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I had a surprisingly honest conversation with my boss a couple of days ago. I’m still thinking about it.

I told him I was considering another job. I was struggling to get things done, the work seemed less interesting, and I wondered whether I had been there too long.

He admitted that he gets bored too. That helped make it a conversation I could keep having.

I also admitted something less comfortable: I can get absorbed in an interesting project outside work and start doing a poor job of showing up for my actual job. Eventually, I leave and start somewhere else.

I’ve followed that pattern before. Saying it to the person supervising me was an unusual way to spend an afternoon.

We were talking through Messenger, with some joking mixed into the serious parts. I wanted help figuring out what was happening.

He asked whether changing jobs would bring a lasting improvement or a temporary one.

My answer was that it would be temporary. More money, possibly, but temporary.

That answer deserves attention. Would the next job give me work I want to keep doing, or would a different system and a fresh set of problems hold my interest for a while? Those can look similar at the beginning.

Sometimes leaving is overdue. My boss acknowledged that too. But I can see habits of my own contributing to this frustration, and I don’t want to blame all of it on the job.

There are things I appreciate about working here, including being able to have this conversation. They belong in the decision alongside the frustrations.

I haven’t settled the bigger question. I’m trying to distinguish a situation I need to change from a pattern I might carry straight into the next one.

I’m glad we talked. I came away with a question worth answering before I make a decision.