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?

A bunch of people will be along shortly to tell you that people who want to enjoy work are boring/shallow/working for the man wtf… but I would leave.

Personally I can’t think of anything worse than being bored and underemployed at work. It would make me incredibly stressed. A job which doesn’t stimulate or challenge you at all is really depressing.

Do you have kids?
I was in that situation a few years ago, took a promotion and got a much busier job. It was probably the right decision at the time but now that I have children I would rather do the boring job, and I'm considering a pay cut to go back to something "easy".

I'm tired, my brain is mush with the lack of sleep, I don't really need more challenges!

Are you able to do the work for the day, then go out for a couple of hours, and then return to check emails and respond to anything else? I'm my head I'm imagining you are in HR are something similar. If so, keep the easy job and join the gym, take up classes, find new hobbies. I wouldn't give that up unless it was for a significant pay rise

I left a very boring tedious job last year. It was very easy but brought no job satisfaction whatsoever. I now do a busier, much more fulfilling job with more money. My last job was term time only but my kids are older now and with this job I work all year round. I'm so much more happy & richer!

Please can you tell us what you do? I’m a teacher but would love to work from home in education.

I left a boring job and went back into a busier more stressful job because at the end of the day the boring job made me feel I wasn't making a different to anything and made me feel a waste of space (I work clinically for the nhs so helping people is what I'm used to) do what's right for you op there are others out there who'd prefer to be busy as that's what makes us tick 😁

Hello, I've just read all the answers after taking a long walk into town for some lunch and back because... there's nothing to do today and the dog was getting restless! Thank you all for your kind opinions, it's a lot to think about and great to get lots of perspectives, especially from those who have been in exactly the same position.

I'm early thirties, married with 1 child and financially very secure, so we really don't need the extra money from the new job. I remember when I returned to work from mat leave the immense relief at being able to tidy the house DD was in childcare (and I was "W"HF) so I am aware that although it's boring there is a huge amount of pressure off of my shoulder because I can do all my laundry/ clean house and prep dinners all on the work clock and I take that for granted now. We are also trying for baby number 2 so having a slower paced job is actually quite good during this very busy period of our lives. DH works long hours so he isn't able to help much so if I was at work all day, it'd all have to be done evenings/weekends. I know this is what everyone does but I do try to remind myself how lucky I am! I have started reading again and just started an online Chinese for beginners course to occupy my brain during the long holidays.

I work in academic administration. It's for a university, so it's not quite like having the full down time that I know some schools do during the summer.

I think, reading the comments, I've realised that like some people have said it's about how individuals respond to my situation. I've only recently recognised that this boredom is a problem and only literally this week thought about doing productive things with my time other than cleaning and watching YouTube. That's when I also saw the job come up and thought about that too. I think ultimately I do want to move jobs but I have the luxury of not being in any rush, so maybe I can look for one which is still work from home but maybe only a 50% busier (as opposed to this job that has come up, which would be one of those jobs where you could easily work 7 days a week and still be behind). The pay increase for the on that has come up is only about £1.5k. I recognise that's not nothing but on a monthly basis, that's not a lot of extra pocket money for an awful lot more work.

I think I'm going to focus on making my boring job more personally productive, especially while child (hopefully children!) are so small and keep an eye out for a role that might be a better balance.

Thank you again.

Sounds like you've made the right decision for you! Lovely to hear 🌷

Time is a huge gift. I would stick with my job and make sure I did it perfectly, then use the spare hours to do something to improve my future prospects and have fun while I was doing it - become fluent in a new language, write a novel, master a new skill ...

The possibilities are endless.

Chinese course sounds great, at your age I'd do another qualification as it could really benefit you long term.

Good luck!

Same! Probably social media since she's got time to make content etc and can do it from home

I had an easy job in education, exclusively WFH, money wasn't bad. Had nobody keeping an eye on me and I was busy about 2/3 weeks out of every 12. As a consequence I had all the time in the world to do whatever I liked and I enjoyed it but felt that I 'should' be doing more.

I got another role in the same organisation, about 5k pay rise so not massive and I am now absolutely rushed off my feet with a lot of stress to manage and also work in the office 3 days per week.

I have more job satisfaction I guess, but I do miss getting paid not to work very hard!

So, I would only recommend moving on if you're going to be paid significantly more. Having free time and being paid for it is wonderful!

