​Way back in April, HBR had an article about Zoom fatigue. Who knew that, five months later, we would still be relying on video conferencing as the work from home (#WFH) mandate continued?
 
It may be time to revisit that online conferencing checklist. Here are HBR's five things to help minimize feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically drained after online meetings, workshops, or conferences.
 
Fatigue is different than tiredness, something which can be cured with a good night’s sleep. Fatigue is a pervasive lethargy, a lack of physical and mental energy and motivation. 
 
Why are virtual meetings so exhausting? Many of us attended in-person meetings just as frequently but are surprised to find that online sessions are much more draining.
 
First, we have to focus much more intently to absorb information. There are no sidebar exchanges or quick, clarifying questions to the person sitting next to us.
 
Second, it is much easier to be distracted. Who can see that you are checking email, texting a friend, or reviewing a document? No one, that’s who. But while you are doing those things, you aren’t truly listening. And then there are interruptions from pets, spouses, and children who are also sharing the same space. 
 
Last but not least, video requires a different level of showing our attentiveness. To prove that we are paying attention, we have to look directly at the camera. We aren’t granted the reprieve of the visual breaks we would be granted during in-person meetings. 
 
Below are the five research-based recommendations HBR suggested to help alleviate, or at least minimize, Zoom fatigue.

We are all human and we all make mistakes. Apologizing when we hurt someone else intentionally or unintentionally is a vital skill. 
 
Apologizing is hard. Admitting we were wrong is hard. Taking responsibility for hurting someone else is hard. Being vulnerable is hard.
 
But it is also a powerful reconnector.

An article in MindTools discussed how a sincere and properly delivered apology can go a long way to healing and rebuilding relationships.
 
An honest apology is more than just words. It shows remorse and acknowledges that your actions caused someone else pain.

There is a difference between living an easy life and living in ease.
 
Easy means without problems or difficulty. A life devoid of adversity.
 
Living in ease is striking a balance between effort and the effortless. It is following the rhythmic flow of life. Living in ease is a choice rather than an unrealistic ideal.
 
We all experience challenging times, periods when we have to stand firm, overcome, work hard, push through. But even during these seasons, we can choose ease. 
 
As humans, we often unconsciously seek out the most arduous path. Our ego thrives off external approval from others. We want to win. We want to be right. We want to impress. 
 
There is nothing wrong with diligence, working hard, competing or having others express their appreciation of us. But when we always live in this place, we move away from our own authenticity and instead focus primarily on pleasing others. This ultimately leaves us feeling overworked, overwhelmed, stressed and unfulfilled.

​Our days are filled with noise. 
 
Talking. Television. Traffic. Alarms. Phones. Texts. Music. Sirens. Barking dogs. Loud noise. Background noise. We are so accustomed to noise that some of us even need the whir of a fan or a white noise machine to help us sleep.
 
Noise is all around us, all the time. So much so that when its truly quiet, it is almost unnerving.
 
There’s been much research around how loud noises are harmful to hearing as well as how noise serves to disrupt focus and productivity, decrease our ability to solve problems, and results in reduced recall in both adults and children.
 
But there are also studies that indicate just how vital silence is to our brains.

We all know someone who is a master procrastinator, the person whose mantra should be, “I have not yet begun to procrastinate.” That someone might even be us.
 
The classic theory about people who frequently postpone projects, errands, or any variety of things is that they simply don’t have a grasp on managing their time. 
 
But a new school of thought on procrastination is emerging.
 
Psychologists are discovering that putting things off is much more of an emotional response than a lack of managing time.

The things we avoid doing are ones that evoke negative emotions that we don’t want to feel.

• Boredom
• Fear of failure

As we enter into a new year and a new decade, consider this analogy for what lies ahead.
 
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone bumps into you, causing the coffee to spill.
 
Why did the coffee spill?
 
Many of us would respond, “Because someone bumped into me.”
 
The answer is: Because there was coffee in your cup.
 
If there had been tea, water, milk, soda or any other liquid in the cup, that is what would have spilled out.
 
Whatever is inside the cup is what will overflow.