Burnout or Boreout?

I recently stumbled into the concept of boreout. Yes, according to psychologists, it’s a real thing. In his book, Hidden Potential, Adam Grant outlines the difference between burnout and boreout and why it is so important to understand the distinction between both.

Essentially, burnout is the state of being overwhelmed by your work. Boreout is the state of being underwhelmed by your work. Both can leave us feeling pretty exhausted, empty, and at times distracted.

I think it’s important to note that boreout does not necessarily mean that we aren’t working hard and aren’t contributing. Rather, often in schools, it’s the absence of work that feels meaningful and important.

Red flags of boreout in the workplace might sound like this in conversations:

• Just tell me what you want me to do.
• I feel like a hamster on a wheel.
• This too shall pass.
• “Living the dream.” (sarcasm)
• I’m just a cog in the wheel.
• But what do I know, I’m just…
• Is this what you wanted? Is this how you want me to do this?

To name a few. I’ve found myself here at various points in my career. Unable to explain the exhaustion and existential dread that lingered. Until I read a quote from a conversation that David Whyte had with a monk. A conversation which he outlines in his book Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage to Identity. I believe it is Brother David who artfully states, “You know that the antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest? … The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.”

The antidote is wholeheartedness. What does that even mean? Intriguing.

I was so fascinated by this concept of wholeheartedness that I dug deeper. Conceptually, this felt so paramount that the final chapter of my book, Legacy of Learning is titled, “Wholehearted Work.”

Inspired by Brene Brown’s definition, this chapter breaks wholeheartedness down into three areas: love (which I changed to presence), belonging, and vulnerability.

When I’m in a state of boreout or even burnout, one or more of these three areas usually need some introspection and reflection.

I can see that many of us are desperate for opportunities for wholeheartedness right now which is why Livia Chan and Brian Martin are joining me in creating a community this month where we dig into the book, reflect, connect, and learn together.

So, what are the green flags? What are things we might hear that indicate that the work feels meaningful and that we are doing wholehearted work?

Green flags for meaningful, wholehearted work might sound like this in a conversation:

• I love this stuff.
• I love it here.
• Can we have a little more time to dig into this today?
• I’m curious about this! Let’s work on it together!
• I’m excited about what we are doing tomorrow.
• Please stop by to see what we are working on today.
• This feels really important.
• Tell me more about what you are thinking.
• What if we….
• Wouldn’t it be great if we…
• This is fun!
• I love us.
• I’m proud of what we are doing.

Maybe it’s been a minute since you’ve waved a green flag. Or maybe you are trying desperating to hold onto your green flags. Perhaps you find yourself with a red flag or many. Likely, there are many factors out of your control contributing to your red flags. This is deeply unfortunate, and you deserve better.

And yet, there are always factors within our control too. Focusing on what we can control is our first step in self-compassion, empowerment, and ultimately finding our way to more green flags.

At the end of the day, here is the list of what we can control:

ourselves.

A short list but an important list.

No judgement here. Only love. Your feelings are your feelings. I simply want you to know that you deserve to feel better. You deserve to find your work meaningful, manageable, and even fun. Our students are relying on us to bring green flag energy to school. We deserve it and our students deserve it too.

If you think you would benefit from the opportunity reflect and connect with others this month, we invite you to jump into our very relaxed book study that is starting this week. It will be a light lift and deeply wholehearted.

If you are interested in the book study, please send me an email at meghanlawsonblog@gmail.com, and I will joyfully send you in the information.