Serious question - what's the difference between retirement and working age adults in this respect?
Why would it be unfulfilling and boring for a 50 year old to spend their week without the structure of work but fun and enjoyable for a 60 year old?
I agree some people would struggle without the structure of work but don't think it's the majority -otherwise people wouldn't look forward to retirement and try and sort their finances to be able to retire or play the lottery in the hope of winning big enough to not have to work.

Millions of people dont work at alll and live happy, very fulfilled lives. Millions of others might work full time but find it physically and emotionally stressful, boring, or exhausting rather than fulfilling and meaningful. I find it incredibly sad to think that the only way people can get fulfilment or satisfaction is from their work.

Surely any correlation between unemployed people and unhappiness can't exclude various other factors - given they are classed as unemployed rather than retired or not looking for work (i.e. independently wealthy) then it's more likely that the possible reasons for their unemployment (poor physical or mental health, living in a deprived area with no job opportunities) and the linked effects of unemployment (poverty) are what cause unhappiness. Its far too simplistic to just say people who don't work = sad and ignore any other factors.

Besides which its not like OP isn't working - she's essentially working part time but getting paid full time.

The 2 jobs thing would be entirely dependent on your individual t&c. It's rare for a job to be able to insist you can't have a second one as long as you declare it - the only issue would be working your second one while getting paid to work/within the working hours of the first one....but realistically if you sold birthday cakes (as an example) how on earth would your employer ever knew whether you baked them at 10am or 7pm?

I definitely wouldn't go for a busier job for only £1.5k extra. Especially if you are trying for a baby. Imagine your next is one that doesn't sleep until they are 6 (speaking from experience) and you have a full on intense job alongside? Boring as it is, you are probably better off where you are until your child(ren) are getting to a more independent phase in life and then find something more fulfilling

Are your hours flexible? I'm in a somewhat similar situation to you but can do my hours whenever I want. So I'm planning to find something very part time, a day or two a week, in something that's going to make me feel fulfilled and engaged. I'll keep my current job and fit it around it. I already know what I want to do and have seen part time roles in that field so planning on applying soon.

For me that will then be the best of both worlds. I do feel like I'm stagnating currently but I'm in my mid 50's so not going for a big career change at this stage.

I'd keep the boring WFH job and work on my novel during slack times.

I've done loads of boring jobs, and it's awful. And your boss might be a nice person but s/he isn't actually very good at being a boss. You aren't supposed to keep your staff twiddling their thumbs.

You don't mention kids - would the other job get in the way of childcare? If not, I really don't think you've got much to lose. The new job might also be a stepping stone to other things.

If you don't change jobs, could you suggest some CPD? Being in a position where you've got paid time to play with is nice but you want to use that resource carefully.

I'm in a similar situation, work is very quiet at the moment, and I'm half thinking of leaving and finding something a bit more busy. However then I realise how lucky I am to work part time and not be stressed....

Just a bit more to do would be good though!

I'd keep the easy job and spend the extra time doing a hobby, most likely. If it's 'allowed' and you can find something to do parttime that you'd enjoy, either for pay or charity, that's another option. But I love the flexibility of wfh and don't think I could ever have too much free time, so...

I'd love to have loads of time free in a wfh job! My current working in the office job os mind numbingly dull and I'm not busy 80% of the time but have to sit at my desk all day anyway 🥴
I'm trying to transfer and wfh in same department but different role, it would mean a pay cut but honestly I don't care.
The benefits are too good to leave atm with a toddler, so am stuck. I used to have a very stressful job that i tried for years to get out of before taking this job. I do understand that having not enough to do is depressing in a different way to having too much to do. But wfh gives you so much more freedom than being in an office every day.

Get a dog/go to the gym/play computer games/binge netflix…

This is an interesting idea. In a similar demographic but considering a career change. Would love to know what the other thing that you’ll do is - or what general area you’d work in, if you don’t want to be specific.

I completely understand, but be careful what you wish for.

I'd probably stay in the "easy" job but look at using the time for:

• training courses related to the job
• take on extra projects
• learn new skills eg a language or a musical instrument

In my experience you can always expand an "easy" role to be more fulfilling. There's always work out there needs doing, you just keep your eyes open & find interesting extra projects or tasks to be involved in.

This.

Take the win and capitalise on it.