For many people, they start feeling, "burnt out” after spending a number of years on a job or even doing business. Burnout can be described as "the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one's devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”

It is a stress-related state. 

A person can be identified to having burnt out if they have any one or more of the following stress related features like dryness of mouth, palpitations, insomnia, sleep disturbances, easy fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.

A burnt out person will start losing interest in their work and as a result, efficiency may also start declining. Gradually, his or her health can suffer due to the stress further contributing to declining efficiency.

Productivity of the institution is also affected; and mostly this phenomenon appears in people who have spent more than 10-15 years on a job. It can however occur in younger people and even after a short time on the job.

People in challenging, stressful jobs such as doctors, nurses and those in marketing, are more prone to burn out.

There are many reasons for burn out of an employee. These may be work-related like extra work load, not getting enough incentives, not getting recognition for work, no space for flexibility or creativity, etc.

The same kind of work done regularly tends to create boredom, which may gradually manifest as easy fatigue and develop other symptoms of burn out. Causes may be related to individual like not being interested in that work, being lazy, ego problems, family problems, e.t.c.

The mental makeup of a person and physical health is also responsible for their being stressed at work or not. A mentally strong person can face challenges and overcome problems calmly. A physically strong person can always work hard. The reactions of a weak person to challenging situations would usually be contrary. Lifestyle factors like alcoholism aggravate the problem.

Everybody has to do some work to survive. Hence it is better to avoid getting burnt out at work.

One should have realistic expectation of their capabilities and the work they have to do. This would avoid much disappointment, frustration and heart burn.

Total relaxation and recreation is vital for all individuals and keeps them in good spirit to continue working very well. Keeping this in mind, many institutions hold sessions of yoga/meditation for their employees. Recreational facilities like swimming, games to indulge in during break in work or after work are very beneficial.

Sports day for office workers in Rwanda is laudable as it helps provide creative recreation to working people. Creative leisure time activities like reading, gardening, making handicrafts, are very useful in this regard.

It is also important to keep work restricted to work place and separate it from home and vice versa. Such attitude keeps a person always stressed up mentally. One should avoid carrying, "work”, home or, "home”, to work unless it is unavoidable. It may seem difficult to some but can be achieved with practice.

Recreation does not always mean entertainment. Doing a variety of work also keeps away boredom, relaxing and refreshing the mind. One can look around and help out in something else to be done in office, which is not part of his routine work.

Good team work helps in making the work more enjoyable. The boss as a team leader can contribute much in this direction. He may not be in a position to give extra perks or salary to his employees, but can boost their morale by encouraging them and praising them for good work.

He can set an example by putting in hard work himself. Slight flexibility in work schedules keeps the workers relaxed and stress free. When the creative ideas of employees are heeded to and accepted, it also boosts their morale.

The lower the number of workers with a burn out feeling, the more productivity the organisation and all involved benefit more.