Zoom fatigue is real. We are all using live video meetings and calls but an abundance of meetings can not only burn you out, but they can also kill productivity. Check out our top tips for battling Zoom fatigue including how to skip that next virtual meeting altogether. Check out the full guide over on the Vidyard blog:https://bit.ly/3jRs1dG

1. Battle Zoom Fatigue With These Tips

2. We're all using video calls more and more at work and in our
personal lives—and it's exhausting.
Zoom fatigue is real.
Here's what you can do about it.

3. PART 1
What is Zoom Fatigue?

4. So What is Zoom Fatigue?
Zoom fatigue is a term for the exhaustion caused by constant video calls. It’s a
relatively new phenomenon, birthed amid a pandemic.
But, it’s not just Zoom. It can just as easily take place on any video conferencing
platform.
Why Do We Get Zoom Fatigue?
1. Our Brains Have to Work Harder
2. We’re Always ‘On’
3. We’re Easily Distracted
4. Our Tech Often Fails Us

5. PART 2
Zoom Fatigue Solutions That Actually Work:
Tips for Having Fewer Video Calls

6. 1. Establish ‘No Meeting’ Time Blocks
1. Set up your calendar so that your team can
see when you’re busy or free.
2. Go to your calendar tool and book blocks of
time for working.
a. If you like, you can label these according
to what you plan to do during them.
b. Simply naming them “No Meetings” or
“Do NOT Book” tends to work well as
it’s pretty unambiguous.

7. 2. Designate a Meeting-Free Day OR
Establish One Day a Week for All Meetings
Talk to your coworkers about establishing a
meeting-free day. This is one whole day a week
that your entire team agrees not to book any
meetings in.
“Meeting-Free Wednesday” is a popular
choice.
You can do this on your own, but it will be much
more effective if you get your team on board.

8. Challenge yourself to say no to meetings that aren’t valuable to you.
Not sure how to actually do that? A low-conflict approach is asking the meeting
requester to send over a quick video explaining the purpose of the meeting and
what they want to discuss.
3. Say ‘No’ to Video Calls That Aren’t Valuable

9. 4. Reduce Calls By Using Text-Based Communications
You can also cut down on meetings by using other
communication methods, such as text-based asynchronous
options.
Email and chat platforms like Slack or Twist are popular
choices.
Google docs and other G Suite offerings let you work
collaboratively in the same document simultaneously—
great for brainstorming, planning, and more.

10. 5. Replace Calls with Recorded Asynchronous Video
In a lot of cases, a recorded, asynchronous video
message can completely replace a meeting.
Setting up a video call to provide a project status update,
kick off a project, or even run a brainstorm? Try
replacing that meeting with a recorded video. Do a
screen recording of your slide deck or capture a webcam
video of yourself running through updates.
Not only will you save yourself some time, but you’ll also
save your coworkers time.

11. PART 3
Zoom Fatigue Solutions That Actually Work: Tips for
Making Unavoidable Video Calls More Bearable

12. 6. Always Have an Agenda
Nothing makes a video call drag on like the person who called it having no idea what they
actually want to accomplish.
For all video calls you participate in, insist that the organizer identify a clear purpose for the
meeting and provide an agenda of what you’ll cover.

13. 7. Schedule Breaks
Try to schedule some breaks in a video call-filled day.
If full breaks aren’t feasible, consider trying “speedy
meetings”: 50 minutes instead of an hour, 25 minutes
instead of 30.
Those extra few minutes will give you a chance to get up
and stretch, grab a coffee, have a quick snack, or take
that much-needed bathroom break.

14. 8. Make Meetings Shorter (Yes, All of Them)
Even if you do have to have a meeting, it doesn’t mean you have to have a long one. Not
every meeting needs to be an hour long.
Try using a shorter time period, like 30 minutes as your default. Your coworkers will thank
you.

15. 9. Hide ‘Self-View’
One of the things that contributes to our feelings
of being always “on” in video calls is the fact that
we can literally always see the view from our own
camera.
Turn on your camera as usual, do a quick check
that your lighting’s okay, and then hide self-view.
Others will see you, but (as in real-life) you won’t
constantly be reminded of that fact. This can help
you to feel less self-conscious on video calls.

16. 10. Turn Off Your Camera Entirely
Just because you’re on a video call doesn’t mean you
have to be on video every single second.
Give yourself permission to turn your camera off to
listen. Or talk to your coworkers about turning on
cameras when you’re speaking and having them off
otherwise.

17. 11. Avoid Multitasking
Whenever possible, minimize other tabs, your
email program, and your chat platform so you
won’t be tempted to do anything other than focus
on the video call. While this may sound worse, it
can actually help.
You’ll be more likely to pick up on verbal (or the-
even-harder-to-discern-through-video-
conferencing non-verbal cues) available to you,
which means your brain won’t have to work as
hard to process the information.

18. 12. Schedule Screen-Free Time
Even if it’s not during the workday,
designating some video call-free time in
your life will help with the feeling of being
overwhelmed.
What you choose to do with that time is
up to you.
Read a book. Do yoga. Pet your cat.
Whatever helps you destress.

19. A guide by
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