Happen To Your Career - Meaningful Work, Career Change, Career Design, & Job Search Is Being Bored at Work Enough Reason to Quit? (The Answer Might Surprise You)
Sep 1, 2025
Lisa Vu, a project manager at UCSF focused on improving vaccine rates, shares her transition from a research role due to workplace boredom. She discusses why boredom can be as detrimental as burnout and the importance of recognizing when your role no longer fits. Lisa emphasizes breaking out of comfort zones, seeking support, and reframing networking as a series of experiments. The conversation highlights the value of interpersonal connections at work and encourages listeners to prioritize career fulfillment over stagnation.
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Boredom Equals Burnout
- Boredom at work can be as draining as burnout and deserves equal attention.
- Treat understimulation as a legitimate signal your career may not fit you anymore.
From Invisible Researcher To Project Manager
- Lisa Vu described being siloed, invisible, and unstimulated in a long research role at UCSF.
- She left that comfort for a project manager role improving vaccine rates after exploring internal options.
Comfort Roles Can Become Traps
- Comfort roles can serve as recovery buffers after toxic jobs but risk becoming long-term traps.
- Low challenge plus safety can silently lead to career apathy over years.