Burned out with endless video calls? Smart tips to beat 'Zoom fatigue'

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, people are on more video calls than ever before – and many are finding it exhausting.

Last year, GOQii CEO Vishal Gondalstarted going back to the office once a week just to escape ‘Zoom fatigue’. “With WFH, switching between work mode and life mode has become challenging. We are working longer hours. The concept of weekends is blurring,” he had told ET Panache at the time. “Even video calls require a lot of cognitive load because, as humans, we’re not used to staring at a two-dimensional screen. Initially, WFH was great but I think we’re becoming fatigued.”

Why are video calls so tiring?
For starters, they require more attention than a regular face-to-face chat. On a video call, people need to work harder than they normally would to process non-verbal cues like facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice and body language. Paying more attention to these cues consumes a lot of mental energy.


Additionally, knowing you’re on camera can be very nerve-wracking because everybody’s looking at you. There is a certain social pressure that comes with video calls, a need to perform for “your audience” or in this case, your coworkers, which makes it more stressful. Also, it’s very hard for people not to look at their own face if they can see it on screen, or not to be conscious of how they behave in front of the camera.

Beating ‘Zoom fatigue’
So how can you alleviate Zoom fatigue? Some tips:

Is video really necessary?
Limit video calls to only those that are necessary. If shared files with clear notes or audio calls are a more efficient option, do that instead. It’ll avoid information overload (fewer cues to keep track of) and reduce mental strain.

Opt for a side camera
Placing your camera to the side instead of in the middle could help your concentration, particularly in group meetings.

Create water cooler conversations
One of the pitfalls of video meetings with everybody logging in from different places is that you often jump straight into business which can be mentally taxing when you have back-to-back meetings. One way to alleviate this is to take time out to actually check people's wellbeing before diving into business. Spending time on “water-cooler topics” like family, weekend plans or personal projects allows you to reconnect and reduces fatigue. It also boosts camaraderie between the team.