How Boring Jobs Make Us Dumber (And How To Stop That From Happening)

Are you bored at work right now? Perhaps the reason you're reading this is because you're bored at work right now. And if that's the case, there's good news and bad news. First, the bad:

Boring jobs turn our mind to autopilot, say scientists - and it means we can seriously mess up some simple tasks.

Monotonous duties switch our brain to "rest mode", whether we like it or not, the researchers report in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

They found mistakes can be predicted up to 30 seconds before we make them, by patterns in our brain activity.

The team hopes to design an early-warning brain monitor for pilots and others in "critical situations".

The scientists say the device would be particularly suitable for monotonous jobs where focus is hard to maintain - such as passport and immigration control.

Keep reading the story on BBC News.

So what's the good news, you ask? There are ways to stay alert beyond wearing this 'brain monitor' scientists are developing: Check out blogger Alvaro Fernandez's 10 Habits of Highly Effective Brains or his list of the Top 23 Brainy Books. Or blogger David Allen's Feeling Good About What You're Not Doing or The Delights of Dummy Work. Or Gretchen Rubin's 11 Internet Tools To Boost Your Happiness.

And because bored workers mean big Internet business, BoredAtWork.com or AtWorkAndBored.com are here to help.

Or you could just watch this video:

Now tell us: what's the most boring job you've ever had? How do you procrastinate?

Comments

[ShawnMichel]

Being a corporate cog--being an automaton, as Fromm refers to 83% of the American workforce--is already a sure-fire indicator of stupidity.

Boredom is the natural result of an unlived, unconsidered, cowardly life--the life of an indentured wage slave.

Wake up, idiots--and cogs. Wake up.

[vandegrasse]

That explains why Americans are so dumb. Corporations have done it to us with their mindless tasks they set us to. I hate them.

[67bug]

Awwwww....

[Vyvjala]

If the National Academy of Sciences is looking for test species, look no further. Bush and his advisors, they all should of been monitored seven years ago......................