What exactly is burnout? It is defined as "exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration". Many workers experience stress and frustration in various forms. Large scale retrenchments are creating uncertainty amongst workers. Many are afraid of losing their jobs and are therefore working harder and longer hours to prove their value. Those that survive layoffs have to work harder to fill the gaps left by their retrenched colleagues.

Then there are those who work hard and don't receive the compensation they feel they deserve from their employers. They go to work everyday, work hard, and don't feel they are rewarded properly.

Being in the wrong career can also be very frustrating. Many people arrive at a stage were they are tired of a career they once enjoyed. Others are in the right career but in the wrong job.

Burnout doesn't only happen to those who are stressed or frustrated, though. An individual may be happy in their working environment, but then they experience a week where the demands of work become too much to handle.

Before burnout gets to the point of causing severe mental and health problems, it will affect your job performance. Absenteeism, lateness and doing the bare minimum are some of the symptoms. The cost of burnout is high, both to workers and to employers; it can cost you your job and affect the success of the company. So, it is important to be aware of ways to address burnout.