How do I avoid burnout at a demanding job?

Set clear boundaries between work and personal time, and actually enforce them — don't check email after hours unless it's truly urgent. Take your breaks and vacation days; they're not optional luxuries. Learn to say no or negotiate deadlines when your plate is genuinely full, since overcommitting is a primary burnout driver. Outside work, prioritize sleep above almost everything else, as fatigue accelerates burnout dramatically. Build recovery activities into your routine — exercise, social connection, hobbies — not as rewards but as necessities. Talk to your manager early if workload feels unsustainable, because problems caught early are far easier to fix. Burnout rarely arrives suddenly; watch for warning signs like chronic cynicism, exhaustion, or declining performance and respond quickly.