Zoom Burn Out—It’s a Real Thing

During the first week of working from home, my Zoom meetings were few and far between. In the following weeks, they became more regular, and I enjoyed seeing my colleagues, meeting their children, and being introduced to their pets. Not only were we getting work done, but I felt like I was re-establishing a connection with human beings outside of my home.

I recently interacted with a student who complained that he couldn’t wait to get back to seeing people “in real life.” He expressed frustration over the number of Zoom meetings he was having between work, school, and trying to keep his student organization members engaged. I had not been thinking about how exhausting it must be to participate in several Zoom meetings a day. If I had to do this, I know that I would share the same sentiments. It’s hard to quiet a household and wrangle cats away from your monitor multiple times a day! 

If you feel like this student, you are not alone. Zoom burnout is real. But there are ways to cope with the pressure of inviting colleagues and strangers into your home. This article, How to Combat Zoom Fatigue (Harvard Business Review, April 29, 2020) offers excellent management advice.