Have You ever Found Yourself Trapped in a Training Session, Grappling with Boredom?

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The clock struck 9 am, signalling my escape from the office to a training room. The weight of demoralization hung heavy on my shoulders as I reluctantly entered the training room, fully aware that the next couple of hours promised nothing but boredom, despite my inherent passion for learning. This particular training had an unappealing aura that immediately set the tone for the session.

Seated and already feeling cheated, I struggled to find meaning in the seemingly endless presentation. My mind wandered, desperately trying to grasp how this would contribute to my personal and professional development. The trainer, with a sympathetic demeanour and an air of knowledge, attempted to salvage the uninspiring atmosphere.

As my gaze swept across the room, searching for a kindred spirit in disinterest, the extroverts revelled in the content, their inability to stay quiet betraying their enthusiasm. Three introverts, including myself, seemed less captivated, with one person visibly slouching as if their back was engaged in trouble.

To my left, a woman in her 40s, sporting a short blonde wig that seemed to defy logic, enjoyed her breakfast while giving the trainer undivided attention. She even contributed by sharing practical examples of how she managed daily back pain.

Despite the trainer's capability, drawn from two decades of experience, her delivery leaned towards the pessimistic. She expressed that users often resisted leaving the hospital, implying that the caring environment might be too comforting, emphasizing that it wasn't a hotel. I nodded in agreement, but my inner thoughts questioned the complexity of the situation.

The trainer's words lingered, prompting me to reflect on the harsh realities of the outer world. The outside world is a potentially frightening place for those who have faced trauma, bullying, abuse, oppression, neglect, violence, etc…

Trying to shake off the weight of the training, I couldn't help but wonder about the source of the trainer's comment. Was it jealousy, resentment, compassion fatigue, or was it burnout? I guess I would never know. From that moment, focus abandoned me, and exhaustion claimed my senses, leading me into an unintended slumber and the day unfolded as a monotonous symphony of disinterest.

As the training session ended, I hurried out of the room, eager to escape from the monotony of that couple of hours. As I walked down the road to the office, I found myself alongside a colleague who seemed to have enjoyed every moment of the training. I couldn’t shake the mix of emotions swirling inside me. Was I alone in finding the training boring and the trainer’s comment lacking?  Or was it a case of me having a bad day?