We’ve all heard about burnout, but what about “boreout?”
🤓 I recently came across this term in my resilience and burnout research.
Defined originally by PhD Barry Farber in 1990 as “underchallenged burnout,” the term “boreout” was coined in 2008 by consultants Peter Werder and Philippe Rothlin to describe employees who are under-challenged, lack purpose, or are saddled with repetitive, monotonous tasks.
Amy Newman, author, and senior lecturer emeritus of management communication at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, explained it this way in a Cornell University Keynotes podcast:
People experiencing burnout symptoms may be:
- Overstimulated – juggling high-stress or cognitively demanding work
But they may also be:
- Understimulated – bored, doing repetitive tasks, and struggling to find purpose
The first scenario is familiar territory for me—many of my executive coaching clients are corporate, Type-A, high achievers working in fast-moving environments.
But I hadn’t fully appreciated the other side of the coin.
And here’s the kicker:
Burnout and boreout can look almost identical on the surface (fatigue, cynicism, disengagement, apathy), even though the triggers are different.
What do they share?
A core feeling of lacking control—over their workload, their environment, or their ability to influence outcomes.
Why this matters: We often associate burnout with fast-paced, high-pressure environments. But burnout can just as easily emerge when work is too slow or boring, repetitive, or disconnected from a deeper sense of purpose.
For managers, this means checking in—not just on overwhelmed high performers… but also on any quietly underperforming team members. They may be struggling and slipping into burnout (or boreout) too.
***
I’m learning about resilience and burnout in real time–connecting dots across leadership, change management, coaching, behavior science and team dynamics. Whether you’re working on your own resilience, or you’re being asked to help your teams, your organizations or your loved ones get better and faster at bouncing back, adapting, and growing, join me as I continue to unpack these topics, and explore healthier ways we can work and lead together.
***
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist…just a voracious reader, leader, certified coach, and communications pro who is intensely curious about resilience and burnout and how it’s playing out in our workplaces and lives today. If you’re struggling with your mental health, please seek out a qualified professional.❤️
