Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 19: Spending an entire workday attending video meetings can leave you mentally exhausted even when you have barely moved from your chair. Difficulty concentrating, making simple decisions or staying focused after hours of online meetings may be linked to the growing phenomenon commonly described as “Zoom fatigue” or brain fatigue.

Neurologist Dr Kunal Bahrani explains that video calls may appear less demanding because people remain seated, but the brain continues to process information throughout the meeting. Listening to conversations, watching facial expressions, deciding when to speak and simultaneously monitoring one's own reactions all require continuous mental effort.

The strain can become more noticeable when meetings are scheduled back-to-back. Unlike many in-person meetings, virtual calls often leave little natural time to stand up, change posture, walk around or simply look away from the person speaking. When one meeting ends and another begins immediately, the brain gets little opportunity to reset.

Even the short gaps between calls are often filled with emails and messages. Lunch breaks can also turn into another meeting, leaving little time for genuine rest. The constant cycle of listening, responding and processing information can contribute to mental exhaustion by the end of the day.

Long hours in front of a screen can also contribute to visual strain, poor posture and tension in the neck and shoulders. These factors may add to headaches and general discomfort. For people prone to migraines, inadequate sleep, dehydration, missed meals, stress and prolonged screen exposure can further increase the likelihood of symptoms.

Dr Bahrani says screen time should not be considered in isolation. A person's overall routine, including sleep, regular meals, hydration, physical movement and the amount of time spent continuously in front of a screen, also needs to be considered.

The solution does not necessarily mean giving up video meetings. Instead, allowing genuine breaks between calls can help. Workers can use these gaps to stand up, walk around, drink water and look away from the screen. If a meeting does not require video, an audio call may also reduce some of the visual demands.

Lunch breaks should ideally remain protected rather than becoming another work slot. Eating away from the screen, even for a short period, can provide the brain and body with a much-needed pause during a busy workday.

However, persistent or unusual symptoms should not automatically be blamed on screen fatigue. Frequent headaches, significant concentration or memory problems, dizziness, excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue that continues despite adequate rest may have other causes and should be medically evaluated if they persist or worsen.

Video meetings have become an essential part of modern work, but the brain still needs recovery time. Leaving a 10-minute gap between calls may appear unproductive on a calendar, but using that time to step away from the screen, get some water or simply have a few quiet minutes could help you return to the next meeting more refreshed and focused.