Why Zoom Fatigue Is Real (and You’re Not Imagining It)

If you’ve ever closed your laptop after a day of video calls and felt like your brain just ran a marathon, you’re not alone. Zoom fatigue is real—and it’s more than just being “tired of screens.”

Virtual meetings ask a lot of our brains. Continuous eye contact, less movement, and trying to pick up on subtle cues through a screen all add up to mental overload. Add in back-to-back meetings with no natural breaks, and burnout shows up fast.

The good news? You don’t have to accept this as your new normal. With a few mindful strategies, you can move from Zoom fatigue to “Zoom zen”—giving your brain the rest it needs to stay focused, calm, and resilient.

(Related: Manage Workplace Stress with Mindfulness)

Why Zoom Fatigue Matters for Workplace Resilience

When we’re running on empty, it’s not just our own wellbeing that takes a hit—teams feel it too. Virtual burnout leads to lower engagement, shorter attention spans, and less creativity.

Resilience, on the other hand, grows when we give our brains what they need: moments of recovery and genuine presence. Small shifts in how we approach virtual meetings can make a big difference in keeping energy, focus, and team connection strong.

(Explore our Resilience Certification Program to see how we help teams build these skills.)

Mindful Strategies to Beat Zoom Fatigue

Here are a few quick practices that don’t require a retreat or even an app (although we love our Mastermind Meditate app for mindful work breaks!)—just a willingness to pause and give your brain a breather.

1. The 1-Minute Meeting Reset

Before clicking “Join Meeting,” take one minute to close your eyes, soften your shoulders, and breathe. Set a simple intention: “I’ll listen with focus,” or “I’ll stay present.”

Why it works: Your brain isn’t meant to sprint from one task to the next. This short pause tells your nervous system it’s safe to reset and helps you be fully present and engaged for the next task in front of you.

(Read next: How to Quiet Your Mind)

2. Camera Breaks for Brain Breaks

If your team culture allows it, normalize turning your camera off during part of a call. Use that time to stretch, look out the window, or simply rest your eyes.

Why it works: Hours of eye contact can overstimulate your brain. Even a few minutes “off screen” helps restore energy and focus.

(Related: How to Extinguish Burnout and Reset Yourself to Calm)

3. Micro-Movements Between Meetings

Instead of answering emails between calls, stand up and move. Stretch your arms overhead, roll your shoulders, or walk around your space.

Why it works: Movement recharges circulation and signals your brain that it’s shifting gears. Think of it as a mini reset button.

4. Screen-Free Rituals for Recovery

Make your breaks actual breaks. (Resist the urge to pick up your phone in between calls!) Step outside, make tea, water a plant—anything that reconnects you to your senses.

Why it works: These small, screen-free rituals bring you back into your body and the present moment, which balances out digital overload.

(Related: How to Make Mindfulness a Daily Habit)

From Individual Habits to Team Culture

These strategies work beautifully on their own, but the real magic happens when organizations build them into team culture. Leaders can: 

• Encourage short breaks between meetings
• Model camera-off moments or even stretching on screen when possible
• Open meetings with a mindful pause (download our 1-minute mindful work break) or gratitude check-in
• Invest in resilience training so employees feel supported
  

Small shifts like these show employees their wellbeing matters—which is one of the strongest foundations for resilience and sustainable performance.

Final Thought

Zoom fatigue is real, but it doesn’t have to be your reality. By weaving in these simple mindfulness strategies—pausing, moving, resting your eyes—you can give your brain the fuel it needs.

Because resilience isn’t about pushing through endless meetings—it’s about creating rhythms that let you recover, refocus, and show up as your best self.