As offices were closed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and individuals shifted to working from home, there was a spike in Zoom and MS Teams meetings. Virtual team happy hours were added to peoples’ schedules and existing meetings were converted to video conference calls.

We all enjoyed a glimpse into our co-workers’ homes (at least the background behind their video images) and relished working in sweats from the comfort of our kitchen tables. We adjusted lighting and video camera angles to look our best and shared memes about video calls gone bad.

Now it’s been a few weeks into working from home and the novelty of these virtual meetings is starting to wear off.

It seems there are a lot more meetings, leaving less time to actually get the work done. Friends have shared that they are maxed out on video calls. They have back-to-back meetings with the intent to stay connected and intentionally try to overcommunicate with colleagues as we all work in isolation. At the end of the workday, as the virtual meetings wrap up, we face the challenge of trying to get work projects and tasks done. On top of pressures to stay connected, working from home can make work-life separation challenging.

Below are some tips to navigate the increased demand for meetings while working from home:

• Block time on your schedule to work through your to-do list. Each day have a block of time dedicated to doing the work and GSD. If someone sends a meeting request for this time, see if there are alternative times to conduct the meeting. Some requests may require you to flex your scheduled work time; however, having something on your calendar will make it easier to push back.
• Schedule breaks. Make sure you take a couple of 10- or 15-minute breaks to get up and move around your home. Breaks give you a chance to recharge and when you’re working at home, it is easy to lose track of time.
• Say no or gracefully opt out of participating in the meeting. There are likely some meetings that are optional or which your participation is not required. Additionally, sometimes a video call is not the most efficient way to move the project forward. Be selective in participation of virtual social gatherings. Be mindful of how you say “no” or decline a meeting; especially as everyone is working remotely, nuance can get misread via email/text.
• Have a clear agenda and objective. When setting up a meeting, provide an agenda in advance and let intended participants know what the objective is of the meeting. Take time to check in with people at the start of the call and then focus on working through the agenda and staying on task to accomplish the intended objectives. If you are invited to a meeting and the objective is not clear, secure that information when accepting and/or at the start of the call.
• Remember in some instances, people just need human-to-human socializing. Around the world, we’re all going through stressful times and many of us are experiencing considerable change in our home, work and social lives. As a result, catching up and maintaining emotional connections is critical. If you sense a co-worker is anxious or depressed, check in with them and consider being a sounding board.

For additional guidance on virtual meetings, please consider the following articles:

• What you Need to Know About Holding Productive Virtual Meetings During COVID-19, Forbes.com
• What it Takes to Run a Great Virtual Meeting, Harvard Business Review
• When Coronavirus Causes you to Meet Differently: 6 Tips for Making the Most of Remote or In-Person Meetings, Forbes.com

What tips do you have during this time to manage the uptick in meetings, getting work done and maintaining work-life balance while working from home?