A study indicates that suppressing boredom at work has a negative impact on future productivity

A recent study conducted by the University of Notre Dame reveals that attempting to suppress boredom extends its impact, while engaging in a combination of monotonous and purposeful activities aids in preventing the negative effects of one tedious task from affecting productivity in other tasks.

The forthcoming publication titled "Breaking Boredom: Interrupting the Residual Effect of State Boredom on Future Productivity" is authored by Casher Belinda, an assistant professor of management at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. The authors of this study are Shimul Melwani from the University of North Carolina and Chaitali Kapadia from Florida International University. The article will be published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

Three studies were conducted to investigate the effects of boredom on individual tasks. The initial study utilized data from families with two professionals working in diverse industries.

The team was able to analyze the correlations between boredom, attention, and productivity over time by administering multiple surveys to participants on a daily basis at various intervals. Subsequent investigations employed alternative methodologies to extend their reach to a wider demographic, with a specific emphasis on examining the role of meaningful work tasks in alleviating the enduring consequences of boredom.

According to Belinda, an expert in the field of emotions, interpersonal communication, and close relationships within organizational contexts, boredom is commonly perceived as a bothersome emotion that individuals with strong determination should suppress in order to enhance productivity.

He observed that encountering boredom at any given moment results in postponed or lingering episodes of mental wandering. Employees frequently attempt to endure tedious tasks in order to advance towards their work objectives. However, he asserted that this approach not only fails to mitigate the adverse consequences of boredom, but also represents one of the most dysfunctional reactions to boredom.

"Like whack-a-mole, downplaying boredom on one task results in attention and productivity deficits that bubble up during subsequent tasks," he said. "Paradoxically, then, trying to suppress boredom gives its harmful effects a longer shelf life." One aspect of the solution is the organization of work tasks throughout the day.

While it is inevitable to encounter monotonous tasks, effectively mitigating the adverse consequences of boredom necessitates meticulous examination of the characteristics of various work tasks and their sequential arrangement.

According to Casher, adopting a strategic approach and considering multiple tasks is beneficial. "'Playing the long game' will help minimize the cumulative effects of boredom over the course of the day," Belinda explained. "Following an initial boring task, employees should turn to other meaningful tasks to help restore lost energy."

Journal Reference: Casher Belinda, Shimul Melwani, Chaitali Kapadia. Breaking boredom: Interrupting the residual effect of state boredom on future productivity.. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2024; DOI: 10.1037/apl0001161