Minimizing #zoomfatigue should be on every leaders radar because #zoomfatigue is no joke. Many of my clients report spending the majority of their day in back to back video meetings—and it’s a recipe for burnout. New research confirms what is obvious: being “on” close up video all day and forced to stare at a computer screen is hugely fatiguing and has a physical, emotional and mental cost. Zoom limits our mobility and forces our close-up prolonged eye contact which is exhausting! Most interesting from the research is being forced to stare at ourselves turns out to also be stressful. I find my own self-reflective view to be highly distracting. I notice things that shouldn’t matter like bad hair or worse wrinkles! I work hard to look at others and “show up” as someone engaged and connected. But all of this takes energy, focus and concentration. It’s like being “on” for a TV interview—there is an undeniable stress factor to it.

Zoom and other video meeting platforms have been important communication tools in this trying time. But like all tools they should be used consciously and for the right reasons. If fatigue is an issue –and I would challenge any leader who thinks it isn’t, here are a few suggestions to minimize #zoomfatigue.

#1 Minimize or hide the “self-view” to avoid obsessing over your reflection.

#2 Mix it up with old school conference calls which allow people to move around when talking or listening. Or try audio only calls that give people video relief.

#3 Facilitate a discussion with your team about their team meeting preferences and needs. What works and what doesn’t? How can we adjust to the changing needs of the team for information, collaboration and input gathering? Make time for stretching and breaks. Any meeting that runs for 2 hours should minimally include a 5- minute break midway. Encourage time for icebreakers and small talk to help team members feel more connected. Most importantly, #virtualteams should make time to discuss meeting norms that facilitate what is best for the team–and figuring out how to minimize #Zoomfatigue should be on the list.