We’re all accustomed to the shift to more virtual meetings following the pandemic. However, we must acknowledge that stress increases over the course of back-to-back virtual meetings and having no breaks from screens can lead to fatigue and other health issues. Virtual meetings can be effective, but can also impact our personal wellbeing, leading to feelings of disconnect and loneliness.

Here are some tips to help with your wellbeing when attending or leading virtual meetings:

Tip 1: Setting up a meeting

• Always ensure you have a clear subject, purpose and agenda in the meeting invite, so attendees know what to expect and can prepare as necessary. This can help reduce attendees stress levels if they know what they need to prepare.

Tip 2: Timing

• We encourage you to start meetings 5 minutes past the hour/half hour (e.g., 10:05, 14:35 etc.) to give a short break between meetings to allow people to grab a drink, move around and have bathroom breaks
• Meetings should ideally be kept to 25 minutes, and should run for no longer than 45 minutes without a break. This is to support concentration levels (and also discourage multi-tasking!)
• If you have already had a break, and arrive early to the session, use this time to chat with your team. People still need a chance to settle in and reconnect socially before working through the agenda.

Tip 3: During the meeting

• As a meeting chair, try to make meetings action orientated to help ensure the session has an outcome and steps to move forward. This could possibly reduce the need for another meeting where attendees could be busy.

Tip 4: Catch ups

• Have a catch up at the end of the week with just your colleagues. This is a chance to catch up on successes for the week, let off some steam and chat about what you’re doing at the weekend. This will allow you to connect more with your colleagues, and decompress after a busy week.

Tip 5: Decline, if necessary

• As an attendee, feel empowered to decline meetings if you are busy, have a conflict or do not think you are required for the meeting (please discuss this with the meeting chair). This will help to manage your workload.