Burnout or Boreout? How to Reignite Career Fulfillment in Midlife

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Have you ever found yourself staring blankly at a computer screen, wondering what happened to that once-burning fire inside that had driven you to achieve greatness? Maybe you're just tired from years of continuous performance, plus the long hours that come with it, or are you just bored and going through the motions of each day. If that sounds like your story, you might be facing one of two midlife career challenges: burnout or boreout.

At a high level, burnout will take away your motivation with constant stress that eventually leaves you feeling disconnected from yourself. Boreout is the exact opposite and will start to creep into your life when you are over-qualified for your job and bored out of your mind.

At the end of the day, both can cause you to question your decision-making as far as your career goes and ultimately your sense of identity.

The tricky part is that at first glance, it's difficult to tell if you have burnout or boreout. It may seem like they are almost identical. You may be unmotivated, unengaged or frustrated with your current position. But the root of the problem and the solution could not be further apart.

It is imperative to determine whether burnout or boreout is what is causing dissatisfaction in your career. Understanding what is holding you back and causing your dissatisfaction is the first step towards a meaningful change.

When Drive Turns into Drain

The pressure of trying to grow your career at the same time you are raising a family and financially supporting your family can create a lot of stress for people in their 40s and 50s. As we grow older the motivation we had earlier in our careers that drove us to succeed can often turn into an obligation rather than an excitement to see what the future holds. When you have constant obligations without an opportunity to recover from them every now so often. You then begin to see symptoms like exhaustion, cynicism and diminished performance.

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Boreout, being the opposite, is the lack of engagement with your work. When you're experiencing boreout, you may outwardly look engaged and content, but inwardly you're feeling restless, bored and sometimes guilty about not being able to find personal fulfillment through your job.

Boreout is the workplace equivalent of watching paint dry; everything seems fine, yet, nothing seems exciting or fulfilling. Ultimately with time, that sense of disengagement can have the same negative impact as the stress experienced by individuals who experience burnout.

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Reclaiming Your Purpose and Energy

You can begin to shift the narrative and tell a different mid-life career story, but it begins with a genuine self-reflection and assessment of where you are now. So ask yourself: am I feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed? Am I exhausted or uninspired or unchallenged by my current role? Once you've identified what is really driving your discontent, you can begin to take tangible action to get back on track and course-correct.

If you are burnt-out then it is time to give yourself some space to breathe.

This may look like creating stronger work boundaries, taking a mental health break, learning how to better manage your stress through new tools, etc. You may need to delegate some of your responsibilities, seek guidance from a mentor, or reassess the goals you have placed upon yourself.

Rest does not equal being weak; rather it can serve as an investment in your long-term success.

Stimulation is the cure to boredom. If you are suffering from boredom at work, being boredout, you can stimulate yourself by developing new skill sets through learning, look for new projects that stretches your skills, or pursue a cause that genuinely interests you.

If you have concerns about being able to find new opportunities, ask your manager to discuss ways to redefine your role or to pursue education or training as part of a professional development program that will help you feel like you again.

Even small changes such as learning something new or helping mentor another employee can provide you with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

Moving Forward with Meaning

Midlife is a time for growth and re-invention and should not be a time of stagnation. Both Burnout and Boreout signals that something needs to shiftthere needs to be a change in your job as well as an opportunity for you to regain momentum in your life and career.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Once you understand what is draining you and causing you burnout or boredom in your job, you will have the ability to reclaim your energy and motivation.
The truth is, most significant change often do not occur overnight. However, with each individual small step you take, whether it's engaging in a sincere dialogue, accepting a new challenge or simply getting some rest, you can begin to gain momentum and ultimately create a more fulfilling career.

It’s up to you to be true to yourself and act on your own behalf. Your future career chapter may not be about climbing higher; rather, but it can sure be about climbing to a place that is worth the effort you put into reaching it.

So, what's your midlife career story going to be: quiet discontent or a renewed feeling of purpose? The decision, as well as the potential for change, are both in your hands.