07/08/2019 15:58

I suppose boring is quite subjective though - some people love office work, especially when there’s a nice atmosphere with good colleagues. I used to work in women’s wear at a department store - everyone always wanted to get out of doing the ‘recovery’ (i.e keeping things looking tidy) because they thought it was boring, but I loved sorting clothes by size and making everything neat and thought it was quite therapeutic!

Original poster

PookieDo · 07/08/2019 15:59

Today I have booked some annual leave but I have picked up doing some tasks and I think it struck me how boring and fiddly they can be.

I’m always busy at work, and the tasks can be complex but they do not excite me. I like where I work and what I do but I don’t think it’s really challenging me enough to be honest and perhaps that is the issue here. There are a few elements that I do really love but they are only a very small part of the role

I think perhaps I need to look at my future career and make some decisions about what I do enjoy, as being bored feels like it is not a good sign!

OP posts:

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 07/08/2019 16:01

Dinosforall "I enjoy my job because I find it stimulating and it allows me to be creative. The PC/office are just the tool/environment."

This for me too. You can reduce your job down to that if you want, or you could actually look at it more positively.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 07/08/2019 16:02

Correction/clarification to previous post:

Dinosforall "I enjoy my job because I find it stimulating and it allows me to be creative. The PC/office are just the tool/environment."

This for me too. You can reduce your job down to staring at a computer screen if you want, or you could actually look at it more positively.

looondonn · 07/08/2019 16:03

Not boring thankfully

And def heaps better than I ever dreamed it could be

Never give up on a dream

Grasspigeons · 07/08/2019 16:10

I get bored in most of the jobs ive had. Some bits are fun/interesting but there are always bits that are mundane too. My current job is very busy which stops me feeling bored at the time but i do wish it was more creative.

Original poster

PookieDo · 07/08/2019 16:12

My job does not feel creative or stimulating

Initially I was setting something new up, which was a big project but now I am running the project business as usual. So the creative element is gone and I am now just staring at a computer most of the day, sometimes alone for hours doing fiddly jobs

OP posts:

mrsjackrussell · 07/08/2019 16:12

Nursing if you never want to be bored. You never stop learning new skills and there's always something to do.

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