Meeting Fatigue
Why meetings drain you more than hours of focused work — and how to survive back-to-back calls.
Why meetings are so exhausting
- Multiple people talking over each other — your brain tries to process everything at once
- You have to listen, think, respond, and manage your facial expression — simultaneously
- The lighting, ventilation, and background sounds are a constant sensory load
- Unwritten rules about when you can speak and when you can't
- After an hour-long meeting you need recovery time that nobody puts in your calendar
Before the meeting
Read the agenda beforehand
Know what it's about so your brain doesn't have to split between understanding and preparing.
Schedule a buffer afterwards
No back-to-back meetings. Block at least 15 minutes after each meeting for recovery.
During the meeting
- It's okay to take notes instead of maintaining constant eye contact
- If you want to say something but the moment passed: send it by email afterwards
- Camera off during online meetings saves enormous amounts of energy
- A fidget under the table helps some people stay focused
- If you notice yourself drifting: focus on one point on the table and just listen
Scripts
The meeting runs over and you're done
"I have another appointment coming up. Can I read the minutes later?"
You're asked to respond immediately but you need time to think
"Good question. I want to think about it and I'll get back to you by email."
Too many meetings in one day
"I'm most productive with a maximum of two meetings per day. Can this one move to tomorrow?"