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This is your brain on back-to-back meetings. Microsoft human factors lab did a study where they did EEG's to find out what happens to the brain on back-to-back meetings. In the back-to-back meetings, participants felt a spike in stress while the anticipation of another meeting increased this stress response. When participants had breaks their stress response remained stable and the breaks reset their brains, which allowed them to start the meeting more relaxed. This reminds me of lifting: After every set you need to let your body recover to get back to full strength. The same goes for your mind: Give yourself the rest you need to try to give yourself a buffer between meetings for your best performance. ✍🏼 Agree or disagree? ♻️ Reshare if this was helpful. - Dan Ps. If you liked this you'll like my newsletter. Every week I share tips on how optimize your brain and body for its best performance. Join 230,000+ subscribers here: https://lnkd.in/gehZk5aJ

Fascinating insights from Microsoft's human factors lab reveal the tangible impact of back-to-back meetings on our brains, akin to the stress and recovery cycle in physical exercise. Just as our muscles need rest between sets to regain strength, our minds require breaks to reset and perform optimally. This study highlights the importance of scheduling buffers between meetings, not just for managing stress but for enhancing overall performance. It's a crucial reminder in today's fast-paced work environment to prioritize mental rest just as we do physical recovery. Do you incorporate breaks into your meeting schedules? How do you manage the mental load of back-to-back engagements? Let's share strategies and insights. Reshare if you find this approach to workday scheduling helpful!

Are you suffering from meeting fatigue? Love them or loathe them, they have become a cornerstone of how every organisation does business and yet we still seem to be struggling with making them work for us. I'd love to hear your thoughts: ❓ What are your pet peeves when in comes to meetings? ❓ If it was up to you, what would you like to see change? ❓ What have you done to reinvent your meetings? Lets shine a light on the topic and start a conversation to see how we can make them work better for everyone. #meetings #meetingsmatter #meetingfatigue

😫 Feeling overwhelmed by back-to-back meetings? It's easy to slip into the meeting fatigue when we're rushing from one meeting to the next, with no or little air space. When we show up to a meeting with a scattered mind and a flustered nervous system, it’s harder to connect, be creative, and contribute meaningfully. Here are two examples of practices I like to incorporate when working with teams that encourage slowing down to boost effectiveness: 1️⃣ A one-minute pause to check-in with ourselves. ➡ Pause: Direct attention inward and sense how your body feels. ➡ Reflect: Ask, “How can I bring my intention to this meeting?” and “What personal needs can this group help me meet?” ➡ Re-center: Return mentally to the meeting space. 2️⃣ A check-in question (e.g., “What has your attention today”) to help team members slow down and engage fully. Each participant answers the question at a time. This practice primes a team to take turns and include all voices in all discussions. By incorporating these exercises, you can reduce "attention residue," improve collaboration, and create a work environment that supports creativity and growth. 💡 Let's bring our best selves to the 'table' and make every meeting counts! 🌟 P.S. Watch the space for tips to reduce meeting fatigue. #Pause #Focus #HighPerformance #TeamEffectiveness #TeamCoaching

🚀 Rethink Your Meeting Strategy! Did you know continuous video meetings hike up stress levels? 💡 In 2021, Microsoft's Human Factors Lab uncovered a startling truth: powering through back-to-back meetings is less productive than we think. The study revealed key findings: 1️⃣ Back-to-back meetings without breaks significantly increase beta wave activity—markers of stress. 2️⃣ Short breaks, like meditation, significantly reduce stress and improve focus. 3️⃣ Without breaks, our ability to engage and concentrate in meetings diminishes. Many of us view breaks as a luxury, not a necessity. Well, we're wrong! 🧠 Why does this matter? In our remote and hybrid work era, finding ways to maintain our well-being and productivity is crucial. And we have a simple yet powerful tool: breaks. Not just any breaks, but strategic pauses that reset our brain and improve our engagement in the next meeting. Microsoft has taken this to heart, introducing settings in Outlook that automatically shorten the duration of meetings, so you can easily carve out those crucial break times. Imagine a world where your meetings end 5, 10, or even 15 minutes earlier, allowing you to reset and recharge. It's not just about reducing screen time; it's about enhancing our work quality and mental health. ❓ So, how do you incorporate breaks into your busy schedule? How can organizations encourage this practice? In my next post, I will share some tips on how to enhance the efficiency of your meetings. Link to the study here: https://lnkd.in/e37RKRPx #ProductivityTips #WorkWellbeing #MeetingStrategies

