Fallen victim to languishing at work? Languishing is that frustrating in-between state where you’re not thriving, but you’re not fully burnt out either. In this post, we explore what it means to “languish”, why it happens, and how you can go from stuckness and stagnancy to positivity and success.
The word “languish” can be traced all the way back to the Latin word “languere”, which was originally used to describe a state of weakness and sluggishness. Today, the term has mostly kept its core meaning, but has taken on new relevance in sociology and workplace culture, where it’s often used to describe employees who feel unmotivated or stuck, but not totally burnt out.
According to sociologist Corey Keyes, languishing isn’t the same as falling into depression, but if a person languishes for too long, it can have a deeper impact and even become debilitating.
Just after the COVID-19 pandemic, over 30 per cent of UK employees reported they’d been languishing while trying to adapt to their new normal. But what does languishing look like? And how do we know the difference between languishing and mental health issues? Here are some telltale signs.
You might be languishing at work if you:
As human beings, we tend to feel restless and dissatisfied when our needs are not being met. So, if you’re languishing, you’ll need to work out which of your needs are being neglected, and what that means for you. Here are some simple questions to ask yourself based on common reasons for languishing cited by sociologist Corey Keyes:
Psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing are key areas that Keyes highlights as essential for preventing languishing. He stresses that simply not having a mental illness isn’t enough for a person to flourish and thrive. He argues that we need to experience meaning, connection, and positive emotion, too.
So, we’ve covered what the signs of languishing are, but how can we differentiate them from other causes like depression or ADHD burnout? Here’s how you can tell the difference:
Languishing vs. Burnout: Burnout, whether directly linked to unmet neurodivergent needs or excessive work demands, tends to occur due to chronic overload or stress rather than a lack of purpose, connection, or positivity. If you’re feeling unmotivated and flat but also happen to have an unmanageable workload or don’t have the right tools for your job, you might not be languishing; you may well be burnt out.
Languishing vs. Depression: Although depression and languishing can both result in a person feeling flat, empty, or aimless, languishing isn’t a recognised medical condition and is less severe than clinical depression. Depression isn’t something that can be fixed with quick tips or wellness hacks. It requires specialist attention from a GP or mental health professional. To view symptoms of clinical depression, head to the NHS website’s info page on depression in adults.
Languishing vs. Self-Sabotage: Self-sabotage is when someone undermines their own goals through procrastination, conflict, or poor choices. This is usually driven by underlying fears or limiting beliefs. Languishing, on the other hand, isn’t about destructive patterns or deliberate choices. You’re not working against yourself; you’re simply stuck in neutral without the energy or motivation to move forward.
Top tip: It’s useful to note that while languishing isn’t a mental health condition, long-term languishing may increase your risk of developing one. Try to look after your mind and body by noticing small shifts in your mood and behaviour. These are often indicators that you need to make changes. The earlier you act, the less likely you are to suffer in the long run.
Flourishing is about more than just happiness. To flourish is to thrive – it’s a state where you glide through life with purpose and positive wellbeing, not feeling held back by a lack of progress.
According to psychologist Dr Martin Seligman, we can all flourish by focusing on five core building blocks: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. These come together to form the acronym ‘PERMA’. Rather than making it our goal to remove suffering, PERMA encourages us to build more resilience and mental strength. Here’s how you can use it to your advantage at work:
To increase positive emotions at work, try to focus on the things you can control, not the things you can’t. You can’t change negative experiences in the past, control what other people are doing, or be certain about future outcomes that haven’t happened yet. But you can change how optimistic you feel about your next project, what attitude you’re going to adopt at the start of a task, and the intentions you have for your work. Some people find it helpful to make gratitude lists. This can help to put things into perspective by showing you that there are more good things about your work than you may have previously thought.
True engagement allows us to take pleasure in our work. If you feel disconnected from what you’re doing, try to focus on the process, not the outcome. Prioritise your most important tasks and tackle them when you’re feeling most energised. This will make it easier to get into a “flow state”. In this state, you’ll remain present during an activity because you’re immersed in it fully and aren’t distracted by pressure or fear-based thoughts.
Feeling distant from your team? Try taking small steps to engage and connect with others. Make a colleague a cup of tea, offer support when other staff are struggling, or invite someone to join you for lunch. Building work relationships can be tricky, especially if you struggle with social anxiety, but making that extra bit of effort can completely change your experience of work. Once you strengthen these connections, you may notice that your professional life feels more satisfying.
We all crave meaning. It’s how we make sense of our lives. But if you’re failing to find meaning in your work, it can be helpful to take a step back and reflect on what truly matters to you. Ask yourself: Does my work align with my values? Am I contributing to something bigger than myself? If the answer is no, it might be time to have a chat with your manager about exploring new opportunities. This might include taking on projects that feel more purposeful, pursuing training courses that reignite your passion, or even reshaping your role to better suit your strengths and interests. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh challenge or a clearer sense of purpose to transform how meaningful your work feels.
Finally, celebrating your wins can make a real difference when you’re languishing. If you’re feeling stuck or stagnant, it’s easy to overlook the progress you’re actually making. Try keeping a record of your achievements, whether it’s completing a difficult task, receiving positive feedback, or simply getting through a tough week. Acknowledging these moments reminds you that you’re moving forward, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Still struggling to find a sense of accomplishment in your current role? Have a think about how you might set clearer goals or take on new responsibilities that allow you to stretch yourself and grow.
Fortunately for all of us, languishing doesn’t have to be permanent. Making the transition from languishing to flourishing might not happen overnight, but with a shift in mindset and a bit of effort to make positive changes stick, you should be well on your way to feeling more motivated at work.
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