Many of us dread a busy work schedule. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed if you’ve ever had back-to-back meetings drain your life force. The Korn Ferry organization consultancy found that 67% of professionals are distracted by meetings that prevent them from making an impact.
Meetings aren’t the only thing that can cause anxiety. Our brains change when we attend too many events without taking breaks.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Zolak & Pexels/Monstera Production
Back-To-Back Meetings Raise Stress Levels
A Microsoft study in 2021 monitored 14 people’s brain activity using electroencephalogram equipment during video calls. With each successive meeting, beta wave activity increased in the brain of those who did not get breaks. Beta activity spiked during the transition between sessions from anticipating the next call.
I’m not surprised that people who took intervals between meetings felt better. A time management expert Laura Vanderkam says taking breaks is good for health. Vanderkam said, “We all take breaks; it’s just that they’re often unconscious. You notice the break happening by choosing when and how to take a break and reap the rejuvenation.”
Image Credit: Pexels/Christina Morillo
Taking Advantage Of Meeting Marathon Breaks
Experts recommend resisting scrolling through social media or reading your email during your breaks. Vanderkam said, “Many people check email between meetings as a form of a break, and I get that.” During a relaxation technique recommended by holistic health coach and mindfulness teacher Rosie Acosta, you breathe in for three seconds and out for six, repeating as necessary.
A meditation technique recommended by holistic health coach and mindfulness teacher Rosie Acosta involves inhaling and exhaling for three seconds, then repeating. She said, “You only need three to five cycles before your body starts to respond and release tension. Most of us spend a lot of time at our computers. When you sit, perhaps you can stand and stretch during this time. Distractions need to be turned off to reset.”