Drowsiness during virtual meetings results from lack of stimulation, not mental overload New research suggests sleepiness during virtual meetings is caused by mental underload and boredom. Earlier studies suggested that fatigue from virtual meetings stems from mental overload, but new research shows that sleepiness during virtual meetings might actually be a result of mental underload and boredom. https://lnkd.in/dE89-7sf

Burn out? Overwhelm? Stress? Brain fog? More meetings might be the problem. It's about the quality of connection, not the quantity! In this Zoom reality, we often back-to-back our meetings to optimize time, but we're actually impeding our impact. Try scheduling meetings for 50mins instead of an hour to allow your team time and space to refresh and recharge before they jump into their next session. This isn't simply about being more humane, it's about supporting them in bringing their best to each table, and driving impact through increased cognition and productivity. Less meetings means more quality work, according to the science. #BetterTogether #ConnectWithIntent #TeamDeveleopment #wellbeingatwork #takeabreak #leadershipdevelopment

Here is research proof that back-to-back meetings are stressful and reduce your brain's performance. So, what do you need to do to overcome it? See below... In the latest study of brain wave activity from Microsoft, researchers confirmed what many people sense from experience: Back-to-back virtual meetings are stressful. However, the research also points to a simple remedy—short breaks. “Our research shows breaks are important, not just to make us less exhausted by the end of the day, but to improve our ability to focus and engage while in those meetings,” says Michael Bohan, senior director of Microsoft’s Human Factors Engineering group, who oversaw the project. The research showed three main takeaways. 1. Breaks between meetings allow the brain to “reset,” reducing a cumulative buildup of stress across meetings. 2. Back-to-back meetings can decrease your ability to focus and engage. 3. Transitioning between meetings can be a source of high stress. So you need to take a break, and here are research-backed strategies for doing just that. 1. Shift your mindset. 2. Find break activities that calm your mind. 3. Create even more time for breaks by considering other modes of communication. 4. Make meetings more intentional. 5. Keep participants engaged and energised. Read the full article at the link below. https://lnkd.in/epfqX9xA

Day 5. LinkedIn Challenge Posting Everyday. Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks Microsoft's research shows breaks are important, not just to make us less exhausted by the end of the day, but to actually improve our ability to focus and engage while in those meetings. The research showed three main takeaways. 1. Breaks between meetings allow the brain to “reset,” reducing a cumulative buildup of stress across meetings. 2. Back-to-back meetings can decrease your ability to focus and engage. 3. Transitioning between meetings can be a source of high stress. Digital overload has become an urgent issue in the new era of remote and hybrid work. Strategies for making breaks successful: - Shift your mindset.  - Find break activities that calm your mind.  - Create even more time for breaks by considering other modes of communication.  - Make meetings more intentional.  - Keep participants engaged and energized. https://lnkd.in/eRgzRX6q #mind #stress #management #mindset #office #meetings #communication #brain

The Four Distractions - Hidden In Plain Sight - That Reduce Productivity Optimizing the workflow isn't always as straightforward as it seems. Every business strives to make its processes as efficient as possible. However, there are various distractions in the workplace that can be unavoidable. Some can be potentially lurking in the background - hidden in plain sight, if you will - making it harder to control them. While it's impossible to completely remove all distractions, being aware of them will allow you to make a negative impact on productivity minimal. Here’s a list of unlikely distractions that kill productivity. Distraction #1. Work Environment Distraction #2. Succumbing to Perfectionism Distraction #3. Monotonous Tasks Distraction #4. Unproductive Meetings Check out the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/e-Zh6-3v #distractions #productivity #blog