Zoom is the video communication hero of our times. We do so much on this platform: studies, workshops, lessons, training, meetings, and everything else in between. I am so thankful that this platform exists and so many fellow teachers, students and seekers have a common ground to connect and continue sharing and learning.

With that, Zoom fatigue is also becoming more and more familiar as a common experience.

Here are my top 10 personal advices to combat Zoom Fatigue:

1. Unsee the Unnecessary: The eyes constantly sieve through information as we glance at the screen, often forgetting to blink. This leads to dryness, itching, and redness. Make it a practice to blink your eyes and do some eye exercises (a.m. and p.m.). This helps in cleansing the unnecessary clutter that the eyes have seen and releasing the sensory fatigue. Give your eyes a chance to shine! Eye practices here
2. Hiss Out Emotional Fatigue: Reading everyone's emotions from passport size appearances is not only difficult but also impossible when there are multiple people showing up on your screen. What we are doing is the partial, continuous analysis of faces, emotions, and nonverbal cues. That is emotionally overwhelming and leads to emotional fatigue. My suggestion is to hiss it out!! All that emotional fatigue must be released. Learn here
3. Did You Hear That Sound from the Neck?: Every time you try to move your neck, you are reminded to keep yourself in the center of the frame throughout the call. It does not matter if this voice arises from within or a suggestion you have read somewhere as a best practice for video calls. Here is how you can keep your neck free from those frequent pops, cracks, stiffness, and fatigue. These 3 neck exercises will save your day.
4. Ouch! My Back Hurts: Sitting for long hours creates tension, compression, and fatigue in the back muscles. Do your back a favor: Apply warm sesame oil on the lower back before bed or best apply mahanarayana oil. This oil helps nourish, strengthen, and is the best care for your joints, muscles, and nerves.
5. Unlock Jaw 1.0 : Holding back when you want to speak and having to speak up when you are hesitant is a constant dilemma on Zoom calls. This can lead to sometimes hidden and other times obvious tension, tightness, and locking of the jaw. The practice of conscious relaxation has never failed me in reviving my speech organs and whole body. Shavasana is a gift to the body you can give everyday—and you must. Practice the sensory motor relaxation.
6. Breath Holds the Key...3-2-1 : When we wish to engage or listen carefully, at times we may forget to breathe. Other times when we are struggling with overwhelm and anxiety, our breath becomes short and shallow. Here is the 3-2-1 of the breath: 3 times a day, focus on the breath for 2 minutes with the ratio 1:1. Slow down the breath, even out the roughness, and breathe in for 6 counts and breathe out for 6 counts. There is no need to outdo yourself if 5 is a better number for you. Just 3-2-1 of the breath.
7. Restless Legs: Every chair is not made the same. Some are too short and others are too tall, some too soft and others too hard. Well, the real issue is not all bodies are made the same. We cannot change our bodies, but we can take care of them. No chair is absolutely perfect, so over a period of time, when our legs dangle or knees try to find a place, our legs often take the beating. This discomfort combined with long stretches of calls leads to restlessness, poor circulation, and at times, swelling in the legs. I encourage you to try rolling a Marma stick on your foot soles before bed for just 5 minutes. That will be the best 5-minute gift for the 8 hours of uninterrupted rest.
8. Volume Pls: Headphones, ear plugs, or AirPods, it does not matter—as long as the input is sound. We don't realize, but even if we listen to the most pleasant voice, most kind words, and most influential person in the world, we are constantly processing sound into meaningful sentences, phrases, lessons, and methods. This causes constant sound-processing fatigue. We need silence—this is as simply as I can phrase it—the most important ingredient of sanity. Carve out time when you consciously shut down all forms of communication, verbal or nonverbal—with human beings or any beings. Avoid all visual, kinesthetic, audio, gustatory, and olfactory stimuli. There is magic in this reboot and you will know when you practice it.
9. Listen To Your Heart: Amidst so many voices and opinions, news and views, we dull the voice of our mind, conscience, and heart. Listen to your heart today. Practice Shankha Mudra (it means conch). Like the spirals of the conch takes us to the center, may the spirals of your breath take you to the inner chambers of your heart.
10. The Power Of Choice: Last but not the least, draw boundaries with people, news, and relationships that are draining. Only you can do that! You have the most important power—the power of choice to listen, see, and learn from whom you wish to. So choose wisely.

You have the most important power, the power of choice to listen, see and learn from whom you wish to. So choose wisely.

Read SOMA: 100 Self Care Recipes, Remedies and Practices. Get SOMA as hard copy or eBook