In this week’s Workplace Wednesday we discuss well-being tips for our new, video-conference world.
If you have the luxury to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic you know that “Zoom fatigue” is a real phenomenon. “Zoom fatigue” describes the tiredness, worry, or burnout associated with overusing virtual platforms of communication. Whichever platform you use, you may feel exhausted after a day of imperceptible delays on video calls.
In today’s Workplace Wednesday we’ll discuss ways to combat this fatigue, including how to create better video meetings.
- Take a moment before the video meeting to stay present, and stop multitasking.
- The anonymity of video calls makes it much easier to multitask while attending, which can further drain you throughout the day, and cause you to be less connected to your teammates.
- Try this tip – if possible – block off 5-10 minutes before and after video calls to get focused and refresh.
- This 5 minute meditation is specifically for screen breaks. Give it a shot.
- Create shared best practices for video meetings:
- Only invite those who need to attend, record for those who just need to be in the know.
- Have an agenda and stick to it, then close out with solid next steps assignments. One great tip, set the agenda as a set of questions to be answered.
- If it’s a 1:1 – consider a walking phone call and give a break to your eyes.
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your own image (distracted by negative self thoughts, or overwhelmed with watching yourself respond), Turn off your own view and focus on others.
- If you don’t need to be on video, don’t be on video.
- There are times when you need a break from constant video meetings. In those situations, turn off your video. But, do not immediately multi-task. Stay engaged, just without the video.
What if you followed all these tips and you still had a day full of bad meetings? You’re left feeling exhausted and ruminating, and it can be hard to shift your focus. Give yourself a break and send yourself some self-compassion. We are facing unprecedented challenges, and some days won’t be perfect. But in this moment, those of us who are able to work from home can feel gratitude for the ability, while also making plans to mitigate some of the drawbacks.
Learn more about how the Healthy Minds Framework can support your workplace well-being with Healthy Minds @Work or signing up for our Healthy Minds @Work Public MasterClass.
