What exactly is burnout? It is defined in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary  as "exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration." Burnout reduces your productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.

Who's stressed and frustrated?

Mass layoffs are making workers very nervous. Many are afraid of losing their jobs and are therefore working harder and longer hours to prove their worth. Survivors of layoffs have to work harder to fill the gaps left by their departed colleagues.

Then there are those who work hard and don't receive the gratitude they feel they deserve from their bosses. They go to work everyday, work hard, and don't feel they are rewarded properly. Raises aren't forthcoming, and promotions aren't either. People who seem to work less, but have more political clout, seem to do better. Sounds frustrating to me.

Being in the wrong career is also very stressful and can be frustrating. Many people are in the wrong career. They either tire of a career they once liked or they chose poorly in the first place. Others are in the right career but in the wrong job. Either way a change may be in order. It may involve a career change or simply a change in where you work. So, as you can see, there are many factors that cause people stress and frustration with their jobs. I'm sure you can name some yourself.

Practical ways to avoid Job Burnout

1. Try to establish, or re-establish, control of your job. Sometimes the worst frustration comes from feeling like everything is out of your hands. That's not true. There is probably a lot you can do.
2. Do some soul searching. Give yourself 15 minutes each day to sort problems through calmly and deliberately. Try to identify what's working and what's not ... what is making you happy or unhappy.
3. Set realistic goals. Draft one action plan for the next three months and another for six months after that. Try to lay out the steps that will help you achieve these goals.
4. Talk to a supervisor or other co-workers about your work and its problems. Isolation only magnifies your fears and frustrations.
5. Reward yourself when you finish a tough project with a new gadget or project. Use a vacation day.
6. Take time out for a few minutes when things seem about to overwhelm you. Take a walk, splash cold water on your face or just sit quietly.
7. Think of a way to turn a task that turns you off into one you will like and ask for your boss's approval.
8. Give yourself space. Don't let the job dominate your after-hours life.

About the Author

Felix Gomez Jr is a web developer. His latest activities include web development, iPhone apps development and blogging. Catch him at Shoutbux