Burnout is when you become completely exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is caused by excessive and prolonged stress. The path to burnout is characterized by feelings of being overwhelmed and emotionally drained, which is often paired with an inability to meet constant demands. Once burnout has set in, it results in lower productivity and sometimes no productivity. Because burnout leaves you feeling drained, you may feel like you have no energy and like you have nothing left to contribute. It often leaves people suffering from it feeling hopeless, cynical, and even resentful. Not only does it affect your job, but the negative effects of burnout often ripple outwards to affect every other area of your life. In addition to affecting your work, home, and social life, burnout can also have long-term effects on your health if left unchecked. Because it is caused by consistent, prolonged high levels of stress, it can make your immune system less effective, which leaves you vulnerable to illness on top of everything else. This is why it’s important to take proactive measures to prevent burnout and to take the measures needed to overcome it if you find yourself battling it.