"Brain rot" is Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2024. But honestly, it’s been the unofficial slogan of repetitive, soul-crushing work for some time now. If you’ve ever felt like your job is slowly turning your brain to mush, you’re not alone—and there’s data to back it up.
Think endless status meetings, never-ending email threads, or data entry for hours on end. These tasks are the very definition of draining.
According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023, 59% of employees report being disengaged, and repetitive, unchallenging work plays a big part.
Deloitte’s Workplace Burnout Survey found that 77% of professionals have experienced burnout at their current job—and mindless tasks are a major contributing factor.
👉 Brain rot isn’t just a personal annoyance—it’s a systemic issue with real consequences for both employees and employers.
The impact of brain rot at work
Decreased innovation and creativity: You can’t think big when you’re stuck in the small stuff.
Higher turnover: Research from McKinsey shows that 41% of employees have left roles because they lacked meaningful #work.
Missed career opportunities: When you’re disengaged, you’re less likely to pursue growth or #leadership roles.
Impact on your mental health: Too much time spent on draining tasks can lead to bore out (chronic boredom) and #burnout (mental exhaustion).
How to beat brain rot in 2025
⏲️ Audit your time
Conduct a weekly task audit
Eliminate or delegate repetitive, low-value work.
Automate where possible—tools like Zapier or Notion can save hours
🏋 Include at least one new task or new learning per month
Seek opportunities to upskill or cross-train
Offer to tackle a project outside your usual scope
Join innovation-focused groups or task forces in your organization
📚 Engage your mind outside of work
Explore new hobbies or learnings that refresh your perspective. Neuroscience studies (e.g., from Stanford) show that engaging in creative hobbies can improve cognitive flexibility and #workplace #performance. Dedicate at least 3-4 hours a week to personal learning or creative endeavors.
👉 Good news & Bad news
➖ The bad: brain rot is reality as most of our work happens digitally in highly-complex work structures. It is highly likely that you will experience it at some point in your career.
➕ The good: it can be a wake-up call for you to shake things up and start actively engaging your mind again. The befits for your health and career will be immense.