Why a job 'that's just a job' works for these peopleKBy Kellie ScottABC LifestyleTopic:Careers1h ago1 hours agoMon 12 May 2025 at 1:17amNot everyone is engaged at work, but experts say that’s not necessarily a bad thing. (Pexels)abc.net.au/news/the-benefits-of-having-a-mundane-job/105223588Link copiedShareShare articleMeg is not fulfilled by her job.The 40-year-old from Brisbane/Meanjin works in administration and has been in her current gig for seven years."It's far beneath my capability level … I'm not very challenged," Meg, who asked we keep her surname private, says.But she isn't complaining. Meg has never had a "dream job" and says mundane works brings her financial security, peace, and flexibility."I have very specifically chosen to work in a job that has very little stress. I just don't want stress in my life."I get to work from home most of the time. I would take a pay cut to keep that going."New research involving RMIT University shows while pursuing more meaningful careers often brings personal growth and fulfilment, it often requires financial, mental and physical sacrifice.Justine Alter is an organisational psychologist and co-director at Transitioning Well, a consultancy firm specialising in workplace wellbeing. She says there's nothing wrong with having a job that's "just a job".And there are ways to make it more enjoyable.Workplace boredomPhoto shows A woman slumps in front a laptop.What causes chronic work boredom? And what are some practical things you can do to make work more bearable if leaving isn't an option?The pressure to have a dream jobZena Burgess, CEO of the Australian Psychological Society, says the pressure to pursue a dream job can begin when we are children."At school people often ask young folks 'What will you do when you grow up?' as if there is some single thing that will define them as a person."It's also the case that what someone might consider a dream job, another might see as a nightmare."For some people their dream job might be working with people they really like … for others it might be flexibility, like working close to home."Nobody has the perfect package all of the time."Mundane job sometimes a 'trade-off'Sometimes a job that allows you time to think about other things can be beneficial. (Pexels)For many people, obtaining a dream job is just not possible, says Ms Alter."It's often about the season of life you are in, the financial pressure you might have, and emotional pressure," adding you might be raising young children, as one example.Mum-of-three Tayla works in furniture sales on the Gold Coast/Yugambeh language region and says it's "mind-numbingly boring"."I will go four hours without talking to someone sometimes," says Talya, who asked we don't use her real name."But it's not lost on me how privileged I am; I have friends … [whose] whole lives become their job. They are completely depleted when they come home."Sign up to the ABC Lifestyle newsletterGet a mid-week boost and receive easy recipes, wellbeing ideas, and home and garden tips in your inbox every Wednesday. You’ll also receive a monthly newsletter of our best recipes.Your information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribeTayla says she will often put her hand up for extra tasks such as furniture assembly to keep busy, but mostly, a boring job means she can focus her energy on life outside of work — including the needs of her family."I can call in sick if I need to and not feel any guilt."A victim-survivor of domestic violence, Tayla says she'd love to work in community support, helping women and children.But she says undertaking study while working and caring for three kids feels unachievable — for now."That's what I want to do at TAFE next, a Certificate IV in Community Services."Dr Burgess says there are times in life where we have to make "trade-offs" to support those we care about.A job that allows you to "think about other parts of your life", she says, can alleviate mental load pressures.Why Patricia swapped heels for steelcapsPhoto shows Patricia Santiago, a young woman of Filipino appearance, wears high-visibility clothes and drives a tramWhen Patricia's father suggested she drive a tram, she was a "corporate girl". Now she's embraced having a route of her own.However, there is a risk of being "too bored", says Ms Alter."A term that has become popular is bore-out, instead of burn-out."[It's when] the mundaneness leads to your stress levels being too low."When we are under-stimulated, she says that isn't good for our physical or mental health.Getting more out of a boring jobFinding community at work is one way to improve engagement, says Ms Alter."Sometimes it's not about the actual tasks you are doing, it's looking around in the workplace [and finding] what else you can get involved in; social groups, mentoring younger colleagues, volunteering for projects,"That is often what is missing in the mundaneness."She says thinking about how you can make a positive difference in the workplace can also help."If you care about fairness, maybe you can push for better team process to make sure it aligns with your values," she says as one example.Do you have a unique job you often get questions about? We'd love to hear about it lifestyle@abc.net.auDr Burgess says job crafting is a strategic way of achieving more job satisfaction.Task crafting, relation crafting, and cognitive crafting are different ways you can approach this.For example, if you work in customer service, you could look at your role as not just about resolving issues but also helping people.Ultimately, making sure we don't align too much of our identity with work can help us separate work from our purpose."We are so much more than [our work]," Ms Alter says.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoMon 12 May 2025 at 1:17am, updated Just nowMon 12 May 2025 at 2:19amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesVideo captures childcare worker hitting baby and laughing about itTopic:Child CarePhoto shows A still from a Snapchat video shows a baby on a bouncer crying.The 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Monique Ryan wins Kooyong as Greens, Labor and Liberals each nab seatsLIVEPhoto shows Kooyong MP Monique Ryan in Kooyong, inner MelbourneIs Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows Jim Chalmers walks into QT smiling.Zelenskyy agrees to meet Putin face-to-face for Ukraine war talksTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron stand at Memorial Wall of Fallen Defenders of UkraineRelated storiesThinking about the Roman Empire? Marcus Aurelius's teachings could help you succeed at workTopic:PerspectivePhoto shows a woman lies across her chair limply with her work notebook across her faceI knew returning to work after mat leave would be a huge change. It still shocked meTopic:WorkPhoto shows A woman with black hair and a green top smiles at the camera, with some filing cabinets and a desk behind her.Working a dream job or just paying the bills? Either way, burnout is real. Here are 12 tips to helpTopic:Career AdvicePhoto shows A woman sitting at a desk smiles while holding her fingers as if she's meditating.Related topicsCareersPersonal FinanceTop StoriesVideo captures childcare worker hitting baby and laughing about itTopic:Child CarePhoto shows A still from a Snapchat video shows a baby on a bouncer crying.The 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryMonique Ryan wins Kooyong as Greens, Labor and Liberals each nab seatsTopic:Government and PoliticsIs Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerZelenskyy agrees to meet Putin face-to-face for Ukraine war talksTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarJust InComposer finds way to keep making music after his own deathTopic:Contemporary Art12m ago12 minutes agoMon 12 May 2025 at 2:07amWhy are India and Pakistan fighting? Topic:Explainer20m ago20 minutes agoMon 12 May 2025 at 2:00amLiberals win tight race for blue-ribbon Sydney seatTopic:Elections24m ago24 minutes agoMon 12 May 2025 at 1:56amMatildas confirmed for landmark match in regional WATopic:Matildas29m ago29 minutes agoMon 12 May 2025 at 1:50amMore Just InBack to top