Zoning Out in Video Meetings

The Problem

You join a Zoom call intending to listen, but within ten minutes your eyes glaze over. You stop sharing your screen, mute yourself, and drift to email or another tab. The meeting ends and you have no idea what was decided, so you must ask a colleague to recap — again.

Strategies to Overcome It

• 1Keep your camera on when possible; the social pressure of being seen boosts attention.
• 2Take handwritten notes — the physical act of writing forces your brain to process the content.
• 3Turn off self-view so you are not distracted by your own face.
• 4Schedule a hard stop and request agendas so you know when your input is actually needed.
• 5Stand up for part of the call or use a standing desk to keep blood flowing to your brain.