Creative Ways to Make Virtual Meetings Less Draining?

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Back-to-back video calls are wiping me out. Standard advice is ‘shorter meetings, agendas, breaks’ – we try that. But what are some *creative* or unusual things your team does to make virtual meetings more engaging or less of a soul-suck?

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AsyncAva 29 Feb 2024

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If a meeting can be an email or a shared doc update, we actively challenge ourselves to do that instead. Also, 'co-working' sessions where we're on a call but muted, just working independently. Company without pressure.
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- J. B.: Totally get how exhausting endless calls can be. We should definitely keep pushing for emails or docs when possible and try those co-working sessions to keep the vibe low-key and productive. Have you noticed any drop in multitasking?
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Sam 2 Mar 2024

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Virtual coffee breaks that are purely social, no work talk allowed. 15 mins. Helps replicate those casual office chats and reduces the feeling that every interaction has to be hyper-productive.
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- Anonymous: Love the idea of virtual coffee breaks! It really amps up the team synergy. Do you think adding quick energizer games during these breaks could enhance the bandwidth even more?
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Engage Em 29 Feb 2024

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We start our weekly team meeting with a quick non-work check-in, like 'share one good thing'. Or sometimes a very short, silly icebreaker game. Helps with connection beyond just tasks.
57
MinimalMandy 2 Mar 2024

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Idk if its creative but just being REALLY strict about who actually needs to be in the meeting. Optional invites are used heavily. Less people = less pressure for everyone.
54
Creative Web 1 Mar 2024

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Themed days! Like 'wear a hat' day for one of the less formal weekly catchups. Sounds cheesy but it lightens the mood a bit. Also using interactive tools like Miro or FigJam for brainstorming instead of just talking heads.
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- Leah Weaver: Love themed days but keep it optional
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  Creative Web: Hi, keeping themed days optional helps everyone feel comfortable and still brings some fun into the mix. Thanks
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Ben Buffer 1 Mar 2024

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Making meetings 25 or 50 mins instead of 30 or 60. That built-in 5-10 min buffer between calls is a lifesaver for a quick bio break or just to rest your eyes. Our calender tool helps enforce this.
51
Zone A. 1 Mar 2024

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For longer workshops, we build in actual stretch breaks or even do a quick guided meditation. Some people opt out but many find it surprisingly refreshing.
44
Kinsley Elliott 7 Jun 2025

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Last month I had a week where I lived inside my calendar. I microwaved lunch while on a standup, answered Slack with one eye open, and once accidentally leaned so close to the camera that my nose filled half the frame. I have a mug with my cat's face glued to it because I keep dropping stuff when I'm exhausted. One day I even walked into a meeting with toothpaste still on my lip and pretended it was glitter. Not proud of that one. It made me rethink how we actually spend those hour blocks.
Try swapping recurring status meetings for two-part sessions: a 90 second, pre-recorded video update from each person, watched asynchronously before the call, then a short 15 minute live "issues only" session to resolve what truly needs real-time discussion. Add a one-word mood check at the start of the live part so the host can pace things differently. You cut down passive airtime, preserve human contact, and meetings feel sharper instead of soul-sucking.
34
Lily Fisher 26 Dec 2025

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Want to break the monotony of back-to-back video calls? Try this 3-step checklist: 1) Rotate meeting facilitators weekly to keep energy fresh and perspectives varied. 2) Introduce a “silent brainstorming” segment where everyone types ideas in chat simultaneously, cutting down on talk time. 3) End meetings with a quick pulse check using emojis or one-word reactions to gauge engagement and adjust future formats accordingly. These small tweaks can reduce fatigue while keeping meetings productive and inclusive.
14
Thomas Gonzalez 6 Jan 2026

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In a landscape saturated with video calls, rethink meeting formats to reclaim energy and focus. Experiment with asynchronous pre-meeting briefs that frontload information, allowing live sessions to pivot toward decision-making and dialogue only. Rotate roles such as note-taker or timekeeper to cultivate engagement and shared ownership. Consider integrating micro-pauses—one minute of silence or deep breathing every 15 minutes—to reset cognitive load without disrupting flow. These tactics signal intentionality around well-being while enhancing productivity.
13
Anonymous 27 Dec 2025

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Why endure virtual fatigue when you can redesign meetings for cognitive relief? Alternate video on/off every 10 minutes to reduce screen strain. Schedule meetings during natural energy peaks, using data from team productivity patterns. Introduce asynchronous pre-meeting polls to focus live discussion and cut duration by up to 30%. Assume teams have flexible schedules and access to collaboration tools.
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Accepted Answer · 2024-02-29T10:45:00+00:00

Occasional 'cameras off' meetings for discussions that don't strictly need visuals. Or even 'walking meetings' where people can call in while getting some steps. Gives the eyes a break.