Okay I’m all for zoom calls/video chats and staying connected during social distancing bc all this quarantine life doesn’t have to mean social isolation, right?

…but is anyone else facing Zoom fatigue + exhaustion? I remember my first couple of weeks starting that WFH life. I’d have back-to-back zoom calls daily to a point where I couldn’t even begin to give you a summary of what just happened.

It’s as if I wasn’t even there.

On any given work day now, I’d have at least 1-2 WebEx calls + more COVID-related webinars. And then, we have zoom calls/parties with friends.

It’s like the more we seek a connection with the outside world, the more exhausting it gets… right?

Just thought I’d share some tips on how to deal with video call exhaustion (over Zoom, Google Hangout, WebEx, GoTo Meeting, etc). Let’s start with work –

Work Tip #1: Block out your calendar

I like to block out certain hours of my calendar for work time. I personally cannot get “in the zone” if I have just one hour in between meetings/calls. Batching meetings also allows me to get breathing room on the other days to simply sit down + work.

For example, my Mondays, Thursdays, and half of Wednesdays are usually packed with meetings, so I’d use my time wisely on Tues + Fri to get projects done!

Work Tip #2: Email could sometimes be a better option

We all crave connection, but right now, we’re at a stage where we may slightly be overdoing it? Certain things CAN be discussed via email, and not everything has to be a video call. Of course if the email thread gets too long, by all means — please schedule a call! Otherwise, a quick email shall suffice.

I understand the connection piece but bc of quarantine, we’re all dealing with different circumstances. For instance, some people have children to teach/feed/entertain whereas people like me, who live alone, may be dealing with quarantine differently.

Work Tip #3: Limit # of ppl on one call

I love a good video call, but it can be pretty distracting sometimes to have 20 faces on screen with different things happening in the background! My mind tends to wander elsewhere especially if I don’t have my two cents to contribute.

It IS difficult to reject a calendar invite to a meeting though bc where else would I be? It can be important, especially during this pandemic, to learn how to sit out of certain calls for your own mental health. 

On that note, this applies to social zoom calls as well. Pre-COVID, I’ve always been a homebody. I’d enjoy the weekly social gathering, but I personally always enjoyed coming home, doing some self-care, and being okay with my own company.

Social Tip #1: Realize that not everyone is actually ‘available’

Because everyone is currently part of the #StayHomeClub though, it makes it more difficult to “come up with excuses” not to be available for certain social activities. I mean this in the best possible way — but just bc we’re all available at home doesn’t mean we HAVE to be mentally available for all the calls we’re invited to.

As someone who’s still learning to be okay with saying no to people/things, I am personally struggling in this aspect. I say yes to every FaceTime + Zoom invite to a point where I’m just exhausted mentally.

And then I’d think to myself, if I’m not hanging out with people on a daily basis, why does quarantine seem to validate daily hangouts?

Social Tip #2: Put a cap on the # of Zoom parties/gatherings you accept per week

I’m slowly jumping off the extrovert train to be more of an introvert, and I think it’s just due to age. I love a good social outing, but there is also so much I can share on a weekly basis. Furthermore, being in quarantine IS hard on our mental health bc have we ever lived in such a time to be forced to stay at home rather than choosing to do so?

The more we try to connect with people virtually, the more we should be able to hit ‘pause’ and focus on our mental health. Group calls can be exhausting sometimes bc you can’t have side convos with just a couple of people on the side like you would at a party.

Social Tip #3: Everyone’s different

I also realize it can be a struggle to properly exit a call or decline an invite. I’ve been there. I mean, can we really say “gotta go” or have any excuse when we have nowhere to go? Maybe it’s a “me issue” bc I always feel the need to explain myself. I’m here to tell you – you don’t owe anyone an explanation!

Everyone’s coping with quarantine life different. Just bc we all don’t have places to be doesn’t mean we’re ALL keen on the idea of booking up our calendars with 500 virtual parties.

Know when it’s okay to say no, opt out, and take mental health days. Being home shouldn’t invalidate the need to take a “day off.”

Hope these tips help for you to fall in love with video calls all over again <3

Thank you so much for reading! As always, please don’t hesitate to comment or share this post 🙂