If you've ever ended a day of back-to-back video calls feeling like you've run a marathon — while sitting down — you already know what Zoom fatigue feels like. The bad news: there's no magic cure. The good news: a few small changes can make it significantly less draining.
Why Zoom Meetings Are So Exhausting
For the longest time, I've tried to find ways that would make Zoom meetings less draining. After many years of research, it's safe to say there are none. 😅
It's just in their nature! Hours of staring at a screen can take a toll on your eyes, mind, and focus, but I've found a few ways to avoid the good old Zoom fatigue.
When I catch a glimpse of myself in the corner of a Zoom meeting.
🖥️ No multitasking: Resist the urge to answer Slack messages, scroll on your phone, or keep a zillion tabs open. Research shows that multitasking can cut your productivity by 40%, not to mention that your memory suffers as well.
🖥️ Mini breaks: If you have a call longer than 30 minutes, try briefly looking away from the screen from time to time. The goal isn't to start a new activity—just take a quick break so your eyes can rest for a bit.
"For days when you can't avoid back-to-back calls, consider making meetings 25 or 50 minutes (instead of the standard half-hour and hour) to give yourself enough time in between to get up and move around for a bit."
The Science Behind Multitasking and Video Calls
The 40% productivity drop Lisa mentions comes from research by psychologists Rubinstein, Meyer, and Evans, published through the American Psychological Association. They found that the mental blocks caused by switching between tasks — even briefly — add up over the course of a day. A decade of Stanford research further confirmed that heavy multitaskers perform worse on memory and attention tasks, even when they're not actively multitasking.
During video calls, multitasking is especially tempting because you feel invisible behind your screen. But every glance at Slack or quick tab switch pulls your brain out of the conversation, and it takes real cognitive effort to get back in.
Quick Changes That Make a Difference
If you manage an office or coordinate hybrid teams, here are a few easy policies you can introduce:
Set 25- or 50-minute meetings as the default in your company calendar. This builds in natural buffer time without anyone having to ask.
Encourage cameras-optional meetings for internal syncs that don't require face-to-face interaction. The constant self-view on camera is one of the most draining aspects of video calls.
Block "no meeting" windows in shared team calendars — even a 90-minute window in the morning or afternoon can protect deep focus time.
Close all unrelated tabs before joining a call. It removes temptation and helps your brain commit to the conversation.
Zoom fatigue may never fully go away, but a few intentional habits can turn an exhausting day of calls into a manageable one.
