Five Tips to Combat Zoom Fatigue

Five Tips to Combat Zoom Fatigue

By Rena Lewis

While so many of us are hunkered down and working from home due to the extended COVID-19 pandemic, the videoconference technologies available to help keep us connected to our jobs and each other are blessings. But let’s face it (pun intended), too much of a good thing can be exhausting.

Here are my five top tips to keep from being Zoomed-out.

1. Give the gift of time.
If your meeting is scheduled for an hour, it does not mean that you have to take up the full hour when it’s not needed. Be intentional about ending your meetings early. There is nothing better than giving attendees and yourself this gift of time. They will thank you for it and remember that they left your meeting on an appreciative note rather than that annoyingly rushed feeling we all experience when we must immediately pivot to another call.

2. Know the agenda.
Make sure there is a clear purpose for the videoconference, why you’re included and what’s expected from everyone. Remember the gift of time mentioned earlier, and be mindful that there are folks participating whose time is just as valuable to them as yours is to you, so spend it wisely.

3. Schedule breaks.
Block off a few minutes on your calendar periodically to recharge your energy by stepping outside and feeling the sun on your face, listen to music that lifts your spirit, read a chapter from that great book you’re interested in, do an exercise sprint to keep your blood circulating, play a quick game with your children or pets – anything that makes you feel grateful to be alive, safe and well.

4. Avoid being always on.
It can be particularly draining to know that your every movement and facial expression is being watched, captured and interpreted. Looking at yourself on camera can also be distracting, especially if you’re self-conscious about the way you appear. Turn off the camera and use your photo instead when appropriate. Close the self-view on the platform you’re using if possible.

5. Make alternative connections.
Before you schedule or accept an invitation to a Zoom videoconference, consider if this is a topic or issue that can be equally or better addressed via a phone call, instant message or email. Sometimes simply recapping your point and asking for input via email, Slack, Twist, or other chat platforms can be more effective and a welcome reprieve.

We all feel better when we’re managing our time well. Although we’re thankful for the technology platforms that allow us to stay connected in ways that would surely be more painful without them, at the end of the day, we just want to feel the benefits not the burdens of using them.