How are you coping with the exhaustion of being in virtual meetings all day?
This week, as the stress of too many virtual meetings hit some of us, I'm offering these tips to help you survive your online gatherings with less fatigue:
If you're leading an online meeting:
ASK YOURSELF: Do we need to hold a virtual meeting with cameras on? Could it be instead:
A phone call
Would an email suffice?
DISCOURAGE VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS unless absolutely necessary. These backgrounds may tire out our brains more than seeing the speaker in a real environment.
PLAN BREAKS. Schedule stretch breaks to give participants time to move and breathe fresh air.
USE GOOD MEETING HABITS which include:
Always have an agenda and stick to it.
End on time or early, if possible.
If you're participating in an online meeting:
STAND UP during the meeting so you can breathe deeper and move.
TAKE FREQUENT STRETCH BREAKS, outdoors, if possible, or during the meeting, if necessary.
SUGGEST A PHONE CALL instead of an online meeting.
What else are you doing to avoid online meeting exhaustion? I'd love to hear.
If you look like my dachshund after a day of Zoom meetings, you need to get some fresh air and try standing up during your next Zoom presentation!