Psychologist Defines 'Rжавление' as Work Silliness

A psychologist noted that 'rusting' differs from burnout at work.

Consensus

The term 'rжавление' describes a state where employees have the energy to work but find their work boring, monotonous, and meaningless.
Rжавление is distinct from professional burnout, which involves exhaustion and emotional emptiness.
Employees experiencing rжавление feel stuck, with no sense of progress, novelty, or achievement.
The brain stops receiving dopamine from completed tasks, leading to a background sense of degradation.
Attempting to distract oneself with films, news, or social media during work only temporarily helps and reduces productivity.
Long-term rжавление can harm self-esteem and diminish interest in life outside of work.
The recommended response is to honestly assess whether the profession still aligns with personal values and interests.

People often try to entertain themselves during work hours by watching films, reading news, or scrolling social media, which can lead to conflict with management. — vm
If a person has outgrown their profession due to changed values, no new tasks in the same role will help, and a career change may be necessary. — vm
Chronic workplace boredom slowly poisons the personality. — vm
Work should be a source of energy, not a place where energy is spent fighting the urge to stare at a wall. — vm
If the profession is still interesting but duties have become routine, employees should discuss new tasks or project changes with management. — riamo
If values have changed and work causes aversion, a career change may be needed. — riamo