What to Do When Youre Bored But Have a Good Job - The Muse

What to Do When Youre Bored But Have a Good Job - The MuseWhat to Do When Youre Bored But Have a Good Job Hi Kyle,Ive been in my job for nearly 11 years now. Its well-paying, has great benefits, and it allows for a very flexible schedule. I have the opportunity to do both office and field work (Im in nonprofit public relations)- all for an awesome cause.However, Im super bored. I get this feeling the most when its slow (like right now), but Ive been feeling it more and more, even when Im loaded with work. I spent a ton of money on a career coach a few years ago, and after six months of soul-searching and research and matrixes and compiling Post-it notes of ideas, it turns out my current job meets my needs as a professional and is the best thing for me right now. So, what do I do with that? Basically, Im afraid to leave the money and schedule flexibility but desperately want a new cerebral challenge. Yes, I could find new projects to do within my current role, but Im not really motiva ted. (In the past, Ive tried to kick start something, but I lose interest quickly.) I could work at moving up the chain of command with the hopes of taking over a managers job when its available in a few years, but that doesnt really appeal to me either. Ive taken online courses to help expand my skill set for both my current job and to see what other skills I like and want to improve upon, and Ive found that has put a new energy into how I approach work. And yet, when I start looking at job postings, my motivation to apply fizzles. Thoughts?Signed,Bored and UnmotivatedDear Bored and Unmotivated,Thanks for writing in about this issue. Sounds like youve been coasting a bit and are disappointed to learn that your current role is the best thing for you. But maybe what you need isnt a different or better job. Maybe what you need falls outside of the traditional idea of work, and lies somewhere in the broader scope of your career. Sometimes the thing youre looking for happens after you p unch out. So how do you find whats missing and get over the boredom? Here are three fresh suggestions 1. Start a Side ProjectIf starting new projects at work isnt giving you the stimulation youre craving, consider starting something outside the office. Working on a project completely unrelated to your 9-to-5 can open up new interests and give you better insight into what other fields you could potentially transfer into. It doesnt have to be a business idea it can be a blog, a photography website, or even a garden. What are you interested in pursuing when youre not working? What hobbies or passions do you have that you could potentially turn into a side gig?It could be the reason youre reluctant to apply for other jobs is because they all feel like a similar version of what youre doing now. And if youre unenthusiastic in your current role, its unlikely a lateral move is going to get you pumped.2. VolunteerPeople often see the word volunteer and immediately think of a soup kitchen. Wh ile that work is important and necessary, its different than the kind of volunteering I want to talk about today. Ask yourself what causes are close to your heart and pursue unpaid work with one of them. Whatever form it takes, it will expose you to new people and purposes and maybe alleviate some of your general dissatisfaction. Finding fulfillment outside of work- until youre either ready to seek a promotion or find a new job- may make swallowing the day-to-day easier.3. Take an Unplugged VacationIt can be hard to truly explore different jobs or commit to learning new skills while you have work obligations, regardless of how flexible your schedule is. So if you have PTO left to spare, consider taking a completely unplugged vacation. Separating yourself from work for at least a week and committing to staying away from your inbox (as much as possible, Im not unrealistic) will help you clear your head so you can maybe, just maybe, hear whats calling you. When you realize that a job t hats great on paper just isnt doing it for you anymore, its hard to see a silver lining. But think about it Youre gainfully employed with schedule flexibility. Whatever the answer to getting out of your career rut, dont overlook the fact that figuring it out is easier when you have a steady paycheck coming in. Youll know when you reach your breaking point, and when that happens, I promise you, youll have all the motivation in the world to either seek out a promotion where you are or land a better, challenging gig elsewhere. In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to stay on your toes.This article is part of our Ask an Expert series- a column dedicated to helping you tackle your biggest career concerns. Our experts are excited to answer all of your burning questions, and you can submit one by emailing us at editor(at)themuse(dot)com and using Ask a Credible Career Coach in the subject line.Your letter may be published in an article on The Muse. All letters to Ask an Expert become t he property of Daily Muse, Inc and will be edited for length, clarity, and grammatical correctness.Photo of woman looking bored courtesy of Seb Oliver/Getty Images.