We hear the term 'burnout' pretty frequently and how dangerous and common it is. But what exactly is 'burnout'?

Burnout is a state of mental, emotional, (and at times physical) exhaustion. It occurs when we bottle up stress over a period of time and don’t actively manage it.

Burnout impacts our productivity and optimistic outlook towards life. It includes:

- feeling helpless or trapped,
- a sense of self-doubt and failure,
- feeling isolated and detached,
- pessimistic and cynical about things,
- low interest and motivation,
- lowered sense of accomplishment, and
- low energy levels

Burnout is different from stress. Stress is usually more short-lived and related to a specific event.