This Is The Simplistic Difference Between Burn Out And Boredom

How to manage the delicate balance between variety and structure

Selda Seyfi

Mar 10, 2025

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In 2013 I burned out.

I paid the price of physically demanding 15-hour days, working away from home for weeks at a time, eating the same preservative-full hotel foods, and drinking too much coffee.

My burnout manifested itself as severe pleurisy and my flight home from San Francisco was the longest 10 hours I’d ever had. Two of my readers were incredibly supportive during this time - if you’re reading, you know who you are!

Several weeks before this, my employer decided for me that four weeks in the UK was long enough and I was shipped on a plane (again).

The decision was out of my hands.

Saying no was career suicide at this point. I was part of a small team and one was always expected to over-deliver.

I learned very quickly that the symptoms of burn out and boredom are very similar.

Fatigue. Detachment. Lack of motivation. Increased anxiety and irritability. Feeling overwhelmed, to name but a few.

But sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which.

It’s an important difference—mixing up burnout and boredom can lead to solutions that don’t actually help and leave you feeling stuck.

While burnout results from chronic stress and overwork, boredom often stems from a lack of challenge and variety.

Identifying which one you’re experiencing is the first step toward regaining your productivity and motivation.

But how do you know if you’re burned out or just bored? And what should you do either way?

Which one are you?

The Overachiever Who Thinks They’re Bored

As a high-achieving professional you feel disengaged and assume you’re bored. To add excitement, you take on more projects, hoping for stimulation. Instead, you become even more exhausted. Eventually, you realize you’re actually burned out—you need rest, not more challenges.

The Creative Worker Who Thinks They’re Burned Out

Sometimes you struggle with motivation and assume you’re burned out. You take breaks, but they don’t help. Eventually, you realize you’re simply bored with repetitive projects. Introducing new challenges and experimenting with your work reignites your passion.

The Entrepreneur Stuck in a Boom-and-Bust Cycle

You’d work intensely for weeks, then crash and feel unmotivated. Thinking it’s burnout, you take long breaks, but the cycle keeps repeating. The real issue is an inconsistent workload distribution—you need a more sustainable rhythm, not just time off.

In a nutshell the Solution is to increase variety if you’re bored, and increase structure if you’re burned out.

How Variety Combats Boredom, but Structure Prevents Burnout

If you’re burned out, adding variety won’t necessarily help—you may need rest and better boundaries first. If you’re bored, shaking things up is often the best fix. Here’s how to approach each situation.

Variety to Combat Boredom

Introduce small changes—work from a different location, change the order of your tasks, or experiment with new tools.
Take on a fresh challenge—volunteer for a different project or find ways to upskill.
Break tasks into different formats—if your work is repetitive, find ways to add creativity or collaboration.
Incorporate time-blocking for variety—schedule specific times for deep work, brainstorming, and administrative tasks.
Seek inspiration outside work—sometimes, engaging in new hobbies or learning something unrelated can reignite your motivation.

Structure to Prevent Burnout

Set clear work boundaries—avoid work creeping into personal time.
Create a shutdown routine—signal the end of work with a small ritual, like a walk or journaling.
Prioritize deep work over hustle—focusing on meaningful tasks reduces stress and increases impact.
Use consistency to lower cognitive load—keep a steady workflow to prevent decision fatigue.
Schedule deliberate recovery—don’t wait until you’re exhausted to take breaks.

The Key Takeaway

If you’re bored, add variety; if you’re burned out, add structure.

If you’re experiencing both, start by establishing structure before introducing variety.

Oh and don’t let your employer bully you. Learning how to say ‘no’ has been one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned.

Have you ever been burned out? What did you learn from the experience?