Running a company, managing a department, or supervising projects are all pressure-cooker professions. At any given time, leaders are vulnerable to considerable stress and likely to experience burnout at some point in their careers.

And stress isn’t limited to executives and managers. As many as three out of four workers also feel job burnout, and more than half report working under a great deal of stress.

Good stress, bad stress, and the ugliness of burnout are part of the workplace landscape. Knowing the difference between them is key to coping.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Good stress is critical for physical and mental health and can be a highly positive motivator. It’s derived from confronting situations and successfully overcoming challenges. Good stress is invigorating and inspires a sense of accomplishment.

Bad stress results from a loss of control and the perception that an event or situation will exceed the ability to cope. In such cases, a strong sense of anxiety dominates daily tasks.

The distinction between good and bad stress is almost always defined by the individual. For some, deadlines can be stimulating, while other workers become paralyzed.

But when the thrill of a job has moved on, burnout can move in. Low energy, chronic cynicism, and detachment are all symptoms of burnout. Entrepreneurs are particularly prone to burnout, expending so much energy working in the business that they don’t have any left to work on the business.

Here are five ways to keep the achievement fires burning and avoid burnout.

1. Make personal priorities a ritual.
   Just as companies measure their business priorities, so should individuals measure their personal ones. Determine the activities that are most rewarding – getting home in time for dinner with the family or working out at the gym, for example. Target the number of times each month you’ll pursue these personal priorities and schedule them into your calendar.
   
   
2. Don’t procrastinate.
   Burnout comes with a tendency to avoid the negatives of a job as much as possible. Postponing difficult matters is counterproductive and only worsens the anxiety factor. The best way to stay revved up is to deal with the challenges first so difficulties can be put behind you, freeing you up to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of the job. Tackle the more demanding and most important tasks first each day. When faced with bigger critical issues, address them as soon as possible.
   
   
3. Give yourself time to get your work done.
   Often the greatest source of stress and burnout is the inability to complete anything. Set aside blocks of time each week to focus on specific tasks and establish clear boundaries that prevent interruptions. Schedule explicit hours for answering e-mails, reading industry publications, and emptying the inbox, and make yourself entirely inaccessible to others during these periods.
   
   
4. Give yourself permission to do nothing.
   The best way to recharge is to simply unplug. Take a nonworking lunch either alone or with colleagues, but don’t allow the conversation to wander into work-related topics. Enjoy a 15-minute power nap, or roam the work floor with the sole purpose of connecting with employees on a personal level.
   
   
5. Take the right kind of vacation.
   When an afternoon off or an occasional mental health day isn’t enough to recharge the batteries, it’s time for serious break. The kind of vacation you take should reflect the kind of burnout you’re experiencing.
   
   For instance, spending two weeks in a beach cottage with no outside contact can provide the perfect R&R for an overworked and overextended professional. But the same vacation can be torture on the individual whose burnout stems from the need for new challenges. For him, the perfect getaway might include hiking, canoeing, or a long list of vigorous activities.

Perhaps nothing cures burnout more than taking the focus off oneself. Time spent helping others or committing to a volunteer vacation can restore perspective, leaving a burned-out worker feeling renewed, inspired, and fulfilled.