Are you suffering from the “career blahs"?

Are you suffering from the “career blahs"? If so, the probable two root causes of your dissatisfaction are boredom and burnout -- according to Charley Buck, author of the new book Escape the Mid-Career Doldrums.

For example...

Boredom creates the blahs because of...

Lack of Intellectual Challenge
No Chance to Use Your Creativity
A Misfit Between You and the Job
Not Enough To Do

Burnout creates the blahs because of...

suffering from “Perfectionist Syndrome”
feeling overworked
feeling your boss is a jerk!

Chances are your "career blahs" are created by an intertwining potpouri of a few of the above. But whatever the specific cause, consider implementing some of the following common cures.

Cures for the common boredom....

Enhance the Job: Most people possess more control over their jobs than they realize; they have the chance to infuse their jobs with greater challenge, meaning and fun. It sounds obvious, but many people fail to ask their bosses for a tougher or more interesting assignment.

Change jobs within the company or change companies: If you feel there’s a major disconnect between you and your job or that you’ve been unhappy in your position for a long time, then a major change may be necessary.

Find more interesting activities outside of your job: Too often people who are bored at work let boredom permeate their lives. If you’re bored at work because you lack intellectual challenge or enough to do, it might be time to look elsewhere for stimulation.

Cures for common burn out

Take a Break: It may be that you need anything from a long weekend to a longer vacation to a leave of absence in order to relieve the pressure you’re under. Sometimes a day mid-week spent out of the office can work wonders.

Establish Boundaries: In other words, draw a figurative line in the sand and tell yourself that you will not do work or even think about it during certain times of the day and in certain places. With the advent of IM, Blackberries, cell phones and numerous other technologies, we sometimes find it hard to tell when we’re on the job and when we’re OFF.