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I have this same issue. I'm an individual contributer, and a heavy hitter for the first few years then I burn out. I feel bored, stagnet, and the work starts to seem tedious and grueling. I think high performers tend to get burnt out quickly because of the extra effort and time we put in on the front end. The momentum fuels the drive, but after a while the excelleration flattens and we lose that interest and/or tire out. We need new challenges, recognition for our efforts and results, and income growth to keep the motivation, but rarely have I experienced a company that provides equal support or income growth to my effort. I end up having to find a new job that pays higher and brings a new challenge because I cant stand the lack of change or growth where I am after while. I try to not beat myself up too much about it because this is common in top performers, and stats show that staying at the same company for over 4 years actually diminishes your pay scale considerably over your career given that companies pay new employees more in order to be competative in the job market place. Sadly, most companies don't reward loyalty anymore. Start applying to jobs if you are getting burnt out and leave if you find a better one. Or if you make good money, figure out a plan to chart your work so you get it done as fast as possible and have free time to pursue a side gig of some sort.
Deeply agree with what you expressed here and have felt the same way. 3 years of grinding on all cylinders and trying to always be the team player and help the company, but after 3 years and no promotion or true recognition my heart has lost that drive.
This seems normal. I combat it with a side consulting business. That way, I work on different projects, get extra income, and shake things up.
Nothing to add but I commiserate. I’ve said i feel like jobs for me fall into the 1-3 or 4-6 year buckets. Im approaching 4 years and Ive hit a wall. I feel like i could get two more years here if they listened/ encouraged promotion/progression. That’s the only way to energize me at this point. Kept the wheels on working 12+ hr days for an entire summer when things were tough, but thats not glamorous enough to warrant a promotion i suppose. I watched so many coworkers leave at the 2-3 year mark bc of this and I felt it at 3 years too like you describe. But i stay bc its remote and i like my coworkers, but thats not enough long term.
Boy do I feel that! I am not perfectly paid but seeing other jobs at or just above where I am and requiring mostly in office, i feel handcuffed too. Sometimes the grass is greener but not always. I wish you the best!
Thank you all for sharing this. It’s a massive relief to see other people feel the same way. I've now been in two three year long contracts. Each time I started I had this urge to prove myself, performed at my best, hitting all the goals and pushing harder each review meeting. Then slowly it declines and the last six months of my three year stints have been painful. I have lost the motivation, there’s no way of progression, tasks that use to challenge me, don’t do that anymore. I have always been a top performer and need more challenges as I progress into the role, salary progression included. at times it makes me feel so ungrateful and lazy but it seems I can’t fight it without changing the workplace/getting promoted.
Me. Start a side gig maybe? Basically throw yourself into a different unknown other than work. Seems to have worked for me for a couple of years. Ultimately had to leave though because I am a learner at heart and new challenges motivate me.
I’m currently feeling that right now honestly it’s the worst