In the past year since the Pandemic began we have all drastically changed the way we work. From learning to efficiently work in a home environment when you might not have everything you need right at your fingertips, to holding all our professional meetings on video calls, our work environment is different.
With so many people continuing to work remotely, the most efficient mode of communication is video calls or virtual meeting rooms. It feels as though all we do day in and day out is stare at our computer at one-dimensional people who are staring right back at us. It can be exhausting and overwhelming.
As much as the old adage tells us that Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither are businesses successful by being “meeting’d to death.” However, in our new working environment, there aren’t a lot of choices except to keep pressing on with the never-ending virtual “gatherings.”
How do we combat this “Meeting Fatigue?” “Meeting Burnout?” “Meeting OH MY GOSH IF I HAVE TO STARE AT MY COMPUTER FOR ONE MORE MINUTE?” Whatever we want to call it, it’s becoming a struggle.
- Step away from your computer! For every hour you are on your computer, you need to step away and not be looking at it for at least 5 minutes. It’s also a good rule of thumb for your eye health.
- Stow & Go! Take your phone and ear buds outside and listen to your meeting while you go for a walk. Trust me. The fresh air will do you some good.
- Change your scenery! If you spend your whole day in a home office, switch it up. Grab your laptop and head out to your deck. Or kick your feet up on your recliner. Just get out of your environment and your own head.
A Gallup poll showed that fully remote workers are now experiencing burnout at a much higher rate than on-site workers. They are 63% more likely to take a sick day, 13% less confident in their performance, and 23% more likely to visit the emergency room. Pre-pandemic the statics were completely opposite. The perks of working remotely resulted in lower levels of burnout. Being forced into remote work has changed the glamor of not being required to go to the office.
Take the time needed to take care of yourself as we continue to navigate through this world that seems to not want to change any time soon.