Zoom Fatigue and Virtual Burnout in Remote Practicums

After another day of back-to-back video calls, you close your laptop feeling more exhausted than you would after a full day of in-person work. Your eyes are strained, your neck hurts from staring at the screen, and you feel drained despite having barely moved from your chair. This experience, commonly called Zoom fatigue, has become a defining feature of remote work and remote practicums. Understanding why virtual meetings are so exhausting and taking active steps to manage this fatigue is essential for sustaining your energy and engagement throughout your practicum.

The Science Behind Video Call Exhaustion

Researchers have identified several factors that make video calls uniquely tiring compared to in-person interactions. First, the constant close-up eye contact required by video calls is unnatural. In face-to-face settings, you look at speakers, then look away, then glance around the room. On video, gazes feel perpetually locked, creating a subtle but persistent stress.

Second, seeing yourself on screen throughout the day is exhausting. It is like conducting every meeting in front of a mirror, constantly aware of your own appearance and expressions. This self-monitoring consumes cognitive resources without any corresponding benefit to the interaction.

Third, video calls reduce mobility. In person, you might walk to a meeting, shift in your chair, or move around a room. On video, you are tethered to a small area visible to your camera, limiting the movement that naturally punctuates in-person work.

Fourth, the cognitive load of interpreting communication through a screen is higher. Nonverbal cues are harder to read, audio-visual synchronization may be slightly off, and you must work harder to understand what is being communicated. This extra processing effort accumulates throughout the day.

Recognizing Your Own Warning Signs

Burnout from virtual work manifests differently for different people. Common signs include physical exhaustion despite minimal physical activity, difficulty concentrating during or after video calls, irritability and shortened patience with colleagues, dreading scheduled meetings that you would normally enjoy, physical symptoms like headaches and eye strain, and feeling disconnected or disengaged from your work.

Pay attention to how you feel at the end of video-heavy days compared to days with more varied activities. Notice whether certain types of calls are more draining than others. Large group meetings often cause more fatigue than one-on-one conversations. This self-awareness helps you identify what specifically is contributing to your exhaustion.

Strategies for Managing Video Fatigue

The most direct intervention is reducing time spent on video. Not every interaction needs to be a video call. For quick questions or updates, consider whether email, instant message, or phone call would work instead. When video is necessary, evaluate whether every participant needs their camera on for the entire meeting or whether camera-off portions would be acceptable.

Discuss expectations with your preceptor explicitly. Many organizations have evolved their norms around video, and cameras-off for certain meetings may be more acceptable than you assume. Explain that you find varying your camera usage helps you stay more engaged and focused, and ask about their preferences.

Build breaks between video calls whenever possible. Even five minutes to stand up, walk around, and look at something other than a screen makes a difference. If you have back-to-back meetings scheduled, consider whether you can request ending one five minutes early or starting one five minutes late to create transition time.

Vary your activities throughout the day. Balance synchronous video meetings with asynchronous work like writing, analysis, or independent tasks. Interspersing different types of work prevents the cumulative exhaustion that comes from hours of continuous video interaction.

Creating a Sustainable Work Environment

Your physical setup affects how quickly you fatigue. Position your screen so you are not looking down, which strains your neck. Ensure adequate lighting so you are not squinting. Sit in a chair that supports good posture, or alternate between sitting and standing if possible.

Take your eyes off the screen regularly using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple practice reduces eye strain significantly.

Minimize distractions that add to cognitive load. Close unnecessary browser tabs and applications. Turn off notifications that pull your attention away from meetings. Create a workspace that allows you to focus on one thing at a time.

Use features that reduce self-monitoring. Hide self-view if your platform allows it, so you are not constantly watching yourself. If you cannot hide it, position it somewhere you will not naturally focus on it.

Communicating Boundaries and Needs

Remote practicums often include pressure to be visibly present and engaged, which can translate into expectations for constant video attendance. Pushing back on these expectations thoughtfully can protect your wellbeing without harming your professional standing.

Frame your needs in terms of performance. You might explain that you have found you can contribute more thoughtfully in meetings when you have had a break beforehand, or that you do your best analytical work when you have camera-off time to focus deeply.

Propose alternatives rather than simply declining. Instead of saying no to another video meeting, suggest accomplishing the same goal through a shared document or asynchronous update. Show that you remain committed to the work while advocating for sustainable practices.

Model good behavior around breaks and boundaries. Take your lunch break away from your computer. Log off at reasonable hours. Demonstrate that productivity does not require constant availability and visibility. This modeling can help shift norms for the organization and for future practicum students.

Recognizing When Fatigue Becomes Burnout

Some exhaustion from remote work is normal and manageable with the strategies above. Persistent burnout that does not respond to these interventions requires more attention. If you find yourself consistently unable to engage with your work, if your mental health is suffering, or if you dread each day of your practicum, talk to your preceptor or practicum coordinator about adjustments.

Your wellbeing matters more than any single practicum experience. Taking care of yourself is not unprofessional; it is essential for a sustainable career in public health.