How do you battle boredom on the job? Our friend, Fran, is trying to figure this out. After a few years in her job, she just feels unchallenged and—well—bored. And that is affecting her work habits, not to mention her attitude.
Last night she talked with her friend, Laura, who is a teacher, and Laura explained that on the days she feels bored, she uses a mental gear-shift technique and tells herself to act the role of a great teacher, like an actress on stage. In that way she motivates herself to do a good job of teaching even on days when she really doesn’t want to.
As she arrives at work today, Fran is still thinking about Laura’s mental gear-shift idea. "Wonder what I could come up with that would help me?" she thinks to herself.
She thinks of the sermon she heard recently on our thought life. “What was that pastor said—we have to bring our thoughts into captivity. That mental gear-shift idea could be a good technique to help me do this. Obviously if I don’t think I’m bored, I won’t be, right?"
But that seems too simple to Fran. "I mean, you can’t just think yourself out of being bored, can you?" she asks herself.
Again, the Spirit of God reminds her that she has to address the immediate problem of her deteriorating work habits. “You’re right, Lord,” she responds, “I know I have to give it my best whether I’m bored or not. I guess every job has boring days and every person gets bored with what they’re doing once in awhile, even it’s a job you really like."
“I wonder if I’m really bored with the job or just having some boring days?" she asks herself. "I don’t know," she thinks. "Maybe I’m just having some boring days, but then again…"
Remembering what she has often read in Proverbs, Fran says, "I need to seek some advice.” Proverbs says that wisdom is found in those who take advice (Prov. 13:10), and it admonishes us to make plans by seeking advice—Godly advice, of course (Prov. 20:18). So Fran decides to ask for some more advice.
