To leave a really easy job because it's boring?

[showersandflowers]

I work in education (not teaching) and the summer holidays are very, very slow and boring. I haven't had any work in days (my boss is aware and very relaxed about this). My house has never been so clean (I wfh). Even during term time, I've managed to automate so much of my job that I seldom have more than 2 hours of work to do a day.

I'm considering taking a busier job. One has come up that is not WFH and which will be pretty busy. But it's only a little extra pay.

On the one hand, I'm bored. On the other, it'd only be a little more money for a lot more work and I won't have as much personal time. I flip flop from day to day thinking "I'd be so much more fulfilled in a busier job" then on other days I think "but I'd be so overwhelmed suddenly losing all this time I have and working flexibility".

What would you do?

Just to add: the new job would be at the same business so benefits, holiday etc would all be the exact same.

Do the busier job. Life is too short to twiddle your thumbs all day. It's dispiriting.

I’ll take your boring job off you! I work in education and would like a slight career change (redirection, really), so any hints about what you currently do would be great.

I hear you.

How old are you?

As I get older I wish I had the boring less stressful job.

I would do the boring job and do something voluntary/benefit to community on the side.

I would stick with the boring job, and devote more time to hobbies or volunteering. Life is too short for job related stress and there are so many enjoyable ways to spend your time- reading, crafts, gardening, cooking, baking, fitness, etc.

In part I'm thinking - are you mad?
I certainly wouldn't be looking for another job but I would be using the spare time as an opportunity to get myself a side hustle going in something I'm interested in, further training or retraining in something else, doing online courses, developing hobbies etc.
I guess it depends how motivated you are really but I am very driven!
On the other hand it could be that WDH doesn't suit you and you need more social intereaction tjhan you're currently getting.
Good luck - whatever you decide.

I would be looking for a side hustle

It's really personal. Some people hate working and will think you're mad.

I have had a couple of roles like this and I just found them incredibly dispiriting. I hate being bored and I'm not a hobby person. I left as soon as possible and am much much happier in busier roles.

I would keep the boring job but find more interesting ways to spend your days than cleaning! And maybe a self employed side hustle, something you actually enjoy if possible?

I am in a similar position at the moment. My work has ebbs and flows and I am currently very bored. However, I would take boredom over stress any day. I also work from home and you need more to do in your day than cleaning. Craft project, online course, exercise? If there's anything you need or want to learn to/do, do it now. In a former role in my job I barely had time to go to the loo so I feel quite lucky to have a slack period.

If you're bored, move. Bring underemployed is actually quite stressful - my last and my 2nd job were like that and in both cases I looked for more things to do in role but bureaucracy in both cases meant I couldn't just pick up work from other teams.

I left a boring job as I was in the same situation, went to a much busier role, same hours, slightly higher paid. I'm full or regret, even worse I'm back in an office - I want my boring WFH job back! On the plus side I eat so much less, lost 4 stone since I started last year.

I've done this (also education) and I'd say be careful what you wish for. While I am now infinitely busier and feel more purposeful, my new boss is wholly unreasonable and while my old boss was just incompetent, my new boss has a streak of vindictive about him I'd say!

I'm in the same boat! I have a super easy job with daytime hours but I need to feel challenged or I get bored, so am currently interviewing for a "busier" role but with a 10k salary increase 🤭

Please could I have your easy, boring job! I would be delighted to take it off your hands! 😁 (Fellow education professional here.)

Could you look for a completely new job? One that pays more as well as being more interesting?

I agree with @JoyApple it depends partly on your age. In my 20s I'd have hated the boring job but in my 50s not so much!

Definitely worth a try! But only if you can easily go back to the cushy job.

I had to do this. I was so bored in my 'easy' job, also non-teaching in a secondary school. I applied for an extremely busy job in the same school and did it for about 6 months and it was awful. I was so stressed and overworked and not getting paid well at all.

I ended up getting a role which was the same as the 'easy' job I'd given up, but in another school. I love it and appreciate it so much more now that I've done a really stressy job.

I wouldn't take a business critical, stressy job in a school again tbh as the money isn't worth it imo. But I'm glad I tried it and found out.

I'm now thinking of doing some further education through OU or similar as I have the bandwidth for it now my job is less full on, so I don't feel I'm underutilised.

I completely disagree

Because she wfh doesn't have to twiddle her thumbs - she can do (almost) anything she wants but get paid for it.

I never understand people who say they get bored without enough work - particularly if they arent stuck in an office being watched over - does that mean you get bored outside of work too? Do you just spend weekends and evenings desperately waiting for 9am?

OK perhaps you technically have to be available so can't leave the house for long but you could exercise, read, watch TV, pick up a new hobby, call a friend, learn a language, do literally all your household chores, do a second job (anything from remote admin tasks, take in ironing, start an etsy business, sell cakes, freelance proofreading or transcription, or just enter loads of competitions and surveys that pay you for your responses....)

Take the other job. Its more money (even if only a little), and it'll likely lead to more opportunity for future progression than one where you're sat at home doing very little.

I wouldn't

Stay where you are

I had this and moved on into a busier role with more money and prospects. I’m sooo glad I did as looking back now, I think it was depressing for me not to be fulfilling my potential and there’s only so much you can do to occupy yourself without feeling guilty/ like you’re taking the piss!

I realised that I get a lot of satisfaction value from my work … it lifts my mood and I’m happier on the weekends/ when spending time with family. I know underemployment sounds like a dream but it can be frustrating and soul sapping in reality. It’s not like I could leave the house and go on days out, there was no one to spend time with so it was literally doing life stuff and some fun things which aren’t really fulfilling when you have time to fill… unless you’re dead into a hobby and it brings a lot of joy (not many people I know!)

You also inevitably become lazy and deskill yourself if you’re not careful… I found it damaging and I’m so much happier now.

This wears thin pretty quickly for many people though… it’s not fulfilling enough for many working age people long term … it sounds great but the reality is different….and studies of the long term unemployed show that lack of purpose and endless leisure time causes a lot of poor mental health.

The suggestion of taking other work is very risky . My employer considers it to be fraud and there have been serious repercussions for people who have done this. You signed an employment contract and a breach can lead to legal action. This was explained to me on day 1 (but I don’t wfh now so wouldn’t be possible anyway- especially as my role is busy).

Need to know more about your circumstances?
Married, children, ages, finances etc.?

Would you use this time to retrain or unskill?

If you have children I would be looking hard at the huge flexibility you have and the future.

My friend did a Masters in her field over two years, during quiet times in work.

I've just done the same. I worked in occupational health testing and I kid you not, some days I would be watching Netflix for 6 hours. It drove me bonkers.

I could have written this, word for word! I have a side hustle that I have been training for during the quiet, deeply unsatisfying summers.