| Thank you to all who wrote what you’d like to talk with me about in response to last week’s question. Many good topics were sent that you’ll be reading about in future Sunday messages. If you haven’t responded yet, it’s never too late. One that’s obviously affecting many is exhaustion from being on screen. Zoom fatigue (or whatever platform you use for your on-camera meetings) is affecting people at every level. Here are some things you can do to alleviate on-camera fatigue: If you’re in many on-camera meetings throughout the day and into the evening, reduce your other screen time, i.e., social media, games, TV, movies. Give your eyes and brain distance breaks, i.e., be intentional about looking into the distance. To sleep better, stop looking at screens 2 hours before turning out the lights. Have everyone take a 60-second stretch break during a meeting. Some leaders are introducing blocks of time without meetings, i.e., 11 am to 1 pm. Some managers are asking their people to be on screen for the beginning of a meeting and at some point they can turn off their cameras. Use your phone for some meetings instead of being on screen. Stand up or walk while meeting. A manager walked a total of 3 hours a day attending meetings by phone. She loved it! Her outlook was more positive and she captured her thought notes by recording them after the meeting. For a change of pace, invite others to facilitate if you’re typically the one to lead the discussion. Backgrounds can be distracting. Ask someone whose opinion you trust for candid feedback on yours. Put a pillow between your back and the chair to help you sit up straight comfortably. (This has helped me a lot.) Stretch before a call to get your blood moving. A colleague dances at least once a day for 2 to 3 minutes between meetings. Some days her husband joins her. Humor and laughter, lightening up the mood, can make a real difference in thinking, creativity and building camaraderie. What are some fun things you’ve experienced? |
