When workplace struggles are discussed, burnout 🔥 usually gets all the attention. But there is another, less dramatic and often overlooked challenge that can be just as harmful: rust out 🔶.

If burnout is driven by too much stress, too many demands, and constant pressure, rust out is the opposite. It creeps in when work becomes too monotonous, under challenging, or disconnected from any sense of meaning. Instead of exhaustion, you feel numb. Instead of overwhelm, you feel detached. You are not drowning in tasks, but drifting through them.

Rust out does not slam you with fatigue. It quietly steals your energy, drive, and creativity. Productivity slows down, motivation fades, and work becomes something to endure rather than something to shape.

Signs You Might Be Experiencing Rust Out

Rust out often goes unnoticed until it has already taken hold. Here are some warning signs to look out for:

🔸Lack of motivation Your daily tasks feel mechanical and uninspiring. You struggle to see the point in what you are doing.

🔸Skills going unused You know you are capable of more, but your role does not stretch you or make use of your strengths.

🔸Boredom and stagnation Days feel repetitive, and there is little sense of progress. The excitement of learning and trying new things has disappeared.

🔸Disconnection from purpose You no longer feel aligned with why you took this role or entered this field. What once had meaning now feels like going through the motions.

🔸Quiet resignation Instead of pushing for change or escape, you slowly withdraw. You stop taking initiative, lower your effort, and quietly disengage.

Getting Unstuck: How to Reignite 🎉

The good news: rust-out isn’t permanent. With awareness and intentional action, you can break the rust cycle and rediscover energy, creativity and meaning at work. Here are a few practical strategies:

1. Revisit your “why”

It can be easy to lose sight of your original spark. Take time to reflect:

• What drew you to this field or organization in the first place?
• What impact do you want to make?
• What kind of legacy, change or value feels worth your time and effort?

Reconnecting with your deeper purpose can help transform routine tasks into purposeful contributions again.

2. Challenge yourself

If your role has become too safe or too predictable, push its boundaries. You might:

• Volunteer for cross‐functional or stretch assignments
• Propose new projects or process improvements
• Offer to mentor a junior colleague, or lead a team initiative
• Pilot a new tool, workflow or way of working

Stepping out of the comfort zone—even experimentally—can reawaken curiosity and momentum.

3. Embrace continuous learning

Learning isn’t just for early career, or for “formal” transitions. It can be a powerful antidote to rust-out throughout your working life:

• Take short courses, workshops or webinars
• Read new books or articles outside your immediate speciality
• Attend conferences or webinars, or join professional communities
• Ask for “learning time” or skill development opportunities

New knowledge builds confidence, shows your employer you want to grow, and often opens doors to new roles or responsibilities.

4. Build meaningful connections

Work is not just what we do, but who we do it with, and who we do it for. If you’re feeling disengaged, look to the relational side of your work:

• Network or collaborate with colleagues who inspire you
• Join or create communities of practice or affinity groups
• Mentor others, or seek out mentorship yourself
• Participate in team or organizational initiatives with a social or mission‐driven component

Feeling connected, and knowing that your efforts help others, can restore a sense of purpose and belonging.

5. Advocate for role evolution

Sometimes rust-out sticks because the job hasn’t changed, but you have. If that’s the case:

• Initiate a conversation with your manager or HR about evolving your role
• Propose shifting responsibilities, rotating tasks, or redefining success metrics
• Ask for “stretch goals” or special assignments
• Frame the request not just as self-interest, but as beneficial for the team or organisation (more engagement means better performance)

Even small tweaks to task mix, autonomy or creative latitude can make a big difference.

🤵For Leaders: Helping Your Team Avoid Rust Out

Managers and leaders have a powerful role to play in preventing rust out from taking hold in their teams. A few practical approaches include:

• Checking in regularly on growth and meaning, not just workload
• Encouraging job rotations, skill building, and project-based learning
• Keeping roles dynamic by refreshing tasks and responsibilities
• Creating a safe space for people to say when they feel stuck
• Celebrating progress and linking contributions back to the bigger purpose

Final Thoughts

Rust out does not make as much noise as burnout, but its slow erosion of passion and purpose can be just as damaging. The way out begins with recognising the signs and choosing to act.

You do not need to wait for a promotion or a new job to re-engage. By reconnecting with your purpose, seeking fresh challenges, learning continuously, building strong relationships, and shaping your role, you can break the cycle of rust out and rediscover what makes your work meaningful.