Monotony is therefore an employee’s way of thinking or approach to his or her job. Monotony is brought on by doing the same thing over and over again. Monotony can occur even if the employee is not physiologically and psychologically exhausted.
Monotony can take two forms: physical and mental. It is the continuation of the same action again and again in the physical world. It becomes a mechanistic action that requires no thought on the part of the person.
A regular schedule can cause anyone to grow fatigued, sluggish, and lack originality and excitement. He may be stuck in a rut, but it has become his safe haven.
Doing the very same activity every day at the same time can become risky as well as monotonous. To break up the boredom, avoid emotional tension, and retain precision, a person with tedious work should stand and take regular breaks.
COVID 19 AND WORK
Covid 19 made us all stick to our desks at home which leads to a further increase in work stress and burnout. When everyone actually thought that it would be easier to do all the office work from the comfort of our homes, it rather became even more difficult as the challenges became even more persistent and stressful.
Not being able to leave the house and being confined while managing the work and personal life balance took a further toll on almost all of us. The concept of working remotely was nothing new to us but when almost the whole of mankind was forced to stay in and work for a living at such difficult times, leading to work monotony, extreme boredom, and burnout.
HOW TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF MONOTONY AT WORK
TAKE BREAKS
Though it seemed hard to take breaks when we used to work from our offices, the lockdown surely turned the tables and proved otherwise. In-office work allowed us to get up from our desks and take a stroll outside the office and we used to come home leaving the office’s stressful environment behind, but those possibilities went away with the arrival of covid 19.
Make sure you go away from the screen on a constant schedule. It is critical for your overall health as well as the health of your eyesight. Taking a physical break from your workplace setup allows you to return feeling rejuvenated and with an open mind.
CUT DOWN ON CAFFEINE
It’s typically the small things that make the largest difference. Consuming the very same drink every day, taking the same break at the same time, and drinking two cups of coffee every day makes things feel a little regimented.
It’s not bad. Exactly the same. Changing up the routine in your day offers you something new to anticipate.
INCLUDE NEW HOBBIES IN YOUR MORNING RITUAL
To accommodate confinement and working from home, try changing up your morning routine. If you can fit in some time outdoors, that would be ideal. Being inside all day is comfortable and pleasant, but it offers little to stimulate the senses.
Going outside gives us a new viewpoint, as well as a healthy amount of vitamin D and a refreshing change of environment.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
Turning towards mindfulness to relieve stress or even, in general, would be one of the best decisions of your life. Mindfulness will not only help you get rid of the piled-up stress and frustration, but you’ll also learn to live in the present moment.
Also, small issues won’t bother you more than they should, you’ll be able to deal with stressful situations with a calm and composed attitude.
TURN UP SOME MUSIC
Music has proven to be quite helpful in relieving stress and lifting up the mood when we feel stuck and bored. It reduces tension and can put you in a good mood, allowing you to break up the monotony at work! It all depends on the music.
You can listen to any type of music that you like, there is no such thing as “bad” music. Simply go with what seems appropriate to you. It’s worth a shot to have some amusement while working because it may increase happiness and productivity for everybody.
DECLUTTER
Stand up and take a stroll, maybe chat to a buddy, or go get some coffee if your chair is particularly uncomfortable and if you’ve been sitting for hours. Make yourself conscious of the areas in which you can improve.
Get rid of the mess on your desk or invest in a personalized item that makes you smile every time you look at it. Your work environment should help you be more productive and joyful.
SET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT
Begin with brief, simple tasks and duties that you can complete in a matter of minutes. Momentum builds as you begin to feel a feeling of achievement. Begin with the chores that will get the momentum going, and once you’ve achieved a few victories, go on to the duties that will require the majority of your effort and energy.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
While it’s very hard to avoid monotony at work, you can choose to fight it through a combination of working hard and having fun. Don’t exaggerate by taking extreme steps all of a sudden, give yourself time and patience to deal with things one at a time.
Remember, it may take more than two or three tries to find out what suits you best. So the next time you feel like you don’t feel challenged anymore, try one of the ideas above.
Related Article: Efforts of Gratitude in Work-Life
