Is it Fatigue or Ennui?

As we head into fall 2021, the weather is changing. Cooler temps and shorter days may make us feel lower energy. We may even feel more relaxed as our circadian rhythm adjusts to the changes in daylight.

After what we all call “a year,” 2020 and the first part of 2021 were draining at the very least and destructive at its worst. Businesses and nonprofits of all types suffered and, in some cases, disappeared in the wake of the pandemic’s impact on the economy.

The stress of it all sapped our energy at all levels: physical, mental, and emotional. We felt exhausted and fatigued by the drastic change in our environment.

But another thing happened. Many people out there in the world realized what they were doing for employment or work was not actually what they wanted to be doing. The global pause known as 2020 gave people time to think and practice introspection (in the author’s opinion, two things that are sorely lacking in today’s world). After these pauses for thought, some people said, “hey, I’m outta here.” They moved on to explore opportunities that excited them.

So what does ennui have to do with this? Well, I’ll tell you.

Ennui is, according to Dictionary.com, “a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.” While it sounds a lot like boredom, ennui is really a feeling of discontent. You don’t have much energy for your work because maybe you’re just “over it.” In the end, you have lost interest in what you are doing.

Does this describe your attitude toward your current position or situation?
The thought of writing one more board report, one more interoffice memo, getting excited about another webinar, answering one more batch of emails takes energy and time. But maybe you don’t want to spend your energy and time that way any longer.

We need to ask ourselves these questions on a regular basis and a change of seasons is the perfect time for reflection. Are you still happy, or at least content, doing what you are doing? Or is it time to move on?

While the Bard, in Richard III may have written “now is the winter of our discontent” the Bible says “To everything there is a season.” Ecclesiastes 3:8

Is this the autumn of ennui? Only you can answer that for yourself.