Tips to Overcome Video Fatigue in Remote Work

Friends - do you experience Zoom fatigue and wonder how to reduce the 'brain drain'? Interestingly, about 20% of the population are more likely to suffer from . . . . . . almost debilitating side effects from virtual meetings, particularly when the camera is on It's not that you are camera shy You may not have any problem speaking up However, even ONE virtual meeting makes your head feel 'heavy' Chances are you are (a) highly empathetic and maybe even (b) a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Zoom fatigue is more acute for those people who read others easier and experience more empathy - maybe you can even 'feel' what another person is feeling There is nothing wrong with you It is because your brain is processing more information per second than the average person Basically, your brain is getting more of a workout, espcially when your visual system is engaged 👀 Visual processing takes MUCH more energy than hearing > combine this with the fact that you are trying to process more data from that visual image (or images) . . . It can be exhausting!! Here are some top tips to help reduce the Brain Drain of virtual meetings. 1️⃣ Turn your camera off if it's not required for you to be on camera. 2️⃣ Look away from the screen and simply listen. 3️⃣ Pause periodically to 'feel' yourself in your physical space (it helps draw the brain back in). 4️⃣ If it's a long meeting (and you aren't needed constantly) - take a quick break and step away. 5️⃣ Practice deep, intentional breathing to help draw your mind back to your physical body. Whether you are in virtual meetings or busy working away in front of your computer screen >> breaks are critical for your health and your brain!! My client asked me yesterday: "How many breaks do you need to take in an average working day, anyway? I only take a break for lunch and when I go to the bathroom!" I said: "Your brain looses productivity and efficiency between 45 min - 75 min of activity." 💡 Taking 3 Brain Breaks a day is important! They only need to be for about 10 minutes It's important that you NOT look at your phone ... and do something that doesn't require much thought (Take a quick walk, daydream, stretch, meditate, or just breathe) This will keep you feeling more energized and more productive, even during a busy day! Also a bonus, it helps boost your #mindset and enables you to access your #zoneofgenius easier. Keep thriving!! 😊

Zoom meetings are a big part of how I run my business. Necessary — but seriously exhausting. On some days, I have back-to-back Zoom calls for hours. Hair done. Light makeup. A spritz of perfume (for me). It’s basically my in-office uniform...𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘱. But by the 4th call, I feel it. Tired eyes. Brain fog. Low energy. 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹. Here are a few things that have helped me (and might help you too): ✅ 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 → Not everything needs to be 60 minutes. → Try 25 or 45 instead of the usual half hour or hour. → Give people a chance to stand up, stretch, and breathe. ✅ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 (𝗚𝗮𝘀𝗽!) → Remember those? → Some conversations don’t need a screen. → And walking while talking can give your brain a boost. ✅ 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳 = 𝗢𝗸𝗮𝘆 → Set expectations early. → If a camera isn’t necessary, say so. → This can create space for people to recharge. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 → If possible, schedule meetings in blocks. → Then leave buffer time to grab water, walk around, or just stare at a tree. → It works, trust me. ✅ 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂” 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 → Ditch the perfection. → Be human. → It's okay if your kid walks in or the dog barks. The goal isn’t to escape meetings altogether. It’s to show up better, with less burnout and more focus. Because when we feel like ourselves, we contribute like ourselves. Which of these tips do you already use — and what would you add to the list? Share this with your #HR friends who are living on #Zoom lately. They’ll thank you. 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲? I want my next post to help YOU. Click the link in my profile, subscribe to my newsletter, and share any HR challenges you’re facing—I’ll cover them in an upcoming post! Stephanie Adams, SPHR #Adamshr #Hrprofessionals #humanresources #hrcommunity #theinsider Adams HR Consulting

Sometimes when I am on the nth video call of the day, I feel the mental fog. heavy eyelids and a struggle to focus... But is virtual meeting fatigue actually real? Turns out, it is Recent neuroscience research confirms that virtual meeting fatigue is a measurable neurological phenomenon. Researchers at MIT attached EEG and ECG devices to measure participants brain and heart activity during meetings. The findings? ➡️ Virtual meetings trigger specific brain activity patterns indicating mental fatigue ➡️ These patterns differ significantly from face-to-face meeting. ➡️ When you can see your own mirror image, brain activity shows greater mental fatigue But with 98% of all meetings now having at least one remote participant, and many of us still attending many hours of virtual meetings daily, we need solutions. So through interviews with 30 professionals from major companies, researchers uncovered strategies that work: Here are three brain friendly meeting strategies for you to try: ➡️ Go audio-only when possible : I now take internal meetings sometimes while standing up or walking. The physical movement offsets mental fatigue and I am more focused without worrying about facial expressions or my background. ➡️ Turn off self-view : This is a game-changer. Constantly seeing yourself is exhausting. Your brain splits attention between the meeting and monitoring how you look. Studies show both men and women feel this equally. To maintain focus, stop constantly checking on yourself during virtual meetings. ➡️ Practice "IT mindfulness: Explore features to adapt platforms to your needs. Play with backgrounds, audience views, and audio settings until you find a setup that feels less draining for you. These suggestions are based on brain science and real experience. What virtual meeting habit will you change this week? Found other strategies that work?