For some time now, some of us have been working remotely, and many report extreme fatigue and a feeling of burnout that accompanies it. These days, when our emotional system is already tense and coping with the consequences of the security situation, our basic energy reserves are depleted. Therefore, remote work is not just a technical change in location, but it adds a significant layer of burden.
Remote work is not just a subjective feeling of discomfort, it is a phenomenon stemming from exceptional cognitive load, increased emotional effort, and physical fatigue. Working through a screen requires the nervous system and the brain to work much harder, to compensate for deficiencies in natural human communication, and to remain at a high level of alertness. Therefore, it is completely natural that many finish a Zoom workday completely drained compared to a physical workday in the office.
Why is it so exhausting?
●Cognitive load and sensory compensation: In a regular meeting, our brain absorbs and processes social information automatically and without conscious effort through full body language, breathing, small glances, and a sense of space (who wants to speak, who agrees and who disagrees). In video calls, most of this non-verbal information disappears. The brain is forced to work overtime to decipher partial cues from small, frozen squares, which leads to cognitive overload.
●Hyper-alertness: In a face-to-face meeting, it is possible to lean back for a moment, look away, write something, simply breathe. The digital space, on the other hand, creates an illusion of constant eye contact – a feeling that everyone is looking at you all the time. This puts the body in a state of ongoing alertness that consumes a lot of energy.
●Increased and exhausting self-awareness: In the real world, when we talk to others, we do not see ourselves. In video calls, we are continuously exposed to our own reflection. Studies show that prolonged viewing of ourselves significantly increases the level of self-criticism and stress, and requires mental resources to regulate our outward “appearance.”
●Loss of transition spaces and blurring of boundaries: The commute to work, walking in the hallway, or even making coffee in the kitchenette are “transition times” that allow the brain to process experiences and make a switch. At home, one meeting ends at 14:00 and at 14:01 the next begins, in the same chair and the same room. The brain does not have time to “close” the previous experience, which over time leads to emotional overload.
●Physical fatigue and disconnection from the body: A day of digital meetings means prolonged static sitting, lack of movement, and focusing the gaze on a close point for hours (which greatly strains the eye muscles). Reduced physical movement decreases blood and oxygen flow, and weakens the body’s ability to regulate itself.
What can be done to reduce fatigue and take care of ourselves?
●Adjusted time management: Schedule meetings of 45 or 50 minutes instead of an hour. These 10 minutes are critical for resetting the brain.
●Creating breathing space within meetings: It is possible and advisable to start team meetings with a short “check-in.” Allow a few minutes to talk about how we are doing before diving into tasks, to enable stress release and strengthen the sense of belonging.
●Exposure regulation (turning off the camera): Normalize the option of turning off the camera in some meetings or in certain parts of them, especially in meetings with many participants where you are mainly listening.
●Movement as a regulation tool: Get up between meetings! Even a 3-minute walk around the house, light stretching, or getting a glass of water helps “break” the physical stiffness and changes energy levels.
●Transition rituals: Deliberately create an end-of-workday ritual. Physically shut down the computer (and not just put it to sleep), go for a short walk outside, change clothes, or play a specific song to signal to the brain: "Work time is over, returning home."
●Alternative communication: Not every conversation has to be on video. Move technical update calls to a regular phone call, and do them while walking at home or outside when possible.
In conclusion, fatigue from remote work is not a sign of weakness or lack of motivation, it is a normal biological and psychological response to an unnatural situation. Our brain and body are striving to compensate for the absence of physical presence, while coping with ongoing stress and a lack of clear boundaries. Therefore, the solution is not to fight the fatigue, but to recognize it and manage work a bit differently – with intentional breaks, reconnecting to the body and movement, self-compassion, and proper regulation of screen exposure.
Dr. Julia Gouzman is the Director of Social Work Services – Assuta Centers, lecturer and researcher – Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University