INTHEBLACK February / March 2026 - Magazine - Page 52
WORK SMART
Can
boredom
boost
productivity?
Research suggests that boredom,
when managed well, can be a
powerful signal for change and even
a catalyst for greater productivity.
Words Nicola Heath
BOREDOM AT WORK CAN BE A RED FLAG
that signals the need for a new challenge.
However, being bored is not always a bad thing.
New research shows that the key to
unlocking the benefits of boredom lies in
how it is managed. A recent study, published
in the Journal of Applied Psychology, explores
the relationship between boredom and
productivity, and its findings offer a new
approach to handling tedium in the workplace.
52 INTHEBLACK February/March 2026
CAUSES OF BOREDOM
Boredom can be caused by a range of factors
including low workload, tasks that are repetitive
or unchallenging, or a mismatch in values.
“Sometimes, the work you are doing might
not be motivating because you do not value
the work the company is doing, you can’t see
the contribution that your work is making or
it is just not a good fit,” says career coach
Kate Richardson.
Left unaddressed, boredom in the workplace
can have a range of negative effects.
“When you are bored, you can lose
motivation, become less productive or
disengaged, and that can have an impact on
your wellbeing, confidence and the contribution
you are making,” she says. As a consequence,
“you can fall into a negative loop”.
That said, it is normal, and even desirable,
to occasionally experience boredom at work.
“Sometimes it is OK to have a moment of
boredom, because it allows you to collect
