The military knows the dangers that boredom can bring to the workplace. Structured routines, maintenance schedules and organized recreation keep service members’ minds and bodies active. Deployments, training, testing, evaluations, PCSing, combat readiness prep and countless other activities keep time moving fast. Even downtime feels structured.
Boredom can drive creativity and inspiration, but left unchecked, it can also breed negative behaviors. A bored mind starts to worry, doom scroll, spiral into negative thought patterns or grow restless.
More:Search forVeteran-Friendly Jobs.
Boredom in the Civilian Sector
Some private companies still eye idle-looking employees with suspicion, but more and more recognize the value of downtime, rest and brainstorming. Savvy employers understand that giving the mind a chance to rest, catch up on ideas, and process information without the pressure of a deadline pays off. Some even build “boredom” into the workflow for that reason.
The problem arises when an employee feels bored without seeing any upside, often because they’ve worked too efficiently. Being too good at a task can leave time on your hands while you wait for evaluation or for others to catch up. That waiting can feel a lot like boredom.
Read More: Your Military Rank: What Does It Mean in the Civilian Workforce
How to Manage Boredom
When you finish a project and find yourself in a holding pattern (waiting on approval, feedback, or your next assignment), it’s worth taking boredom seriously before it takes a negative turn. Start by asking your boss or team if there’s somewhere you can help out or assist. Beyond that, try these strategies:
1. Treat the Time as Creative Time
Use the absence of a deadline to brainstorm new ideas or solutions. Is there a process that could use refining?
2. Learn Something New
Is there a system, technique or skill you’d benefit from understanding better? Could you upskill in an area that provides more value to your team? An online course, book or in-person training can turn downtime into an investment.
3. Mentor or Train Someone
Walk a colleague through your work, or teach them a technique you’ve mastered. Use your knowledge and experience to help them grow their skills, knowledge or visibility in the organization.
Read More: How to Overcome Your Post-Military Impostor Syndrome
4. Give Your Brain a Rest
This one’s hard if you’ve been trained to perform and produce. But high performers will tell you that meditation, prayer, reflection or simply building calm into the workday is essential. A quiet mind thinks more holistically and creatively about projects, conversations and tasks.
5. Move
If you spend most of the day at a desk, get up. Walk the office, visit the breakroom, meet a new colleague and physically step away. Or use the time to clean up your desk and organize your files and notes (a favorite use of the time for me!)
Boredom scares high performers and achievers. One colleague of mine describes the fear as “my brain will go dormant and never wake back up.” Instead, treat downtime or lulls in activity as a chance to reflect and regroup, and turn a negative into a positive for your post-military career.
Read the full article here