Sorting out your work life at midlife

Job boredom. It can happen to anyone at any time, of course. But it seems to hit midlife adults, who have spent decades in their careers, especially hard.

If boredom has crept into your professional life, the first thing to do is determine why. Review the following questions to help you discover the answer:

• Are you experiencing a lack of intellectual challenge? Do you find yourself just going through the motions?
• Is there no occasion to use your creativity? Are you constrained by policies and protocols?
• Does the job you have not fit your personality anymore? Do you feel you should be doing something else, but don’t know what that is?
• Do you have enough to do? Have you asked for more responsibilities, but been ignored or denied the opportunity?

Once you have an answer, move on to a solution. In Escape the Mid-Career Doldrums (Wiley), consultant Marcia Worthing and corporate coach Charles Buck offer these suggestions:

• Try enhancing the job you already have. Look for purpose and challenge in it. Ask for tougher and more meaningful assignments.
• Look within your company to see if there is a better fit for you somewhere else. Take a closer look at other departments and network more with colleagues.
• Find more interesting things to do outside of your job. If you cannot solve your problem within the context of your job, go outside of it to find what you need.
• Try to change your attitude about your job. Is there anything you can do to create a dramatic shift in the way you think about what you do?